BOARD OF DIRECTORS MESSAGE: Mid-coast Maine has the highest concentration of veterans, retirees, and family members in Maine. In addition, with the closure of Brunswick Naval Air Station, former base workers — many of whom are former service members — are still looking for their next career. For these reasons, the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber (SMMC) wants to say “thank you” to Maine’s veterans and their family members with actions, not just words.

For a third year, the SMMC will conduct the “Hiring Maine’s Heroes” job fair. It is Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 2 Columbus Drive, Brunswick.

SMMC is partnering with the Southern Midcoast Career Center, Coastal Counties Workforce and Maine Department of Labor to host this event. At least 40 employers representing health care, banking, manufacturing, education, criminal justice, technology and other industries are expected. All will have jobs. While this event has a veterans’ focus, all job seekers and the public are welcome to attend this event.

We also express the SMMC’s appreciation to chamber member Knights of Columbus in Brunswick. They have made their facility available to ensure that Maine’s heroes, their families, employers, and the public all have a great location to come together and search for a job that supports them and their families. Watch our column for a full list of employer participants as the date draws nearer.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

— “An Email Code of Conduct — A Key to Productivity and Profitability” is the Small Business Success Seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Taking place at the Community Room, 8 Venture Ave., Brunswick, the seminar is presented by Bruce MacMillan of MacMillan Associates. This lively and interactive seminar is designed to teach important business writing skills and practices. The seminar is free but as an added bonus each attendee will receive a free, post-seminar critique of a writing sample.

— Are you looking for a way to meet with a smaller group of SMMC members to get more “face time” and provide details about your business? Then 12 @ 12 is a lunch series for you. It is sponsored by Wild Oats Bakery & Café (providing lunch) and facilitated by James Nylund, financial adviser with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Private Client Group. Contact Nylund (207-776-6245) for your invitation for Oct. 7 at the Community Room, 8 Venture Ave., Brunswick.

— “Learn Inexpensive Effective Ways to Grow Your Business Using the U.S. Postal Service” is the Small Business Success Seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This seminar is at the Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Road. The seminar is presented by U.S. Postal Service Mailing Solution Specialist Becky Hillman.

— This month’s Chamber After Hours is hosted by Burgess Computer, 6 Oak Gove Ave., Bath, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 5 to 7 p.m. Bring your business cards and have a great time while building your business network. There will be interactive presentations, cash bar, refreshments by Byrnes Irish Pubs and door prizes. Chamber After Hours is always free to attend. Staff and employees of chamber member businesses are always welcome.

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.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: Welcome to GoodwillI Industries of Northern New England. They have a retail store in Topsham and will shortly have another in Brunswick on Gurnet Road.

The chamber proudly serves 750 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.