January 5th Strategy Planning Meeting
Donna Finocchiaro, President Marlborough Business Association

Dear Members,
 
I am happy to report the Board of Directors of the Marlborough Business Association met on Saturday, January 5th to discuss strategies for the coming year.  This was a wonderfully successful meeting with many new ideas and great dialogue.
 
The highlights are stated below:
 
<> A change to the current meeting schedule was proposed and is being implemented.  Rather than alternating morning/evening member meetings which have traditionally been held on the third Thursday of each month, the board voted to hold four morning meetings per year (April, July, October 2008 and January 2009).  The board will coordinate these meetings and solicit a guest speaker from outside the MBA.  The remaining eight meetings will become business after hour style, meaning a business association member (or group of members) will host a membership meeting at their place of business.  The board has created a sub committee to oversee member meetings and to assist the business owner with the logistics.
 
Benefits:  It was acknowledged that members would like to have more opportunities to showcase themselves to other members.  The business after hours format will enable members to have more time to network, improving business relationships.  The host will be allowed to market their event on the MBA website and will receive a press release in the local papers.
 
Special Note:  A business association member who does not have a physical location is still encouraged to express interest in hosting a business after hours event and is encouraged to team up with a member who does.  MEMBERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HOSTING AN EVENT IN 2008 SHOULD MAKE THEIR INTEREST KNOWN BY CONTACTING COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON PAULA MORAN AT PAULAMORAN@SNET.NET.

<> Enhanced community awareness of the members and the association through print advertising and literature, awareness of website benefits, and aligning with Friends of the MBA. 
 
Special Note:  Two committees have been formed to cover these areas; Chairperson Gil Thompson will spearhead member awareness and Chairperson  Brenda Hill will spearhead MBA affiliations (a.k.a. Friends of the MBA).
 
<> Signature Event.  The prior board as well as the current board have voiced the need for a signature event hosted by the MBA.  It was decided to bring back Marlborough Day to be held each year in August. 
 
Benefits:  To bring recognition to the business association members during a single day event and to provide the general public with festivities.
 
<> As always, the MBA will continue to provide community service supporting the Marlborough Food Bank, the RHAM High School Scholarship program and Career Day event, the Town Lighting and Community Carol Sing to name a few.
 
<> New this year...the B.O.D. voted to hire an administrative support person to handle clerical activities.  This position will be posted in the town paper and will require approximately 10-15 hours per month.  INTERESTED CANDIDATES REFERRED BY MBA MEMBERS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO MY ATTENTION AT DFINOCCHIARO@MSN.COM.
 
Please note, the first member hosted business after hours event for 2008 will be held at Body Works in Marlborough, hosted by owner Janice Flanigan, Ann Adams of Your Financial Organizer and Gil Thompson of Gil Pages Web Design.  Samantha Schadtle from RHAM High School will address members regarding the upcoming Career Day event.
 
The February after hours meeting will be on Thursday the 28th to avoid conflicts with school vacation and Valentine's Day.  Please refer to the calendar (to be posted soon) on the mba-ct.org website for meeting announcements and other events.  Members are welcome to post business happenings by emailing Gil at gilty@comcast.net.
 
Should you have any questions regarding the 2008 Strategic Planning meeting or the MBA in general, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
Best Regards for a Propserous New Year!
Donna Finocchiaro
MBA President 2008
836.6244 cell