Potsdam Chamber of Commerce

Committee Information

Business Promotions Committee

The Business Promotions Committee works throughout the year to promote our member businesses to the greater Potsdam Community. This committee is responsible for Chamber projects such as promotional brochures, Potsdam postcard project, and the Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificate Program. They also coordinate the annual Fright Night event in October, Holiday shopping promotions in December, and have recently taken on the project of updating and redesigning our website. With a budget of only $5000, this committee accomplishes a lot for the Chamber throughout the year.

Meets every 2nd Thursday of the month at 8:30 a.m. Activities: Fright Night, Holiday Promotions, brochure publications, special events, advertising and other incentives

Chair: Jamey Hoose Members: James Theodore, Bob Porter, Michelle Sheehan, Kim Allen, Karen Sidletsky, Bill Shumway and Tracy Tuttle.

Events & Festivals Committee

The Events & Festivals Committee works on several annual events, such as the Spring Luncheon & Silent Auction, Summer Festival, and the Annual Dinner. This committee is also in charge of recognizing member businesses for their milestone anniversaries, choosing a Business of the Year recipient, and seeking nominations for the annual Commitment to the Community Award. It is a very busy committee that could always use more involvement from the community!

Meets on the 1st Thursday of the month at 8:30 a.m. Activities: Summer Festival, Spring Luncheon, Silent Auction, Business of the Year Award, Milestone Anniversaries, Annual Dinner and Commitment to the Community Award.

Chair: Debbie Hammond. Members: Joyce LaLonde, Jamie Bentley, Nate Tavares, Kathy Olsen, Midge Enslow, Steve Thornton, Rae Hitchman, Tammy Serguson.

Information & Technology Committee

The Information Technology Committee is dedicated to providing information for members about emerging technologies, so that they may use them to benefit their businesses by saving time and money. Their primary avenue of accomplishing this has been to provide luncheon seminars on such topics as: “Developing Your IT Strategy”, “Internet Marketing: Making Your Website Work for Your Business”, and “New Technologies in Internet and Telecommunications”. They will continue offering seminars three to four times per year.

Meets 1st Wednesday of the month at noon at the Village Diner. Activities: Luncheon seminars to educate members about IT; exploring how the Chamber can help stimulate tech. growth in our region.

Chair: Larry Reece. Members: Mark Crosby, Candy Myler, Bill Haenel, Phil Wagschall, Russ Nelson, Rebecca Sutcliffe.

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee holds many events to stimulate member involvement throughout the year. Member Breakfasts and After Hours gatherings are ways for members to gather and hear about new member businesses, or learn about new business ventures by older members. They also held a new event in 2006 called the “1st Annual Harvest Dance and Restaurant Extravaganza.”

Meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 8:30. Activities: Welcome Basket Program, Member breakfasts/After hours gatherings (approx. 6 times a year), business mentor program, Go-Cart races, Harvest Dance & Restaurant Extravaganza.

Chair: Pamela Maurer. Members: Miki Crary, Janice Adderley, Tim Damon, Sara Myers, Carmen Paone, Tracy Tuttle.

Town & Gown Committee

The Town and Gown Committee tackles many issues throughout the course of the year that are important to local residents, business owners, property owners, and students. They have accomplished such beautification efforts as the hanging banners throughout Potsdam, trashcans and benches in the downtown corridor, the Ives Park Gazebo and plantings, and the annual hanging flower baskets. They also organize the annual Pride in Potsdam Spring Clean Up Day, which takes place during April of every year to help clean Potsdam up after a long winter.

Meets every 3rd Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Activities: Town/Village/College Relations, Community Enhancement Issues, Beautification, Pride in Potsdam Clean Up Day, housing stock improvements, signage deterioration