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Member News

Active Shooter / Civilian Response Classes Scheduled

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This is not something you can just figure out at the last minute.  You need to respond instinctively and quickly.  This class will provide you with the necessary information and tactics to better your chances of survival should you get caught in one of these horrific events.

DATE:             Monday, December 11, 2017

TIME:              Runs 6pm to 9:15pm

LOCATION:  South Fitchburg Hunting & Fishing Club

                        60 Warren Road

                        Townsend, MA 01469

COST:             $45 (payable in advance by cash, check or credit

                        card)

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DATE:             Tuesday, December 12, 2017

TIME:              Runs 6pm to 9:15pm

LOCATION:  Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce

                        670 Linwood Ave. – Bldg A

                        Whitinsville, MA 01588

COST:             $45 (payable in advance by cash, check or credit

                        card)

Call NOW to ensure you reserve your seat in one of these classes.

Comeketo Catering Launch Party November 16th

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If you are planning your holiday events, festivities, corporate events, birthdays, weddings, showers & etc  feel free to come by this week for Comeketo’s tasting ! Nov 16th @6pm-9pm (Thursday) That would a great opportunity for you guys to try their Food … They will put out a lot food for people to try ..! It will be a FREE tasting !

They will be launching the new catering menu ..! www.comeketo.com – facebook.com/comeketo – 23 Sack Blvd Leominster Ma 978 466 1224 – Reservation is welcome!

Active Shooter/Civilian Response Training

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I am Bruce Willard of A+ Firearms Training of MA. I provide basic to advance firearms training, business Team-Building sessions, as well as train people in ways to potentially survive a horrific Active Shooter event.

WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO???

If someone walked into your place of business, place of worship, or some other area where there are a lot of people and started shooting, stabbing, or clubbing those in attendance, WHAT ACTION WOULD YOU TAKE?

If there is any doubt in your mind or you’re simply not sure, then you need to attend one of the upcoming Active Shooter/Civilian Response classes A+ Firearms Training is putting on to find out how to better your chances of survival.

The Social Julie Social Media Member Special

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The Social Julie is a full-service, social media management company, that focuses on the customized, strategic planning of your social media strategy with concrete, practical, short and long term action plans that will start moving your business in the right direction.

We have the tools to help you gain and retain clients enabling you to focus on what you do best while our experienced, professional team of content writers, graphic designers, advertisers, and marketers manage and maintain your social media presence.

If you are ready to start using social media to truly maximize your business and not just something you think about in passing, give us a call and let’s talk about a plan that will fit your business. Right now we are proud to offer North Central Mass Chamber of Commerce members two free Facebook ads when they sign a full account management contract with The Social Julie by November 30, 2017.

LEAD GENERATION FROM YOUR LEGAL WEBSITE – 3MEDIA WEB

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LEAD GENERATION FROM YOUR LEGAL WEBSITE

A website for your legal practice should be the first step in your lead generation strategy. By taking a more strategic approach it will fill up your client pipeline and drive growth. Optimizing your site properly for lead generation requires looking at each component and making sure that it contributes to your ultimate goal of getting more clients. Using these tactics to build an online foundation is one of your most valuable marketing tools.

Create Lead Magnets

People with urgent legal problems are going to want to get in touch with you right away, but what about those who are simply researching their options? You want to keep the second group remembering your practice when they do need your services. Lead magnets are one way to nurture these leads and build a relationship before they’re ready to hire you.

A lead magnet is a resource that your website visitors access by providing their email address. This content can take many forms, from an e-book covering your category of legal services to infographics presenting the most common cases you work with.

Once your visitors opt-in to your email list for the lead magnet, you have the opportunity to send occasional messages. The brand awareness and trust you build from consistently emailing your list useful resources and information pay off when the leads or their social circles need recommendations.

Optimize Your Website for Search Engines

Search engines are the primary research tool for many people looking for legal services. Is your website optimized for better search engine rankings, or do you find yourself on page 2 or more on Google?

Search engine optimization is a complex process, as Google uses many factors to determine where it positions the sites in its index. Here are a few ways to address common SEO issues:

  • Focus on local keywords, rather than those that put you up against national brands. You don’t need leads from people across the country if you don’t operate in that area.
  • Make sure your website’s backend and design are search engine friendly. Your URLs for individual pages should have your local keywords in them, and your code should put your content near the top for better visibility.
  • Ensure that every part of your site loads quickly and works properly. Google doesn’t want to send users to a poorly performing site. It’s important to fix broken links and ensure that your server has the right capacity to host your website.
  • Add internal links to other areas of your website. For example, when you reference topics with resource guides, make sure you link to those pages.

