Doing Business with Canada

News & Views

Volume 12, Edition 5 5-Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce May, 2012

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The Chairpersons Corner

ers for our local business? Canada is thirty miles from Watertown, it could not be any closer. Instead of being upset and angry that Canadians are taking up parking spots at Walmart or the Salmon Run Mall, why not turn that around and view this as a positive for our community? The Ferry in Cape Vincent has recently opened which will provide an increase in traffic to our river communities; this is excellent news for our area. Chamber members benefit from Canadian shoppers in our region. Whether you own a local restaurant, a hotel, retails shops, or a seasonal business you will all benefit. We are fortunate to have a friendly neighbor to the north, please welcome Canadian shoppers to our area, we are fortunate to have the additional consumers so close by.

Opening our doors to Canadian shoppers in our area makes economic sense! Where is the downside of seeing an increase in consum-

Lynne Ferris Firm Administrator Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP

Renewed Memberships for April Thank you

A&B Office Equipment Agape Shop Alzheimers Assoc. CNY Arbys Arbys Barrett Paving Materials, Inc. Bay Drive In, Inc. Benefit Services Group, Inc Blue Mountain Spring Water Burns Photography Cheney Tire, Inc CITEC Converse Laboratories, Inc Current Applications Danos Pizzeria, Inc Elliott Reality Faith Fellowship Fuller Insurance Agency, Inc. Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways Gwizz (Joseph Rusin) Hicks Ice Company Homestead Homes Hospice Foundation Jefferson Lewis Board of Realtors Johnson Lumber Co., LLC JRC LaMont Food Fair (G. Douglas LaMont) Lil River Fudge Co. Inc Lowes Marras Martins Pretzel Menter, Rubin & Trivelpiece, PC Michael Ringer (St. Lawrence Gallery) North Country Capital Papa Johns Papa Johns Pard Transmissions of Watertown, INC Parkview Cleaners PCS Homes Pioneer Services Pleasant Night Inn Raso Real Estate, LLC Reed and Benoit Funeral Home River Golf Adventures RJs Catering Salmon Run Shoppnig Center LLC Sherwin Williams South Jeff Wine & Liquor, LLC St. Lawrence Associates Swish Kenko, LTD T & T Chem Dry Tanglewood Properties, LLC Texas Roadhouse The Woolsey Manor B&B Tug Hill Vineyards Watertown Auto Service Watertown City School District Watertown Eye Center Watertown Golf Club Watertown N E Janitorial & Cleaning Watertown Urgent Care Whites Lumber Wilber D. Thesier PE PC Wise Woman OB/GYN Woodcrest Apartments (Conifer Realty)

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The Presidents Perspective

endeavors to support economic growth in Watertown and the surrounding areas as well as Kingston and their neighboring cities. The opportunities are endless when we work in partnership with one another to market our destinations. Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties retail economies continue to grow and its reasonable to connect the increase of Canadian traffic over the international bridges with increased sales tax collections. The key to for renewed customer traffic is easing crossing troubles. The traffic is prevalent but how can we maintain this? It is simplelets partner with one another in our community and offer Canadians deals they cannot resist! Local hotels offer several specials to travelers but what else can we offer? If youre a small local business or even a larger store or restaurant, what can you offer to make their experience an all encompassing one? Maybe it is a coupon, a flyer indicating sales, or maybe it is simply a welcome message encouraging our neighbors to visit our local businesses! As man draws nearer to the stars, why should he not also draw nearer to his neighbor? Lyndon B. Johnson Warmest Regards

As our community continues to expand and develop, I find it rewarding that the Greater Watertown area can share the wealth of natural resources with our Canadian Neighbors! In the past several months, I have been privileged to meet with members of the Kingston area to discuss ways of partnering on future

