November Happenings

Today, we are more than half way in to the month of November, with the holiday season quickly approaching.  To say that time flies—pardon the cliché—would be an understatement. As we all know, a big reason why the days seem to whisk by is a busy schedule.  Work, errands, and many other obligations all consume our hours during the day and limit any idle time.  With that said, the Chamber is amidst a flurry of activity throughout the month of November; we will host 32 events this month. Last Friday, we hosted November Night, one of the Chamber’s signature offerings.  This was the 25th year of the event, and I am pleased to report that it was a great evening of dinner and dancing. Our guests, over 250 of them, arrived at Saint Clements Castle in Portland for a social hour at 6 p.m. followed by a tremendous surf and turf meal at 7.  After the meal was over, everyone was able to dance and socialize as Prelude provided live music during the evening. As always, much thanks to the staff at Saint Clements for graciously hosting the Chamber’s guests.  Each year, we are all able to benefit from the unique atmosphere that the Castle provides and this location truly gives the November Night event its character. Another event on the schedule, being held today, is the Chamber and MIDDlesex SHOREline Real Estate School’s “Code of Ethics” seminar.  The seminar will be held in the Chamber’s board room and will provide real estate professionals with a great way to earn continuing education credits towards their 2010 license renewal.   It is absolutely important for those in the community who are involved in the real estate field to stay on top of what is going on in the industry.  The Chamber has always taken an active role in improvement in this area.  Having the best realtors in the area will make it easier for buyers to locate and purchase homes in Middlesex County. Another way that our community will continue to improve is through the constant development of the many family-owned businesses in the County.  These businesses are very important to the local economy and we all stand to benefit when they succeed. With that said, we are excited to present a seminar on Wednesday that is geared specifically toward those who operate family-owned businesses.  The program is titled “Understanding the Generations” and is presented by the Chamber and its Family Owned Business Council. At the seminar, Dr. Michael Stern, who is a well-seasoned family business consultant, will talk about the different generations represented in today’s workforce and give tips for effective management across these generational lines. To build on Dr. Stern’s talk, John A. Green, president and CEO of Lux Bond and Green, will use his practical experience in the family owned business field to provide further insights.  Lux Bond & Green was established in 1898 by Mr. Green’s great grandfather and has grown to eight locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts with over 150 employees.   It is outstanding that we can bring someone who is from an organization that has withstood the test of time in the family-owned business arena to the seminar.  Mr. Green and his family is a true model of success because of their intelligent management practices and he will undoubtedly bring tremendous value to this seminar. With all that is going on in the Chamber, it is good to see that the business community in the region is just as busy. In particular, there is brisk construction activity in the northern part of the County, especially in Middletown and Cromwell. With the idea of welcoming new organizations to Middlesex County in mind, I am glad that more progress has been made in bringing the Army’s training facility to Middletown.  The front-runner site for the facility, Cucia Park, is a great choice and I hope that more headway is made as we enter the winter season. For more information on Chamber activities, please visit www.middlesexchamber.com or contact Matt Fraulino at (860) 347-6924 or email him at

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393 Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457
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