The Harpswell Business Association wishes to thank all the contributors for the use of their excellent photographs in making this video. Special thanks goes to Tom Allen whose expertise and know-how turned the rough cut project into a polished piece. Thanks also to Eliott Cherry whose wonderful voice talent set the proper tone. Thank you to both Susanne Bane and Donna Dillman for helping and to Susan Horowitz for her common sense and patience.

Gail Kass
Ash Cove Pottery
www.ashcovepottery.com

Keep up-to-date with events and activities happening in Downtown Brunswick by checking out The Brunswick Blast.

The Harpswell Inn will host an Open House on Sunday Nov. 13th, from 12 to 4 pm, to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Inn property at 108 Lookout Point Rd. Discounts on rooms, Nov. 11th – 18th, will be 10% with the third night’s stay just $17.61. They will have refreshments and give away Harpswell Inn mugs.

An HBA Holiday party in the works! If you would like to help please contact Melinda Richter (Island Candy Co.) at 833-6639 or send us an e-mail at info@harpswellmaine.org.

The HBA Directors have been working with Steve Wallace, the Director of the Southern Midcoast Chamber of Commerce, to see how we can work together to improve business opportunities. He has devised an online survey (that only takes about 2 minutes) to see what Harpswell business owners have to say. Please join in and take a moment to complete the survey. He is scheduled to address the Harpswell Selectboard this Thursday.

The instructions are to go to the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber website, scroll down to the left column where the “Harpswell Survey” is listed and click “read more” and the survey will come up. Fill it out and send so it will automatically add into the other completed forms.

A great way to market your event, open house, sale or news for FREE is to post it on our HBA website and calendar at: www.harpswellmaine.org. Save money, save time, and have more time to enjoy summer!

Also, we have our 2011 Harpswell Visitors Guide and Map hot off the press. Pick up copies at our store, The Black Sheep Wine Shop, at the Town Office in the lobby, at Cook’s Lobster House or The Harpswell Inn.

Thank you for your HBA membership,

Find current news, sales, events on our Facebook page:
The Black Sheep Wine Shop

John and Jennifer Laskey VerPlanck
The Black Sheep Wine Shop
105 Mountain Rd.
Harpswell, Maine 04079
207-725-9284
www.blacksheepwine.com
blacksheepme@comcast.net
Find current news,sales,events on our Facebook page:
The Black Sheep Wine Shop

The Federal Department of Labor (DOL) new tip credit reporting notification requirements went into effect May 5th. Employers must inform tipped employees of plans to take the DOL permitted tip credit. In Maine, that amount is currently $3.75\hr (50% of state minimum wage). To be safe, this should be done in writing. Employees must sign the acknowledging statement. See p.4 of the guidelines for suggested language.

http://www.restaurant.org/pdfs/advocacy/201105_tips_nra_guidelines.pdf

www.restaurant.org

Stephanie Slocum Speaks To The Harpswell Maine Business Association

Stephanie Slocum Talks to Harpswell Business Association

The Harpswell Maine Business Association had it’s annual meeting on March 9th at the Harpswell Inn. The guest speaker was Stephanie Slocum. Stephanie is the director of the Brunswick Downtown Association. Stephanie was director of the B.D.A. in 2003-2004 and then moved on to help develop the Freeport  and Virgina Business Associations. She has returned to Brunswick and has revitalized the B.D.A. You can feel the excitement in her voice as she talks about the community she serves.

Stephanie spoke to the H.B.A. about the master plan for the downtown corridor and how the B.D.A was working with the town to improve and move along the progress of the plan. Some of the target points of the B.D.A is the retention of existing businesses, attracting new diversified business and improving the visual appeal of Brunswick. The B.D.A talks to the businesses in Brunswick to hear the concerns and ideas that they have to improve the climate of the town for conducting business. Stephanie would like to see expanded events and activities by collaborating with non profits, the art community and the historical society. Stephanie is looking at marketing initiatives to bring to the attention of Mainers and tourist, the resources available to them right here in the Brunswick/Harpswell Area. Brunswick being the gateway, with it’s rich collection of culture, fine restaurants, museums and shopping, to the coastal community of Harpswell , with its fine Inns, restaurants, rich history, and vibrant water related activities. Harpswell has the largest coastline of any town in the US.

Cultural cooperation to build a greater brand for the Brunswick/Harpswell area based on art, history, events, day trips, Water activities, and a host of other mutually beneficial draws to make both communities stronger. Marketing this cooperation is the key. With strong development at the Main Street Train Station and the Brunswick Naval Air Station, the signs of success are here. This cooperation can help to bill Brunswick/Harpswell as one of the premier destinations for residents of Maine and for the traveling tourist.

The HBA would like to thank Stephanie Slocum for her time and the inspiring talk she presented at the Harpswell Business Association annual meeting.

Thank you Richard and Ann and the Harpswell Inn for the food and meeting space. Thank you to Jen and John and the Black Sheep Wine Shop for the Beverages.

Next membership meeting is April 13th.

See you there.

The April HBA meeting will be held Wed. April 13th at 6:30 at Dick Moseley’s place, The Harpswell Inn on Lookout Point Rd.. Does your business involve recreation or recreational tourism?   Gina Perow, Harpswell’s Recreation Director will be our featured speaker. We will have a networking/ meet and greet time from 6:30 to 7 PM ..Updates on  our website, ongoing projects, welcoming new members and marketing opportunities will be on the agenda. The bandstand at Mitchell Field  fundraising group will also speak at the meeting. Light refreshments will be available. We hope to see you!

Our May HBA meeting will be a dinner meeting at The Dolphin restaurant on Wed. May 11^th. More info. to come…

Thank you for your membership in the Harpswell Business Association. This is a friendly reminder that your annual  HBA  membership is due by April 15th and you must check your current listing. It’s easy to check your information on the  HBA website for accuracy :  www.harpswellmaine.org , also to change your listing text. I have attached a membership form if you want to print one out.

Please mail your check right away so we can do our work to get our publications distributed before Memorial Day throughout the State and update any information for you before summer!

I have attached a list of Harpswell Activities for a feature we will market on our HBA website. Please take a moment to fill one out so you will be included!

HBA Membership details

The Harpswell Business Association is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of Harpswell-based businesses and our community’s non profit organizations. When you are a member in The HBA, you will be invited to participate in our activities, and easily, effectively, and affordably promote your Harpswell business or non-profit group with:

• Listing in our publications
• Annual Harpswell Visitor’s Guide Map (distributed through all 7 of the Official Maine Tourist Information Centers from Kittery to Machias).
• Annual HBA Community Directory (mailed directly to all Harpswell households).
• Listing on our website, linked to your website.
• Event and announcement posting privileges on our website (updated weekly),on our new Facebook page and in our e-mail newsletters.
• Invitation to attend monthly HBA meetings, network, marketing partnerships, participate in HBA committees and projects.
• Ribbon cutting ceremonies, referrals, participate in HBA events, advocacy, educational and business information and many other opportunities.

Please note that you must be a member (new or renewal) by April 15 each year, to be included in the current year’s edition of the Harpswell Visitor’s Guide Map. Thereafter, your listing will be in the next publication of the local Directory or the following year’s Visitors Guide.

Thanks to the dedication of HBA Business Owner Tracy Lynch of Petite Creative and the tireless work of Debbie Hastings, HBA has a new, updated look. We are still working on getting the interactive map going, but we are excited to share with you this new layout. Let us know what you think!

Peter Boisvert of Social Media Connected has donated his time to fixing links and sprucing up the website.

Please make sure that your information is up to date.