Chamber Update

By Linda Zahn
CEO, Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce recently installed a new slate of officers and directors for 2011 at the Annual Installation Dinner. We welcome you and thank those who will be stepping down.
Our next General Membership Meeting will be on May 26 at Kaufmann’s Tavern, where we will hear from Severna Park High School Principal Patrick J. Bathras. Mr. Bathras will share information on the construction plans for the school, and the school’s signature program.

One of the exciting events coming up on our calendar is our annual Small Business Showcase at Marley Station Mall. The event will be held on May 7, the Saturday before Mother’s Day, in the center court. This has proven to be a very busy day at Marley Station, with lots of foot traffic for our exhibitors. New this year will be specific aisles for health/wellness/beauty businesses and a “home show” aisle for businesses in the home improvement and landscape arena. There will be continuous entertainment in center court as well. The Showcase opens at 10:00am and continues until 4:00pm.
The Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce has a Successful Women in Business program that meets monthly and features a luncheon for networking or a guest speaker. On Wednesday, April 13, the group will meet at Woods Memorial Church (Room 208) in Severna Park and the guest speaker will be Donna Jefferson, publisher of Chesapeake Family Magazine, who will present “10 Tips for finding the perfect Summer Program for your kids.” The program is a “brown bag” lunch and is free for members of the GSPCC and for first-time guests. For non-members, the cost is $15. In addition, members can set up an exhibit table for a $25 fee. We only offer four tables per month, and this is a great way to market your products and services to other businesswomen.
For many business people anxious to save money, enrollment in a Commercial Energy Co-op is an option to consider. The Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce works with CQI Associates (Energy and Environmental Management Consultants) on this program, offering both electricity and natural gas contracts. We will be offering information sessions on the cooperative on Wednesday, March 23 at Champion Realty, 541 B&A Blvd. in Severna Park, at 8:00am and on Wednesday, March 30 at 4:00pm at the Chamber of Commerce meeting room at 1 Holly Avenue. The Commercial program is for all Chamber members and the CQI Residential program is for all Chamber members and their employees.
For more information on these and other GSPCC activities, contact Linda Zahn at 410-647-3900.