Lynn M. Pietroski President & CEO

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New Member Profiles

STATE FARM Laura Whitney 891 Coffeen Street Watertown, NY 13601 Phone: (315)788-0041 Email: darlene.wiley.ja1e@ statefarm.com Website: www.lauracares. com Theres a lot to learn when youre getting started with insurance, and theres still a lot to learn when youve had insurance for years! State Farm wants you to feel confident that you are making informed choices. You need auto insurance coverage that fits you. 24/7 claims and discounts for things you do every day. Home, condo and renters insurance for all of your dwellings and belongings and most importantly your peace of mind. Protect yourself with State Farm. State Farm can also protect your familys future with affordable Life, Health, Disability, Annuities. Protect your familys dreams. State Farm life insurance offers the protection your family deserves, with flexible policies and options to fit every budget and need. Visit Lauras inviting office at her great location on the corner of Coffeen Street and Bellow Avenue. OTTER CREEK WINERY Kyle Hafemann 33109 Rudes Rd. Philadelphia, NY 13673 Phone: (315) 642-0622 Fax: (315) 642-3817 Email: kyle@ottercreekwinery.com Website: http://ottercreekwinery.com Otter Creek Winery, named after the creek it overlooks, is Northern New Yorks newest farm winery. Located on a farm just outside of Philadelphia, it opened in April of 2007 and currently produces 4,000 gallons of nine different kinds of wine. Philadelphia was originally famous for the birthplace of cream cheese, now it will add wine to its distinguished list of historic accomplishments. Come and pick your favorite wine, while you enjoy the beautiful view from the tasting room situated on a knoll, overlooking the vineyards, with sheep grazing below. Kyle Hafemann is proud to be New Yorks youngest winery owner. He takes pride in his dedication to offering great tasting wines and scenic views at Otter Creek Winery. ST. JOHN FISHER COLLEGE Betsy Christiansen School of Education/Executive Leadership 3690 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14618 Phone: (585)-899-3852 Email: echristiansen@sjfc.edu Website: http://www.sjfc. edu/academics/education/ departments/edd/ St. John Fisher College is a collaborative community dedicated to teaching and learning in a personalized educational environment. The Doctoral Program in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College is administered by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education (SoE). The accelerated program provides candidates with an opportunity to develop the critical leadership skills and knowledge that are required in todays increasingly complex, diverse, and information-driven organizations. This unique program in executive leadership was developed to provide an attractive and viable alternative to traditional doctoral programs in educational leadership. As an alternative doctoral model, the program is designed to: Provide executives and senior managers with an advanced curriculum that focuses on relevant and current topics and issues in executive leadership Focus on the core leadership competencies, dispositions, and applied research that executives and senior managers need to be effective in various organization settings Provide opportunities for candidates to focus their dissertation on actual problems in their organization, making the dissertation relevant and practical, and thereby encouraging organizational support Provide candidates with access to a network of successful executives and organizations to support their intellectual, professional, and career development FARAH DERMATOLOGY AND COSMETICS Michelle Farah & Mona Farah 1000 E. Genesee St. Suite 601, Syracuse, NY 13210 AND 19316 U.S. Route 11 Suite A, Watertown, N.Y. 13601 Phone: 315-422-8331 Email: michellica@hotmail.com Website: http://www.farahdermatology.com Their family-based practice specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology for adults and children. The three Dr.s Farah serve Syracuse and satellite locations in Camillus, Fulton and Watertown. Farah Dermatology and Cosmetics recognize that you have entrusted them with the health of your skin; they are committed to providing you with the best of their knowledge, dedication, compassion and professionalism. Whether you would like to improve your skins appearance or are seeking an effective treatment for a particular skin condition, you are in good hands with them. In addition to their many years of experience, they provide expert and cutting-edge knowledge in general adult and pediatric dermatology, dermatopathology, dermatologic surgery and MOHS surgery, photodynamic therapy and cosmetic dermatology. BETTER FARM Nicole Caldwell 31060 Cottage Hill Road Redwood, NY 13679 Phone: (315) 482-2536 Email: info@betterfarm.org Website: http://www.betterfarm.org Better Farm is a sustainability education center and artists retreat facility founded on the principles of the Better Theorya belief that every experience brings with it an opportunity for exponential personal growth. Through educational workshops, artist residencies, internships, and an ongoing commitment to sustainable living and community outreach, we strive to apply the Better Theory to all our endeavors while offering the curious an opportunity to expand, grow, and flourish. Better Farm, Inc. is an artists retreat and education center set on 65 acres in Redwood, N.Y. Its mission is to adhere all disciplines to the Better Theory, a belief that every experience offers an opportunity for immense personal growth. Better Farm offers the public a living laboratory of organic gardens, alternative building structures and projects, a 1,500-square-foot studio and gallery space, and a blueprint for environmentally conscious living. Better Farm provides community support through volunteer projects, internships, art installations, and year-round, low-cost or free workshops and classes in sustainability, art, yoga, music, and outdoor adventures. The organization additionally hosts free supper clubs and educational movie nights, and schedules monthly community service projects from Earth Day cleanups to public art installations to afterschool help and work in community gardens. Continued on Page 16

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dOING bUSINESS WITH cANADA IN THE nORTH cOUNTRY

Doing Business with

IN THE NORTH COUNTRY

Canada
Ads in Ottawa Citizen Three insertions a color ad on the front page of the local news section in March Watertown hotels donated $3,300 worth of packages to be for the Citizens auctionmart promotion in early April (credit from money raised will be used for more spring ads) Google Adwords 2,600 click-throughs (to date) to visitWatertown. com on Google adwords paid search targeting Eastern Ontario from March-April (270,000 impressions).

