BOARD OF DIRECTORS MESSAGE: Last week, the Oktoberfest Committee gave you the information about our Oktoberfest celebration (Sept. 20 at the Topsham Fairgrounds). We have more fun planned for the end of this week … Before Oktoberfest we need to brew the beer!

And who better to brew us some special Oktoberfest beer than the folks at Ebeneezer’s Brew Pub/Lively Brewing Co. Brewmaster Mike LaCharite will open up the brewery for the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber. A delicious lunch special ($30/person), including beer, a brewery tour and the opportunity to help Mike brew the beer awaits you. If you can’t break away for lunch, the special will be carried forward as a happy hour appetizer special including beer and a brewery tour ($30/person). And maybe the brewmaster will share some tips on brewing.

The Brewer’s Lunch is this Friday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Brewer’s Happy Hour is also on this Friday, Aug. 29, 5 to 7 p.m.

Both events are at Ebenezer’s Brew Pub located at 112 Pleasant St., Brunswick. Don’t delay for this fun start to the Oktoberfest celebration. More details can be found on the chamber website, www.midcoastmaine.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

— August’s Chamber After Hours is tonight, Wednesday, Aug. 27 and hosted by Thornton Oaks Retirement Community in Brunswick. The event is open housestyle from 5 to 7 p.m. at their outside patio. Refreshments, door prizes and tours of their cottages and apartments will take place. Always free for members and their employees.

— The chamber’s small group networking program, 12 @ 12, resumes on Sept. 2. Sponsored by Wild Oats Bakery & Café with additional support from Electricity Maine and hosted by James Nylund, financial adviser with Wells Fargo Advisors. For an invitation, contact Nylund at 776-6245.

— Learn the differences between your logo, identity and brand and “11 Ways to Get Started with Branding” of your small business. Chamber member Graham Nash, of High Point, is our presenter. The Small Business Success Seminar takes place Wednesday, Sept. 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Road.

— Oktoberfest is Sept. 20, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Topsham Fairgrounds. Go directly to brownpapertickets.com to purchase your tickets. Oktoberfest is sponsored by BEK Inc., Topsham Development Inc., Topsham Fair Mall, The Highlands and Highland Green, RE/MAX Riverside, The Bill Dodge Auto Group, River Landing, Sea Dog Pub and the town of Topsham.

Watch our scrolling calendar at www.midcoastmaine.com for more information and to register for all events. For some, the seating is limited. Don’t miss out.

Thank you to our annual sponsors: Mid Coast Health Services, Mechanics Savings Bank, Bar Harbor Bank and Trust, Burgess Computer, RE/MAX Riverside, The Brunswick Hotel & Tavern, Electricity Maine, Coastal Ortho Performance Training Center, FairPoint Communications, Southern New Hampshire University, Parkview Adventist Medical Center, Atlantic Regional FCU, TownSquare Media, The Cryer, WCME Radio 9 and The Times Record.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: The chamber welcomes SaviLinx, located at Brunswick Landing, to its membership.

The chamber proudly serves 760 businesses and organizations in the following communities: Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.