Connections
The newsletter for members and friends of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce
January 2011
Vol. 74, No. 1

859 Massachusetts Avenue

Breakfast Series
Members, save $20 by signing up for the entire 2011 Networking Breakfast Series! Register by January 28 and attend all five breakfasts for just $130. This year's breakfasts will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott Boston/Cambridge on Tuesdays February 1 (snow date February 8), April 5, June 7, September 13 and November 1. Register now for the entire series or just the February breakfast.

Business Awards
We will soon be seeking nominations for the annual Excellence in Business Awards. Start thinking about the companies and organizations you believe make a difference in our community.

New Chamber Baby
CCC Director of Communications Lisa Cohen & husband Mike Cohen from Century 21 Commonwealth welcomed a baby daughter, Dalia May, on September 17. Lisa returned to work from maternity leave on December 20.

2011 Sponsorships
Opportunities are still available to sponsor 2011 activities. Get 'em while they're hot!

Photo from Holiday BAHsh: The annual Holiday BAHsh was held in Genzyme's spacious atrium this year. See more photos on page eight. PHOTO BY DAVID FOX PHOTOGRAPHER, WWW.DAVIDFOXPHOTOGRAPHER.COM

Resolve to get involved with the CCC
Build your business in the coming year by making a resolution to get involved with the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce! We’ll make it easy for this to become a resolution that you’re able to keep by providing a full year of programs and activities for you to participate in.

Network in the a.m.
Start your day off right and prospect for new customers by getting out of your office and meeting people face-to-face. If you haven’t yet attended a Networking Breakfast, you’re missing out on an amazing way to grow your business through structured networking. Present a brief “commercial” about your company to the others at your table. The first breakfast is February 1.

Get social after hours
Evening Business After Hours events provide a casual venue for getting to know other CCC members. Network over hors d’ouevres and cocktails at themed events throughout the city. Get started at the Winter BAHsh at the always-elegant UpStairs on the Square on January 19.

Advertise in CCC publications
Expose your products or services to the over 1,500 member business of the CCC, plus hundreds of visitors, by placing an advertisement in this Connections digital newsletter or the printed Community Guide & Membership Directory. Contact Director of Communications Lisa Cohen at ­lcohen@cambridgechamber.org for information.

Participate in Community Service Day
Put together a team of your colleagues or come by yourself and get to know other members of the business community by working side by side to make Cambridge a better place to be. Fall and Spring Community Service Days offer a way to build community while giving back to the city.

Step up to the challenge of the 1 in 365 Campaign
Answer the CCC Community Outreach Committee’s challenge to do just one thing in the next 365 days to connect with our community’s youth. The range of options includes one-time career awareness activities such as company tours and guest speakers, to much deeper commitments, such as mentoring a student or hiring a teen for a school year internship or summer job. Visit www.cambridgechallenge.org for more information.

Commit to a committee
No matter your interests, the CCC has a committee that is a perfect fit, whether it is programming targeted toward women professionals via the Women in Business Committee, giving back to the community through Community Outreach or welcoming new members and helping existing members make the most of their memberships as an Ambassador. If you’re between the ages of 21 and 35, check out the new Cambridge Young Professionals Committee or if you work in the life sciences or technology sphere, explore the High Tech & Science Committee.

Become a sponsor
Get the word out about your business by sponsoring an individual event, a series or the activities of a particular committee during 2011. We are also accepting sponsors for our weekly Chamber Message Service broadcast e-mail. If sponsorship opportunities interest you, contact Kelly Thompson Clark at ktclark@cambridgechamber.org.

Write an article
Share your knowledge and establish yourself as an expert by submitting an article for publication in Connections. We are always looking for informational, topic-based articles written by members. We also accept press releases and other news items for the “Member News & Views” column. For more information, contact Lisa Cohen at ­lcohen@cambridgechamber.org.

Get government-minded
Become more aware of  how the happenings in local and state government affect your business by getting involved with the Government Affairs Committee. Lunch meetings featuring elected and appointed officials are held monthly. Subscribe to the weekly Government Affairs e-mail at www.cambridgechamber.org/business/government_monthly.html#gcamail to get the inside scoop on issues pertinent to local business such as zoning, permitting and more or contact Director of Government Affairs Terrence Smith at tsmith@cambridgechamber.org.

Whichever opportunities you choose to take advantage of this year, resolve to get involved with the CCC. We wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous new year and hope to see you soon!