Provide a Quality User Experience

Put yourself in the shoes of your typical legal clients. What are they looking for when they load your web page? Are they accessing your site on their smartphone, tablet or PC? Do they have a lot of technical experience, or are they relatively tech-unsavvy?

All of these factors play a role in the user experience of your legal practice’s site. Your navigation needs a logical structure that limits how many clicks it takes to get to important information. Consider the requirements for mobile users and how they’re different from people on their computers. For example, mobile users can use click-to-call features to get in touch with you easily.

Use Calls to Action

Don’t cross your fingers and hope that visitors will turn into leads. Tell them exactly what you want them to do as part of their next steps on your site. For example, at the end of your blog posts, you can tell them to sign up to your newsletter for more information on that topic. On your homepage, make a prominent CTA to encourage people to sign up for a lead magnet or contact you for a consultation.

Experiment with the placement, size, shape, color, and text for your CTAs. Track your lead conversion data, and tweak elements over time to find the right combination that appeals to your target audience.

Include Testimonials

Potential clients use many sources to research whether you offer the legal services they require. By including testimonials on your site, you give them another data point to work with. Since you’re the one hosting this feedback, many people will consider it with a grain of salt. However, when you have testimonials that get specific with the ways you helped a client and the results you achieved, you can reinforce other research channels.

Build Around a Goal

Your ultimate goal is bringing in more clients and growing your legal practice, but what are the steps you need to take to achieve it? Focus on these areas when you’re optimizing your website. For example, if you want to improve your brand awareness and bring in an increased number of qualified leads, focus on creating valuable content that answers many pre-consultation questions.

Are you trying to reach an audience that’s experiencing a major life difficulty? Offer multiple channels of communication with your calls to action. Go beyond a phone number by providing social media profiles, email addresses, live chat and other communication options.

Your lead generation strategy requires more than a solid marketing and advertising plan. Your website needs to operate like a fine-tuned client-attracting machine so you can scale your legal practice’s success.

AUDITIONS BIG RIVER – The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

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ABOUT THE SHOW

Twain’s timeless classic sweeps us down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures along the way are hilarious, suspenseful and heartwarming, bringing to life your favorite characters from the novel-the Widow Douglas and her stern sister, Miss Watson; the uproarious King and Duke, who may or may not be as harmless as they seem; Huck’s partner in crime, Tom Sawyer, and their rowdy gang of pals; Huck’s drunken father, the sinister Pap Finn; the lovely Mary Jane Wilkes and her trusting family. Propelled by an award winning score from Roger Miller, the king of country music, this jaunty journey provides a brilliantly theatrical celebration of pure Americana.

DIRECTOR – Peter Landry

MUSIC DIRECTOR – Robert Healey

CHOREOGRAPHER – Ali Laverdiere Hall

 

CAST REQUIREMENTS – looking for a large ethnically diverse cast of 40

(See character descriptions below).
WHERE AND WHEN

WHERE? Mount Wachusett Community College, room 182

WHEN?  Sunday, December 3 @ 6PM, Monday, December 4 @ 7PM. Callbacks if needed: Wednesday, December 6 @ 7PM.

*Punctuality will be noted and appreciated – no appointment needed

Prepare a short vocal selection that displays range and ability, preferably from the show (score will be available). Sheet music required if you decide to do a song not from the show. An accompanist will be provided..

Wear conformable clothing for a movement/dance audition.

Performance Dates:   February 23, 24, March 2, 3 

 at 8:00PM; March 4 at 2:00pm

 

Tentative Rehearsal Schedule:

Sundays from 6PM to 9PM; Mondays and Wednesdays from 7PM to 10PM
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Important Note: The role of Jim has already been cast.

 

SEEKING PERFORMERS OF ALL ETHNICITIES:

Huck Finn (Lead) Male 16-25, High Baritone or Tenor/Baritone: A bright, cocksure, mischievous, hopeful, rough and tumble near-orphan who was taken in and “civilized” by Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. Prefers freedom to domestic life

Widow Douglas (Supporting) Female, 40-60 (Alto/Mezzo): A strict but loving woman who has taken in Huck as his guardian.

Miss Watson (Supporting) Female, 40-60 (Mezzo-Soprano): Widow Douglas’ sister. A strict and traditional woman that helps to raise Huck.

Duke (Supporting) Male 35-55 (Tenor): A broken down “Over the Top” actor turned con artist.

