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Health & Fitness

Chamber Corner with Larry McHugh

Today, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Middlesex County and throughout our great country. This past August marked the 50th Anniversary of Dr. King’s historic I Have a Dream speech in Washington D.C. MLK Day is a special day, one that has become synonymous with service. I would like to recognize all of those who volunteer their time in the service of others on this day, and every day. I am proud that Chamber Workforce Development Director Lorenzo Marshall is participating in today’s event at the South Congregational Church which will explore Dr. King’s impact from the perspective of four different generations.

Next Monday, January 27th, we are excited to welcome back Rece Davis as guest speaker at a Chamber Member Breakfast Meeting. Rece Davis is an ESPN College Basketball & Football Studio Host, and an Anchor of SportsCenter, the network’s flagship program. In 2008, Rece won the Best Sports Host award given by Cable Fax. Davis, a native of Muscle Shoals, Ala., graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama in 1988 with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in broadcast news and public affairs. He was named the University of Alabama School of Communication Broadcast Department’s outstanding alumnus for 2001. Rece spoke to our membership in 2012 and did a terrific job. We are very much looking forward to another terrific event. I would like to thank Webster Bank for their sponsorship of this Member Breakfast and for their longstanding support of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.   

Friday evening, January 10th, I attended a terrific event which honored Jay Polke as Cromwell Man of the Year. Each year, a committee of the Knights of Columbus DeSoto Council 6 selects a local resident for this prestigious honor. The award is based on demonstrated service to the community, something that Jay is quite familiar with. Jay Polke is an outstanding member of our Chamber and is a recipient of the Chamber’s Distinguished Citizen Award. He has been firmly dedicated to the Town of Cromwell for many years. He is an active member of our Cromwell Division and of our Board of Directors. He is a business owner who is committed to his town and his community. I thank Jay for his personal friendship and support of our Chamber, and congratulate him on this well-deserved award.

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Last Tuesday morning, the Chamber hosted two sold out sessions of Sexual Harassment Prevention Training at our Main Street offices. Attorneys Ashley Totorica and David C. Salazar-Austin from the law firm Jackson Lewis, LLP, effectively demonstrated how to limit a company's exposure to charges of sexual harassment. The Chamber will continue to partner with Jackson Lewis as we address this important topic.

AccountServe-CT in Cromwell held a grand opening event last Thursday afternoon. I attended the event along with Chamber Chairwoman Darlene Briggs, Mayor Enzo Faienza, Town Planner Stuart Popper and Councilman Allan Spotts. It was a very nice event, and we wish Karen Frisk and Ray Inzero, and the entire team, the best of luck with the business. 

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Last Thursday evening, the Chamber’s Golf Committee met at Luce Restaurant on Main Street in Middletown. The weather may be cold outside, but it is never too early to think about the Chamber’s 31st Annual Golf Tournament which has sold out every year. Our Golf Tournament is a huge event for us and 2014 will be no different. This year’s event is scheduled for Friday, May 2nd at Portland Golf Course. We expect the sun to be shining on Portland, and throughout Middlesex County, on tournament day. 

As I noted last week, the first Member Business After Work Networking Event of 2014 is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 5th at The Gelston House in East Haddam. The Gelston House is a great supporter of our Chamber and hosts a number of meetings throughout the year. We look forward to this Business After Work event which will feature Gelston House food and hospitality, and the best networking around.  We are expecting a large crowd in East Haddam on Feb. 5th.

On Monday, Feb. 10, we will welcome United States Senator Richard Blumenthal to a Member Breakfast Meeting. Senator Blumenthal visits with our Chamber every year and we look forward to another great Breakfast Meeting. Senator Blumenthal’s committee assignments include the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Veterans Affairs. As I noted last week, these assignments are extremely important, particularly to the economy in Middlesex County and the state of Connecticut. I would like to again thank Pratt & Whitney for their sponsorship of this event with the Senator, and for their strong and continuous support of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. 

This Blumenthal Breakfast will be immediately followed by a seminar on affordable housing, hosted by our Affordable Housing Committee and sponsored by Liberty Bank Foundation. The program will focus on the development of affordable housing in Middlesex County, and will feature Evonne M. Klein, Commissioner of the new State Department of Housing, Dante Bartolomeo, Chair of the Senate Housing Committee in Hartford, Eric Chatman, President & Executive Director, Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), Macky McCleary, Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Quality, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and Michael Rendulic, Rural Development Coordinator, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Our Affordable Housing Committee has put together a number of terrific events over the years and this one will be no different. Please visit www.middlesexchamber.com for more information.

Looking ahead to March, the Chamber will host a seminar on Telephone Etiquette on Tuesday morning, March 11th. Isabel Jackson from The Essex Group will lead the presentation which will focus on best practices and proper telephone etiquette in a modern office environment. Cost is $25.00 for members of the Chamber, and $35.00 for non-members.

My friend and colleague Michael Price, Executive Director of Goodspeed Musicals, recently announced that he is retiring after 45 years on the job. Michael has done a terrific job at Goodspeed during his tenure. He has made Goodspeed Musicals into a national brand and has maintained Goodspeed Opera House as one of the true jewels of Connecticut. I look forward to working with Michael during his remaining time on the job, and through his transition into an advisory role.

I must end this week’s message on a sad note.  Lester Baum, an alumnus, supporter, and longtime friend of the University of Connecticut, passed away recently. Lester was very active in politics and engaged in a number of civic and community activities throughout his life. He was a veteran of the Korean War where he served our country with honor. He was a wonderful man and he will certainly be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Devra, and their entire family at this difficult time. 

For more information on Chamber events and activities, please visit www.middlesexchamber.com



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