On the Eve of the Verdict

The law suit brought by 4 Chambers of

Commerce against the South Kingston

Chamber of Commerce, challenging their

new name, is nearing a close. The judge is

deliberating and an answer is expected in

early January. The outcome of this suit will

affect the way each of the 7 southern Rhode

Island chambers of commerce does business

going forward. It will also affect the

relationships of all the business

organizations involved. A culture of trust

and collaboration has been replaced by

animosity, and a family has been torn apart.

Regardless of the verdict, our Board of

Directors feels they absolutely made the

right decision in moving ahead with the

legal challenge. This Chamber of

Commerce simply had to advocate for our

members and our community and try to stop

the potential diversion of business leads that

will surely occur as a result of this deceptive

name. There is a lot at stake for our

community and the businesses we represent.

It’s for that reason the Town of Westerly

and other municipalities strongly opposed

the South Kingstown name change.

This case is about consumer confusion that

will lead to identity theft of our community

and potential loss of business leads.

It’s also a case about ethics. Chambers of

Commerce are supposed to set the example

for good business practices. We are

supposed to work together and collaborate

and create a better business community at

large. How has the business community at

large been served by this divisive issue?

Does the end justify the means? The 4

chambers of commerce that have partnered

together to fight this battle are willing to

sacrifice money for principles, as opposed to

sacrificing principles for money.

Regionalization is a trend nationwide, and it

involves willing partners working together

for the shared benefit of all. Regionalization

is NOT strategizing deceptive names that are

meant to confuse the public and give the

misimpression of some sort of affiliation

with other chambers for the sole purpose of

undercutting their dues. Regionalization is

not a hidden agenda to force mergers on

chambers of commerce that have already

said “no thanks” to your past merger

proposals.

Chamber News & Views January 2012 www.westerlychamber.org info@westerlychamber.org 401.596.7761

Block Island Chamber of Commerce Joins

the United Chambers of Southern Rhode

Island. The Block Island Chamber will be

the 5th

of the 7 southern Rhode Island

chambers of commerce to partner in a

regional alliance. That organization

recognizes the value of working together for

enhanced member networking, discounts,

lobbying efforts, and member benefits. It

supports a cooperative approach to serving

the business community of southern Rhode

Island.

The United Chambers of Southern RI will

be announcing value-added deals for

members of the 5 participating chambers.

Stay tuned for more information!

Ever been to “Allentown” in

Westerly for a good time?

Neither have we. That’s because it does not

exist! Yet, a southern Rhode Island

Chamber of Commerce that is

misrepresenting itself through a new name

has populated its website with information

about Westerly, not all accurate –including

the village of Allentown! This obvious

attempt to fool the consumer into thinking

they “serve” our community, and all the

other communities in the region shows the

level of quality information that can be

expected. Stick with the Chamber of

Commerce that knows your business, knows

your community, and provides quality

services and accurate information – The

Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber

of Commerce.

With the support of Senator Dennis Algiere,

and with the leadership of Town Manager

Steve Hartford and the Town Council, The

Greater Westerly Chamber Foundation will

apply for the Community Service grants

funds through the State of RI EDC. The

Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber

of Commerce continues to lead the

downtown revitalization efforts. We have

established priorities and programs, in

conjunction with the Downtown Business

Association, that address marketing,

aesthetics, signage and transportation

downtown. Projects such as the

continuation of the trolley service, way-

finding signage, façade improvement

programs, bike racks and a business

incubator will rank among the highest

priorities. The State of RI has traditionally

valued downtown revitalization programs

and funded them through grants. Keith

Stokes of RI EDC has pledged his

cooperation to help direct those funds to the

Greater Westerly Chamber Foundation, an

organization with a proven track record for

accountability and results.

Reciprocal Membership?

“Reciprocal” memberships mean both

Securing Grants for

Downtown’s Revitalization Block Island Joins

United Chambers of

Southern RI

MEMBER NEWS

Buckley Heating & Cooling and

Belmont Market Announce “Heat

and Eat” Campaign to Benefit the

Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale.