King (Supporting) Male, 40-60 (Baritone): Escaped convict and con artist.

Tom Sawyer (Supporting) Male 16-25 (Tenor): Huck’s friend and adventurer. He is clever, energetic, overly dramatic and a great story teller.

Pap Finn (Supporting) Male 40-60 (Baritone): A vagabond drunkard who loves whiskey and hates the government. He wants to get a hold of Huck’s Money.

Mary Jane Wilkes (Supporting) Female 16-25 (Mezzo B2 to E4): The grieving and pretty eldest girl of the wealthy Peter Wilkes who recently passed away.

Susan & Joanna Wilkes (Supporting) Female 16-25: Mary Jane’s sisters.

Judge Thatcher (Supporting) Male 45-65: A man with high respect for the letter of the law and the trustee for managing Huck’s money.

Young Fool (Supporting) Male 15-20 (Tenor D3 to E4): A young man who loves gossip.

Ben, Dick, Simon, Jo Harper (Supporting) Male & Female, 16-25: Huck’s Schoolmates.

Slave Ensemble Soloists: (2 African American female soloists) Age open, strong Gospel style vocalists. One sings lead in “The Crossing” The other sings lead in “How Blest We Are”.

Townspeople & Slave Ensemble (All Ethnicities, All Vocal Ranges, Ages 16 and Up): Male & Female Singing ensemble with playing many roles consisting of slaves, townspeople, tarts, mourners and hired hands The following roles will be assigned within the ensemble: Aunt Sally, Uncle Silas, Hank, Lafe, Doctor, Mark Twain, Andy, Sheriff Bell, Harvey Wilkes, Counselor Robinson, Alice, Alice’s Daughter, Servant and Strange Woman.

COMMENTS 

There are 3 Onstage Musicians: a Fiddle Player, Guitar Player, and a Harmonica Player.
For more information contact Professor Gail Steele at 978 630-9162 or at  

Fitchburg State Student Jobs Site

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Fitchburg State University is launching a new website that will connect local businesses looking for part-time help with the university’s educated and motivated students.

The service will be free for students as well as businesses, and local employers are invited to submit their open positions by visiting studentjobs.fitchburgstate.edu and creating their free profiles.

University President Richard S. Lapidus said the jobs portal has been in the works for several months.

“Many of our students balance their studies with part-time jobs, and we’ve found that a large number of them go home on the weekends to work,” Lapidus said. “We wanted to create a resource that would let them earn money while still taking part in the fullness of campus life. The portal will also give local businesses the opportunity to benefit from our talented and hard-working students.”

At studentjobs.fitchburgstate.edu, businesses may submit their part-time job openings for review by the university. Once posted, students can search for jobs or upload their own information for businesses to review.

Employers interested in the jobs portal should contact Director of Career & Advising Centers Erin Kelleher at  or 978-665-3151.

bankHometown Launches 14th Annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors Campaign

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bankHometown kicks off its 14th Annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors Campaign on November 1st with a challenge to local residents to help support local food pantries and a way for the bank and its customers to make a real difference in the lives of local residents.

Customers of the bank and community members are invited to be a “Hometown Hero” for a $1 donation or a “Hometown Superhero” for a $5 donation. bankHometown then matches donations dollar for dollar and splits the funds among food pantries that serve the areas surrounding each of its thirteen offices in Massachusetts and Connecticut. In addition to the in-branch fund drive, Hometown Bank also sends a letter to business customers inviting their help and contributions, which the bank also matches dollar for dollar.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors donations benefit the Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf at the United Methodist Church in Oxford; Food Share, a Southbridge-based program that serves residents of Sturbridge, Charlton and Southbridge; the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at Sacred Heart Church in Webster; the Athol Salvation Army Food Pantry; CARE Food Pantry in Clinton, the Auburn Youth and Family Services, Inc. Food Pantry and Ginny’s Helping Hand in Leominster. The Connecticut pantries being served are Daily Bread in Putnam; Friends of Assisi in Killingly and Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG) in Thompson.

Last year’s campaign concluded with a total donation of $17,500.00, with individual checks in the amount of $2,500.00 were presented to each of the seven participating food pantries. To date, more than $117,500.00 has been distributed through this program.

Hometown Bank is a $400 million mutual bank with offices in Massachusetts (Athol, Auburn, Leominster, Oxford, South Lancaster, Sturbridge and Webster) and Connecticut (Putnam, Brooklyn, Killingly, Thompson, and Woodstock).