Here are some notes on the Watertown Shop, Stay & Save promotions targeting eastern Ontario: Fall, 2011 Working with the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council, the City and Town of Watertown have supported a Fall Shop, Stay and Save promotion targeting Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. The $32,000 program during September and October included Ads in various newspapers and shoppers in Kingston, Gananoque, Brockville and Ottawa (examples attached) Three half page ad insertions to Kingston and Brockville EMC Shopper Newspapers Six insertions of various

sizes to Metro-Ottawa newspaper Four insertions of five column by 8.5 deep ads to Ottawa Citizen Insert in Ottawa Citizen and eastern Ontario papers coordinated with Johnson Newspapers 115,000, copies of a 12page Watetown tabloid Google Adwords 3,000 click-throughs to visitWatertown.com on Google adwords paid search targeting Eastern Ontario from mid-September to mid-October (214,000 impressions). Spring, 2012 Working with local hotels, the Council is running a $8,500 mini-campaign for spring shopping targeting easter break business.

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dOING bUSINESS WITH cANADA IN THE nORTH cOUNTRY

Darcy Norfolk President Adworkshop & Inphorm Phone: (518) 523-3359

As a marketing agency promoting many businesses in the North Country I thought I would share with you some information and insights that may benefit members. First, attached is a some information from Visa. It is a travel snapshot. Canadian inbound spending into the U.S. is up 12% year to year. Travel Trends: Canadian travel is on the rise with more Canadians planning to travel this year than in 2011. The majority of trips will be out of the country, with the U.S. as a top travel destinationand New York, Florida and Washington as the most popular states to visit (study by BMO Bank of Montreal). Canadians who say green initiatives at hotels are important to them are on the rise, says the 2012 Canadian Travel Intentions Survey. Forty-two percent of business travelers surveyed indicate that eco-practices like recycling and energy efficiency matter to them when choosing where to stay, up 5 percent from last year. Further, 36 percent of leisure travelers and 34 percent of business travelers say they want hotels to have green products. Twenty-five percent of leisure travelers and 31 percent of business travelers say a hotel with an environmental certification program is important to them. Of Canadians visiting travel sites, skiing/snowboarding/ snowmobiling, visiting parks/zoos, and visiting national and theme parks, museums, were the most popular activities. Marketing Trends: Whats the best way to reach them? ONLINE: Canadians are also the most engaged nation online. According to Comscore, Canadians spend more time online, view more pages and more content online than any other country. On average, they spend 45 hours per month online and view over 4,000 pages of content across various websites each month. SOCIAL MEDIA: Social media is a driving force for brands, commerce, social change, idea sharing, news, current events, and advertising in Canada. It is now the #1 category for time

spent online and also the #1 category for delivered ad impressions. Facebook is the top social network with the most growth in the 55+ and 18-24 yr old demographics, however social media across age groups has experienced massive growth. MOBILE: Mobile is becoming a major channel for consumption of news, information and entertainment as well as an agency for e-commerce. Smartphone penetration is 45%-a dramatic increase over 2011 and in the coming year, penetration is estimated to eclipse 50% mark. 1.4 million Canadian smartphone subscribers scanned QR codes (at least one per month), which is 8% of all mobile subscribers. In all cases, the #1 reason was to obtain product information, receive coupons or offers, or obtain event information. Top source for QR codes were printed magazines and newspapers, suggesting that an online and offline strategy is effective. Other: AS we read about this week in the WDTs, there was also a recent change in the Canadian duty policy which may lead to increased shoppers http://www.watertowndailytimes. com/article/20120410/NEWS03/704109866 From a marketing perspective there are a number of specific efforts that a business could utilize. A few recommendations that clients have executed include: deals and packages targeted toward the Canadian market (as a hotel develop specific Canadian holiday packages including Canadian spring break and Victoria Day packages - and a targeted PR pitch to travel media); optimized content on ones website to increase search rankings; targeted landing page to be used for paid search; translation services to develop a French-Canadian press release targeted to French-speakers; targeted media buys that focus on the Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa markets; targeted email blasts through 3rd party services or Canadian specific databases; accurate and complete local listings - Google Places, Yahoo local, Bing Business, Yelp, Foursquare, and Facebook; and more.

