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Contact me to plan your dream vacation today! Melitta Hannon (289) 344-0087 melitta.hannon@vision2000.ca www.vision2000.ca/melittahannon A Publication of Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce www.haltonhillschamber.on.ca April 17, 2012 12 Pages Your Chamber Moving Forward T By Marnie Hughes, Communication Artistry he Georgetown Board of Trade was officially registered in 1912 as a group of local merchants and residents who came to realize the benefits of combining efforts. Few formal records exist for those first decades of the Board of Trade, and in 1959 the name was changed to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce. Acton had also established a Board of Trade in 1904, but did not officially register the organization. Here too, few records exist but in 1954 the Acton Chamber of Commerce was established where common business challenges were faced together. Finally in 1988, the Georgetown and Acton Chambers of Commerce combined forces to become the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce. The Early Days When reading yellowed newspapers from decades past, it becomes apparent that the needs of yesterday's business community weren't all that different from the needs of today. At the beginning of the last century, local business needed to deal with transportation issues to serve expanding markets. Rising costs were always of concern and that dreaded income tax introduced in 1917 became a permanent part of the business cycle. Then, as now, the Chamber of Commerce provided advocacy, encouragement and support. So what has really changed? In a big way, technology has had an impact on how business is done. The last fifty years have seen unprecedented needs to adapt to change and many businesses simply got left behind. Membership in the Chamber of Commerce at least allowed businesses to network and ers has started warming up and becoming social. At the end of the day, it is the people behind the business that you choose to purchase from, and in some ways that is the most common thread throughout our century as a Chamber. How else do you explain so many businesses staying here for so long? Many companies that were here in the `50s and `60s are still in operation today: Halton Hills Chamber, 328 Guelph Street, Georgetown strategize in order to make the most of challenging situations. That continues to be true today, as the once "cold" technology of comput- Tyler Transportation, Canadian Tire, Barragers Cleaners, Young's Pharmacy. Many other businesses such as North Halton Golf & Country Club, Armstrong Insurance, Office Magic, and Goebelle MacAdam Alexander have also been fixtures for decades. This community has been able to support these various businesses and, with a strong desire to shop local and support our own, these businesses have been able to thrive. The companies, in turn, have given so much to the community in the form of jobs, services and sponsorships. It's funny how the message to "buy local" has recurred several times over the years and it continues to be a critical point for ongoing success into the future. Advocacy Speaking up for the business community ­ that is the primary role of the Chamber of Commerce. On behalf of our membership, we have joined both the Canadian and Ontario Chambers of Commerce to more fully represent Halton Hills businesses on Federal or Provincial issues. We actively speak up on issues that affect our community and our collective voice carries much more weight than any one individual. Over the first 100 years of our existence, the Chamber of Commerce has been here to serve you. It has been our pleasure and that position will remain unchanged as we head into the next 100. BusinessLink Profile Inside This Issue... From the Boardroom. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .Page 3 BusinessLink Profile: Georgetown Market Place.. . . .. . .Page 3 Upcoming Events . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .Page 4 Networking a la Cor . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .Page 4 From the President's Desk .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .Page 5 Mobile Marketing Is Coming . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .Page 5 Welcome New Members . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .Page 6 Membership Renewals .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .Page 7 Businesses of Month . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .Page 8 Book Review "Influencer: The Power to Change Anything .. . . .. . .Page 9 Slow Marketing at the Slow Time. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .Page 9 Spotlight on Volunteer - Cor Baarda . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .Page 10 Customer Service ... It's Everybody's Job . . .. . . .. . . .. . .Page 10 What's News . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .Page 11 See page 3 Anita Bergsma vacationing in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Dr. Ron Lefebvre hitting the links at Vista Vallarta Golf Club in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. MY SATISFACTION IS GETTING YOU INTO A HOME! · 1ST & 2ND MORTGAGES · RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL · REFINANCING / DEBT CONSOLIDATION · SELF EMPLOYED · CHALLENGED CREDIT/BANK DECLINED · REFERRAL PROGRAM IN PLACE · SPONSOR OF LOCAL SPORTS · 2ND MORTGAGE RATES AS LOW AS 6.99% Feel free to call anytime, for your convenience we offer in-home service. Historically Low Rates! WE LIVE AND WORK IN HALTON HILLS Office: 905-877-7370 Cell: 416-885-7453 George Bargis Mobile Mortgage Agent georgebargis@mortgageedge.ca Upon your mortgage closing we offer 10% of our fee to a charity of your choice.