Educational Programs Scheduled for Manufacturers

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The Devens Eco-Efficiency Center announces a calendar of educational programs that can help area manufacturers strengthen operational processes. The non-profit’s EHS Roundtable is a forum where area professionals with environmental, health, and/or safety related responsibilities learn from guest speakers, share best practices, discuss challenges, exchange resources, and build partnerships.
Confirmed topics for the monthly meeting include:

OSHA Inspections – Be Prepared, November 3: Area Director for OSHA Hartford, CT, Paul Mangiafico will present what an employer can expect from an OSHA inspection, how and why OSHA targets facilities, the Compliance Officer’s scope, citation process, updated OSHA penalty structure, and process to contest.

Worst Plant Tour, December 1: Corey Briggs from Ramboll Environ will guide participants thorough a virtual tour of the worst plant, using digital renderings of real-world EHS compliance issues. This presentation will provide insight to dangers that can happen in your facility.

Let’s Fix This, January 12: Participants will share and collaborate on environmental, health and safety challenges in their facilities. This will be a great opportunity to network and interact with local peers.

Electrical Safety, February 2: Dean Vanasse, President of Boston Safety Training will address arc flash and basic electrical safety for employees.
Energy Conservation, Efficiency Strategies, March 2: Dr. Beka Kosanovic from UMASS Amherst’s Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will speak on common energy efficiency opportunities and steps to conserve energy in manufacturing facilities and review the free services the Center provides.

The EHS Roundtable has been benefiting businesses throughout Central Massachusetts since 2008 by providing a unique opportunity to learn and network with local colleagues. Meetings take place 8:00-9:30a at 33 Andrews Parkway, Devens. Registration is $30 for non-members; refreshments are served. To RSVP, visit http://tinyurl.com/EHSRT-RSVP or contact Tracy Pierce at or 978-772-8831.
The Devens Eco-Efficiency Center helps commercial, industrial and service establishments make better use of natural, material, human and economic resources. To learn more about this 10 year old non-profit visit https://devensecoefficiencycenter.wordpress.com.

Fitchburg Historical Society’s Annual House Tour Presents an All-Star Collection of Local Architecture

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The Fitchburg Historical Society will offer its Annual Holiday House Tour on Saturday, December 2, 2017 from 11 am to 4 pm. This fundraiser will welcome visitors into fourteen of Fitchburg’s architecturally significant buildings, beautifully decorated for the holidays. The Fitchburg Historical Society House Tour is one of Fitchburg’s biggest holiday events: it celebrates Fitchburg and its architecture while supporting the educational and preservation mission of the Fitchburg Historical Society, a 125-year old nonprofit on Main Street.

Some of the homes showcase architecture from the Victorian era in Fitchburg. Others date from the height of Fitchburg’s first “Golden Age,” the years from 1900 to 1920, when industrial production and population grew explosively, making Fitchburg the most important cultural center in central Massachusetts. These buildings were designed by important regional and national architects like Richard Upjohn, Henry M. Francis (based in Fitchburg), Solomonsky Architects of New York City, Boston’s Oscar Thayer, landscape designer Herbert J. Kellaway and architect James A. Britton, who was also celebrated for his restoration architecture at Old Sturbridge Village.

In addition to nine private residences, other participating venues include: Applewild School, the Boulder Art Gallery, Gerry’s Martel’s Classic Carriages, the Fitchburg Historical Society, and the Fay Club.  The Fay Club is a magnificent mansion designed by American architect Richard Upjohn (famous for the Trinity Church on Wall Street). It will serve as the “Tea Room” for the day, where House Tour participants can stop for tea, coffee and desserts.

Tickets for the December 2, 2017, House Tours are $25.00 each and can be purchased starting on Monday, November 13, at Shack’s Clothing, Mill #3, Elliot’s Jewelers, Homestead Primitives, Windmill Florist, the Mayor’s Office at 166 Boulder Drive, DeBonis & Davin Florist, Slattery’s Restaurant and at the Fitchburg Historical Society. Charles Sternaimolo (photographer), Anne Giancola (graphic artist) and to Miles Press (printers) created the posters, brochures, and tickets for the House Tours.

The Fitchburg Historical Society is located at 781 Main Street, Fitchburg in the historic Phoenix building. There is abundant on-street parking near the Historical Society and free parking behind the building. The building is handicapped accessible. For more information, call 978-345-1157, email , visit www.fitchburghistoricalsociety.org or https://www.facebook.com/FitchburgHistoricalSociety.

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