Mark LaClair » Community

Western White Mountains Regional Chambers of Commerce

mark — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:51:03 +0000

This morning, representatives from the Lincoln-Woodstock, Franconia Notch, Littleton, Bethlehem, and Twin Mountain Chambers of Commerce met as a committee to explore opportunities to leverage their collective resources.Â A lively discussion was had at this third committee meeting on the topics of marketing, energy conservation, tourism, event planning, and the overall strategy to work together as a committee to further the missions of each individual chamber and that of the region.

From this discussion came the resolution that a community forum, such as the one here on marklaclair.com would be a terrific way to communicate, not only amongst the committee members, but with the general public as well.Â I have offered my community forum as tool for use by the committee to conduct its business.

In addition, I will continue to post articles here relating to the progress of the Joint Regional Chamber Committee (name to be discussed and decided on) and will monitor and facilitate the community forum.Â Later today, I will have a copy of the minutes from that meeting here for anyone interested in following the progress.

Go To the Joint Regional Chambers of Commerce forum

View All Articles Relating to the Chambers of Commerce

Lincoln-Woodstock, Here we go!

mark — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:34:12 +0000

After several months of emails, meetings, and telephone calls, our negotiations have led the Lincoln-Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and I to an agreement. On Tuesday, February 12 2008, I accepted the position of Executive Director and started my transition the next day. Lincoln and Woodstock are two great little towns located off I-93 North of Plymouth and just South of Franconia Notch. Known for their skiing at Loon and Cannon Mountains in the winter and for bountiful outdoor activities in the summer, the towns, and their chamber of commerce have accepted me back.

From 2002 through 2006, I was the General Manager for InnSeason Resorts Pollard Brook, a 5 star resort directly accross from Loon Mountain. I was also an active board member for the chamber, chair of the marketing committee and its president during my tenure. Now, after 18 months away from the area, I find myself getting back to the people, the businesses, and the environment that was so good to me for those 4 years.

The LWCC is an integral part of a community that is navigating its way through some stormy waters of change. At the top of the list is the explosive development taking place on Loon Mountain and its expanded South Peak. New businesses are cropping up and introducing new and exciting products and services to offer to the local base and the tourists that seek them. And, the residents and employees of the towns are realizing that their small mill town, is looking more and more like a true destination.

What the community needs now is a chamber of commerce that can bring the cogs together to form a well oiled machine. Piecing the needs of the individual membership together with the collective needs of the community in a manner that diminishes our weaknesses and exposes our strengths will be the true challenge. From marketing and public relations to legislative affairs and community planning, the chamber of commerce is being asked to lead the community to the next level.

LWCC Mission: To attract new and promote existing businesses to ensure the economic vitality of Lincoln-Woodstock in cooperation with, and providing a benefit for, the civic, educational, traditional, and environmental needs of the Lincoln-Woodstock community.

My role with the LWCC will be one of a facilitator, marketer, communicator, organizer, and leader. I am being asked to lead the Lincoln Woodstock community toward prosperity, for businesses and individuals alike. It is no small task, but one that I greatly accept. So I say to the people of Lincoln and Woodstock, New Hampshire “Here we go! You ain’t seen nothin yet.”

Plymouth, NH Community Center Grass Roots Effort

mark — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 03:42:36 +0000

There appears to be some grass-roots conversations starting amongst young families in the Plymouth, NH area about the need for a community center for its residents.Â Clearly, the University, local developers and business owners, and the town government receive and deserve the spotlight.Â But, what about the needs of our children, the families that are raising them, and the institutions that bring them together.Â This is not to say that the resident’s needs are not being met, but more like a call to action (or at least discussion).

Many locals know that the town of Meredith, NH just completed a beautiful multi-million dollar community center that has a wonderful array of features.Â That facility boasts an activity center (Gym), game room, meeting rooms, kitchen, climbing wall, arts and crafts room, and most importantly a parks and recreation staff that truly understands and values the notion of “community.”Â If you have not had the opportunity to visit the Meredith Community Center, I highly recommend doing so.Â Â I have been there several times with my family, and I, along with many others, just wish there was something like that in Plymouth, NH.

Â I am sure that there are many other families in Plymouth that have the same feeling about a place in our community where we can gather, play, meet, run, jump and skip…on a rainy day.Â Perhaps there just needs to be some voices heard or conversations had about it in an exploratory way.Â The Plymouth, NH Community Forum on this site is a terrific way to have such discussions, some of which are taking place right now.Â Like a community center, the Plymouth Community Forum is a place where residents and visitors can come together to discuss topics of interest to them, like a grass-roots effort such as this.

If you are a Plymouth resident, and you have an opinion on this topic, please take a moment to post your opinion in the community forum.Â Lets see if there is enough support from the residents to explore this more formally.