Federal research shows that while all

families increase their expenditures on home

heating fuel during the winter, low-income

families offset this cost by decreasing food

purchases. In response, Buckley Heating &

Cooling and Belmont Market are partnering

in a new “Heat and Eat” Campaign to

benefit the Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale

and increase awareness of its efforts to

create hunger-free communities. The

campaign will award a minimum of 25 new

automatic delivery fuel customers a $25

Belmont Market Gift Card. A matching gift

card will be donated to the Jonnycake

Center of Peace Dale. Buckley Heating &

Cooling Fuel Sales Representative Steve

Maciel, who also runs the non-profit End

Congratulations to Casa Della Luce for

winning the Chowder Cook Off for the

Rotary Club of Westerly. Their chowder

was sampled by hundreds of guests who

voted them tops among 20 local restaurants.

Stop by the restaurant today and sample

some for yourself!

Support Student Employment

Opportunities

Pictured here is Ryan (at left) with Cathy

Marcotte, Employment Specialist. Ryan

recently completed 10 hours of service at

The Chamber office, which is a host

company. Ryan helped with a variety of

clerical projects. Consider having your

company be a host company. A host

company allows a student to participate in

the area of employment they would like to

explore. For more information about this

program, contact Deb Hamel at 401-348-

1529.

National Wear Red Day is

February 3, 2012 Join us for a Ladies Lunch at Haversham Inn

at 12 noon. Just $20 for networking and

raising money for the American Heart

Association. This program is presented by

the United Chambers of Southern Rhode

Island.

After a rigorous review in August 2011 by

the American College of Surgeons

Commission on Cancer, The Westerly

Hospital has been awarded a “Three Year

with Commendation” approval for its cancer

program.

Approval by the Commission is given only

to those healthcare facilities that voluntarily

commit to meeting Commission standards in

the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

Hospitals with approved cancer programs

are re-surveyed by the American College of

Surgeons every three years, which helps

hospitals ensure that high-quality cancer

care continues to be offered.

- The Westerly Hospital is offering a free

smoking cessation program in January. The

Freedom From Smoking program will begin

on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, from 6:00-

7:30 pm in the Hospital’s Nardone

Conference Center at 25 Wells Street in

Westerly. The seven-week program will be

facilitated by Westerly Hospital respiratory

therapists trained in the American Lung

Association program.

Charter Oak Federal Credit Union recently awarded Norwich-based Catholic

Charities with a Community Giving Grant

for $3,000 to support the organization’s

Emergency Needs and Case Management

programs. In operation since 1921, Catholic

Charities is one of the oldest social service

agencies in the region and will use the grant

funding to pair individuals in need with the

resources they need to stabilize their lives.

Chelsea Groton Bank President & CEO,

Michael Rauh, has been named to the

Norwich Community Development

Corporation (NCDC) Board of Directors.

Michael, who took over as President of

Chelsea Groton one year ago, will serve a

three year term.

Warehouse Beer-Wine-Liquor, Inc. is

pleased to welcome Ryan MacDonald to

their staff. Ryan will focus on monthly

outside events and in-store customer service.

Call Ryan at 401-596-6160 if you would

like to arrange a meeting to participate in

Warehouse Beer-Wine-Liquor’s program to

partner and promote your business.

Ads for Chamber Street

Maps are Being Taken Now

The Westerly Sun and the GWPACC partner

to produce attractive, user friendly street

maps of our region. If you are interested in

having on a presence on either the Westerly-

Charlestown map, or the Richmond-

Hopkinton map, please contact John Layton

at 401-596-7791.

Scenes from Winter Festival

Donations to support the ice sculptures were received from

Ice Sculpture Sponsor-$500-650

The Greater Westerly Chamber Foundation

Merry Makers - $250

The Eagle's Nest Gallery

Traskos Manufacturing

Holiday Helpers - $50 - $199 Better Body Works Carrie's Shoes In Designs Life Essentials Wellness Center Prime Time Cafe TLC Boutique Villa Bed & Breakfast Woodmansee's Gift Shop

Chamber’s Holiday Wish List I-pad2 Tablets for the Executive Director and Events Manager. Computer training on html and rss feeds I-phone Snow plow services

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A beautiful family- Whitney Krueger, Donna

Simmons and Grant Simmons, III

Scenes from Business After Hours at Webster Bank

Waste

Management of

Rhode Island

Commercial Trash Services

(800) 955-0518

Benevides &

Turano LLC,

CPAs and Business

Advisors

85 Beach Street

Westerly, RI

401-596-9797

Help Wanted Part – Time

Book Keeper

Contact: Frank Celico 401-596-6160

Warehouse Beer-Wine-Liquor, Inc.

