BOARD OF DIRECTORS MESSAGE: The Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber’s second annual Hacker’s Ball Golf Tournament took place May 9 at the Bath Golf Club. The proceeds from this tournament benefited the chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!). YEA! is a groundbreaking program that takes students between the ages of 11 and 18 through the process of launching a real business or social movement over the course of an academic year.

This year’s golf tournament saw great growth over last year’s event and included 16 teams and the support of more than 33 local businesses. The 2014 Hacker’s Ball Organizing Committee would like to thank all of this year’s sponsors. We welcomed back the 2013 title sponsor, Fair- Point Communications, as the 2014 title sponsor. Other local businesses who provided support were BEK Inc., National Worksite Benefit Group, Northern Benefits, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Bath Savings, Dead River, Hancock Lumber, Mechanics Saving Bank, Morton Real Estate, ServPro and Mid Coast Hospital. Prize donors included Best Buy, Day’s Jewelers, Ebenezer’s Brew Pub, Lowe’s, Maine State Music Theatre and several other local businesses.

Plans are underway for the 2015 Hacker’s Ball. The third annual Hacker’s Ball will be Friday, May 8, 2015, with a location to be determined. If you’d like to get involved in next year’s tournament, please email midcoastedge@midcoastmaine.com.

This year the chamber’s Young Professionals Group, the Mid Coast Edge, organized the tournament. As young professionals of the Mid-coast area, we want to get involved to help educate and retain the youth of our community. The Hacker’s Ball is a great way for us to start getting involved in the future and longevity of the Mid-coast region. Mid Coast Edge membership is open to any person between the ages of 21 and 40ish who lives or works in the Mid-coast region and considers themselves a professional in their field and membership is free to the Edge.

The Mid Coast Edge is planning its next events for the summer to include another pub crawl, family cookout and trivia night. The Edge is also planning another exciting Wii video game tournament for the fall after last year’s success. The Mid Coast Edge wants to expand its involvement in the professional development of our members; offering seminars and classes on topics of most interest to our members. This year the Edge hopes to increase its reach into the community, by finding new avenues to get involved with.

If you’re not yet a member and are interested in more information about the Mid Coast Edge and what we are doing, please visit www.midcoastedge.net.

— Amanda Leland is a member of the SMMC Board of Directors, chair of Mid Coast Edge and is director of Operations for Long Cove Builders, Inc., located on Orr’s Island.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

— Today, June 18, is a monthly Business Success Seminar titled “Understanding Your Financial Statements as a Road Map to Success” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Topsham Public Library. CPA Fred Brewer is the presenter. The event is free and participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch.

— Join in the festivities as Ebenezer’s Brew Pub/Lively Brewing Company as they host an open house and ribbon cutting on Friday, June 20, at 4:30 p.m. The pub is located at 112 Pleasant St., Brunswick.

— June’s Chamber After Hours will be hosted by People’s United Bank at its 112 Maine St., Brunswick branch. The date is Wednesday, June 25 and the event is open house style from 5 to 7 p.m. Business owners and their staff are invited to attend free of charge for some of the most energetic networking in the Mid-coast region. Simply Susie’s Personalized Catering will provide refreshments.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: The chamber welcomes Sweet Dreams (Cook’s Corner, Brunswick), Friend of the Chamber Linda Smith, Funeral Alternatives (8 Pleasant St., Brunswick) and Benjamin Williamson Photography, also of Brunswick, to its membership.