PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Email. It is a wonderful tool. In an instant, you can send a message to hundreds, if not thousands of people. It has opened up a whole new avenue of communication for businesses. Not only does it make a company more approachable, email also improves internal communication. At least in theory.

As a chamber, we send out thousands of emails each month. At the risk of sounding biased, I think they are filled with a lot of good information. We advertise regional networking events, advertising and marketing opportunities, member-to-member discounts, and much more.

But as good as emails are, I know this fact to be 100 percent true: reading email takes time. And maybe I am speaking out of turn, but I would venture to say “extra time” is not a luxury most folks have these days. Another 100 percent truth: you cannot take advantage of good deals you know nothing about. So what is the solution?

For me, the answer is found in good oldfashioned human interaction. I like to talk to chamber members face-to-face, at their business, as often as possible. To help me out, I also want as many members of the chamber team to call or visit as possible, too.

Not long, time-consuming, “solve the problems of the universe” type visits, but short, impromptu visits on how business is going, benefits of upcoming events, and most importantly, asking what the chamber can do to help their business succeed.

Last week, I went out to visit eight different business members on Friday afternoon. When it was all said and done, I found out just as much valuable information as I shared.

I found out that I need to tweak at least one of the chamber’s internal processes to be more accommodating to busy members. I found some really nice pottery at one of our member businesses in Arrowsic — as a matter of fact, I have an awesome new coffee cup to show for that trip.

I found a premium meeting space for 30 to 40 people (we constantly get calls at the chamber about locations of potential meeting spaces). I talked with a small business owner who was concerned about the cost of diesel and what new sales taxes would do to his business.

I toured greenhouses, learned about onsite workshops, and located several places to expand a mini-info center to highlight chamber businesses and attractions. I think I even found that corner hutch my wife and I have been searching for.

As I walked away from each location, after greeting employees and talking to owners and managers, I was really glad I got off my bottom and took the time to go visit. I could have sent an email, or even called, but it would not have been the same. I now have faces to go with names, I know their products and services firsthand, and I can personally promote their business. Question of the Day: Do you do the same with your customers?

In today’s busy, time-crunched world, I think it is imperative for people to make the time to get away from their computer, get out of the office, and “walk the common ground.” Meeting real people, seeing real situations, hearing real needs and, hopefully, finding real solutions.

I encourage anyone who has been entrusted with the responsibility of being a leader — business, profit, nonprofit, faithbased, or municipal — to purposely schedule time to walk around in and meet the community they serve. I know you will be glad you did.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Meet the Sylvan Learning Centers of Maine director and instructors at its newest satellite location at Southern New Hampshire University, 10 Tibbetts Drive, Brunswick. The ribbon cutting is Thursday, Aug. 8, 9:30 a.m. The Brunswick satellite location is the first of its kind in the state using SylvanSync on iPads.

Janine Bisaillon-Cary, president of the Maine International Trade Center, is the speaker at the Wednesday, Aug. 14, Chamber Regional Luncheon. It is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bath Golf Club, Whiskeag Road, Bath. Lunch buffet and networking are included in the event.

“The Nuts and Bolts of Facebook & Twitter For Business” is the Small Business Success Seminar on Thursday, Aug. 15, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Priority Group Business Center, 2 Main St., Topsham. Jennifer Barbour is the presenter.

“Hidden Opportunities in the Affordable Care Act for Small Business” is the Small Business Success Seminar on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Topsham Public Library. Walt Reynolds, of Ship- SHape Financial, and Justin Holmes, Inform LLC, are the presenters.

Please go to the chamber’s website (www.midcoastmaine.com), scrolling calendar to register for all of these events. For some the seating is limited. Don’t miss out.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: Discover more about chamber members at www.midcoastmaine.com or download MyChamber- App for use on your mobile phone or tablet.

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.

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