86 Franklin St. – Westerly, RI

Setting the Record Straight on False Statements Made by Joseph Iacoi on behalf of the South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce

On September 22, 2011, Joseph Iacoi, Executive Director of the South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce, sent an email announcing the South

Kingstown Chamber name change to Chamber of Commerce Directors from the 6 other Southern Rhode Island Chambers of Commerce. In it

he states, “Not only does a regionally-based Chamber of Commerce stand to bring together more businesses and professional interests, it also

allows us to serve the communities in Southern Rhode Island that have not had chamber representation for years, such as Exeter,

Richmond and Hopkinton.” Mr. Iacoi also was quoted in a Westerly Sun article a couple days later as saying “Towns like Hopkinton,

Richmond and Exeter don’t have a chamber of commerce.”

Those statements were 100% FALSE, and coupled with the public announcement that the South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce was

changing its name to a grossly deceptive new name “The Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce” as stated in their press release, Mr

Iacoi’s statements could be damaging to our Chamber’s good reputation. Mr. Iacoi served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Westerly-

Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce for over 10 years, including as our President from 2003-2005. While we will always be grateful for

the outstanding service he gave to this organization during that time, there is a need to address this issue to our membership and the

community at large to clearly and definitively set the record straight.

Greater Westerly Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce Services to the Richmond and Hopkinton Community

We promote the Towns in Go Westerly (60,000 circulation) with information about the communities (fresh water fishing spots, recreation

sites, hiking and nature walks, Kenyon grist mill, bell school house, Shannock Mill, references to community events with dates, golf courses,

fishing locations, general stores and the rural natural beauty of the community. We dedicate a full page and a 1/3 of page, full color, in Go

Westerly magazine to Richmond/Hopkinton. The cost of this to an advertiser would be over $4,300 each year. The Towns of Richmond and

Hopkinton are promoted on our front cover of this magazine and have been for more than 20 years!

We promote Richmond and Hopkinton Town information in our Membership Directory page 16 and 17 (13,000 circulation) including town

history, statistics, town budget, median age, recreation, taxes, etc. for more than 20 years.

We have promoted the towns of Richmond and Hopkinton on our website with text, photos, and links to official town web sites since the day

we first established a web presence, more than 10 years ago.

We generate thousands of dollars in gift certificates sales each year-- over $9,200 in 2010 and more than $9,360 in 2011 (through November)

to Richmond and Hopkinton businesses. That figure is more than some southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce sell all year! Keep in

mind OUR total sales for the year for our membership are over $260,000, by far the largest in New England!

We issue hundreds of Certificates of Insurance for businesses such as Ashaway Line & Twine, CT Fibers each year.

We gave grants (over $2,000 in free money) to Richmond/Hopkinton 2 businesses after the flood of 2010.

We donated 9 free AEDs to Chariho schools and nonprofits in Richmond and Hopkinton.

We wrote a letter to RI DOT supporting the Town’s opposition to oppose the toll booths on I- 95 – Oct 2011

We reviewed state welcome center alternatives at exit 93 and exit 1 in November, 2011.

We promoted and generated sales for restaurants that chose to participate in Restaurant Week, such as The Pavilion, in 2010 and 2011.

We promoted Wash County Fair, Swamp Yankee, Huck Finn Day, Wood River Health and others on our website with an ad at no charge. We

promoted same events with brochure distribution in our office.

We donated lollypops from Santa’s Arrival to the Ashaway Stroll 2010 and promote the Ashaway Stroll on our home page each year.

We have information signage posted on main arteries throughout those towns and we respond to numerous calls from locals and tourists.

We honored Ed Smith of Chariho Furniture as Citizen of the Year 2007, Pam Crandall of Ashaway Line & Twine in 2005 (the year Joe Iacoi was

our President) and Ray Quinlan of Hi Tech Profiles in 1998.

We provide business advocacy services by being a member of the Rhode Island Chamber Coalition and promoting that pro-business agenda.