MESSAGE FROM A CHAMBER MEMBER: Why the Brunswick Sewer District joined the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber.

It may seem odd that a municipal entity (technically a quasi-municipal entity) would join an organization developed for the benefit of its business members. The sewer district is a monopoly, with a fixed customer base, with (some might say) a guaranteed source and amount of revenue. And we rarely, if ever, have a need to advertise for or actively seek new customers or keep existing customers. So why did we join?

First, the sewer district is a business, and must be operated as one. While it is a nonprofit utility, we still need the revenue to pay our operations costs, capital costs, and debt payments; and invest for the future. We need to have rates that are both affordable and sustainable for our customers, and have rates that sustain the district. We need to reduce operating costs so that our revenues can be used to invest in the future. To do so, requires that ratepayers be knowledgeable about who we are, what we do, and our importance to them and the community. To understand what we are doing and why. In short — we want their support.

The business community is a substantial part of our customer base. What we do affects their bottom line. And not just for now, but for the next few years. We want them to know the impacts we are both planning for the next few years, and the immediate impact for this year.

Second, the chamber can provide us with a venue to accomplish our public information goals. I have volunteered to speak about the district and its current and future projects at chamber events. My request has been granted and I will be presenting at the Chamber’s Aug. 19 Small Business Success Seminar at the Topsham Public Library.

We believe that the days of out-ofsight/ out-of-mind that was the mantra of many sewer utilities is not who we want to be. We want to be an active member of the community. To share in and be an active partner in achieving the environmental goals of the communities we serve (we also treat the town of Topsham’s wastewater.) We want the communities to support us in achieving our strategic plans and goals. That can only happen when we communicate with them openly and often. Communication is the key to our and the community’s success.

Thanks to Leonard Blanchette, general manager, and Brunswick Sewer District for this information. Earle Harvey, a SMMC board director, is also a trustee for the Brunswick Sewer District.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

— Do you want to meet with a dozen other business people and have concentrated, face-to-face networking? Then request an invitation to the Chamber’s 12 @ 12 lunch series. It’s sponsored by Wild Oats Café and Bakery. The next event is Aug. 4.

— For the best in regional networking, plan to attend the July 22 Chamber After Hours, hosted by The Daniel. Located at 10 Water St. in downtown Brunswick, the event features refreshments, door prizes and lots of mixing and mingling in a high energy group of business people. The event is open house-style from 5-7 p.m.

OUR MEMBERS: SMMC welcomes the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust to its membership. Its mission is to preserve, protect and steward the cherished landscapes and rich natural resources of our communities, to provide access for recreation, and to support local agriculture and other traditional land uses, now and for generations to come. Check out the chamber’s website at www.midcoastmaine.com to find what you are looking for.

SMMC proudly serves 670 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. Find them all on our website at wwwmidcoastmaine.com.