Chamber set to resume ‘Member Outreach Week’ gathering

By Daniel Gray

On May 27, the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual Member Outreach Week and will be featuring businesses all across Windham.

The event will be held at the Windham Veteran's Center, located right behind the Hannaford complex, and runs from 5 to 7 p.m. These events are typically conducted every month, however, one hasn't been held since 2020 and that just makes this summer event even more special.

The Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce is represented by a small team of 21 who advocate and help businesses network throughout the Sebago Lake region, including Windham, Raymond, and six other southern Maine towns. The SLRCC covers 300 businesses, including the Windham Eagle.

"The mission of the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce is to foster and sustain economic growth and prosperity throughout our region by promoting commerce through marketing, advocacy, networking, and education in a manner that enhances the communities we represent." said Robin Mullins, current Executive Director of the SLRCC.

Siochanta Farms has been a small Maine business since 2018 and they are all about handcrafted care products, such as soaps, shampoos, and candles. They are strong believers of bringing quality products to their customers and products that are safe for the environment. Things only grew better when they joined the SLRCC.

"Our wonderful Chamber reached out to us as soon as we were formed as an LLC. They helped us with ideas for brochures and gave us so much encouragement as a new, small, and unique online boutique" said Suzy Palmer, founder of Siochanta Farms.

When COVID was starting to take its toll, the SLRCC were still there for them every step of the way. Palmer said.

"During the Pandemic, when we were struggling some, they were right there checking in and assuring us that we would be okay," she said.

Another perk of being a SLRCC member are the Member Outreach Weeks they hold, which are a 'get-together' of the businesses and members to thank them for continuing their support with the SLRCC. .

"We have had a Member Outreach Week every year since 2013. It is our opportunity to visit as many of our 300 businesses as possible and "thank" them for their support. Members of our Board of Directors and volunteers from our member businesses sign up to be "Ambassadors" for the week," Mullins said.

Ambassadors for this year's Member Outreach Week were Bangor Savings Bank, Hall Implement, Siochanta Farms, the SLRCC themselves, and Windham Economic Development Corporation. This included hand sanitizer, chapstick, masks and gloves, handmade tea lights, and small flashlights.

"We created 300 gift bags of individually hand-poured, scented tea lights (ocean breeze) to invite people to relax, enjoy the scent of the ocean, and check out our website for candles and many other wonderfully unique products," Palmer said.

Anyone, whether they are a member of the SLRCC or otherwise, is encouraged to attend to the Member Outreach Week next week. While the goodie bags are just for members, there is also food, raffles and special giveaways.

For more information, visit https://www.sebagolakeschamber.com/  <