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Thousands Islands Winery 43298 Seaway Ave, Suite #1 Alexandria Bay, NY 13607 Phone - (315) 482-9306 Website - www.thousandislandswinery.com To: Congressman Owens April 2, 2012 Subject: Federal and State taxation disparity between Ontario, Quebec, and New York Dear Congressman, 1. As the owner of the Thousand Islands Winery, Alexandria Bay, NY, I am increasingly concerned about the unfair wine taxation policy between the US and Canada. Our Farm Winery welcomes fair competition. However, Canadian wineries presently enjoy a huge tax advantage that can not be overcome by New York wineries. This tax disparity between New York and the Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Quebec is similar to other border regions across the US and Canada. 2. It is difficult for our New York farm winery to compete with the Canadian Wineries that are now being built all along the Ontario and Quebec border. This is due to the protectionist tax policies that are in place in those Provinces. This tax disparity includes both the Canadian Federal and Provincial taxes that together total between 53% and 150% of the wines value entering into Canada. 3. However, in the US there is not a restrictive taxation policy that prevents Canadian wine from flowing economically into the United States. The US presently only levies a $ .21 per liter duty on imported wine from Canada and that duty is usually waived at the border for private purchases under two cases. This leaves New York wineries like mine at a 53% to 150% competitive disadvantage compared to Canadian Winery imports that are increasingly pouring into New York. New Canadian wineries continue to be built all along the New York border in areas like Quebec, Thousand Islands, and Niagara on the Lake. Accordingly, Canadian wineries are planning to use their tax advantage to market to New York and American wine enthusiasts.

4. I believe there are three options to restore New Yorks wineries ability to fairly compete with our northern colleagues. Either persuade Ontario and Quebec to reduce their restrictive trade policies against wine entering into Canada from the US, create an International Free Trade Wine Zone along the border that encourages wine commerce between the two nations, or New York levels the playing field and imposes a taxation policy that would increase taxes on wine entering New York from Canada. 5. It would be ideal if the Canadian Taxation policy was changed to reflect the current US policy. If this happened, almost immediately the following positive changes would begin at our farm winery: We would begin to market and advertise to Canadian customers. Presently, we already advertise on radio and television stations in the Ogdensburg and Watertown markets. These stations have market penetration into Canada. Our advertising dollars would no longer be wasted reaching people who can not purchase our wine. We could begin to invite Canadian tourist to visit our Winerys Festivals that we host annually. Presently, we do not market these events to Canadians due to their inability to return to Canada with wines purchased at our NY farm winery due to the existing restrictive trade policy. I believe that a free trade wine agreement between Ontario, Quebec, and NY, could conservatively increase our sales by 35% almost immediately due to the favorable exchange rates and our close proximity to the Canadian border. I am confident; this statistic could be supported by the vehicle plate counts on Canadians that frequently shop at the malls located in Massena and Watertown. 6. Local Canadian officials, who are aware of this wine taxation disparity have conducted an international trade mission to China in 2011 to attract foreign investment into the Thousand Islands region of Canada. They successfully attracted the attention of a Chinese International Industrialist, Mr. Wu, who on 5 March, 2012 announced that he had purchased a 600 acre estate and begun developing a $100,000,000 winery operation located in Mallorytown, ON which is just 13 miles from the US Customs border crossing (I-81) located on Wellesley Island.

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7. With recent advancements in cold hardy viticulture, changing climate impacts of global warming, and foreign investment these Canadian wineries have the potential to become some of the largest winery operations in the Eastern half of North America. American wine enthusiast will likely pass through New York to these exciting new wine destinations. However, they will be unable to purchase wine from US producers as they approach Canada, because it will not be economically feasible for them to transport the US produced wine into Canada. Therefore, they will only be able to purchase New York wines once they return from Canada and are heading home. This will restrict potential purchases by 50% from these consumers. 8. Since these developments have occurred, I have become hesitant to expand our winery operations in Alexandria Bay, NY until I can gauge the full impact of such a massive winery operation that will enjoy an enormous com-

petitive tax advantage once their vines mature in just four years. It could actually become more lucrative for New York wineries to expand their operations within Canada, if the US and NY is unable to level the wine taxation playing field. 9. Thank You for your consideration. If you have any questions please contact me at sconaway@thousandislandswinery.com or telephone 315-482-9306. Stephen Conaway President Thousand Islands Winery

dOING bUSINESS WITH cANADA IN THE nORTH cOUNTRY

Save Time Searching For Government Contracts On Your Own And Join PTAC!
Have you ever wanted to learn about government contracting or be able to bid on a project? The North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) can help you with this, free of charge, no strings attached.
Confidential one-on-one counseling with business looking to do work with government Market goods and services to the military and other federal, state, and local government agencies Understand the basics of government contracting and marketing fundamentals Learn about bid solicitations, proposals, and a wide variety of contracting topics. Class and training seminars on all aspects of government contracting Free bid matching o Linking your company capabilities and matching them with current Government solicitations, then sent via email directly to you

For more information please feel free to contact Stephen Barr or Katrina Kapustay at: 315.788.4400

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Doing Business in Canada What You Should Know

By Lionel Perez
Why do business in Canada? Canada has lots of perks that make doing business in the North very appealing. Did you know that Canada leads the G7 countries in ease of doing business? And, according to the Economic Intelligence Unit, Canada is forecasted to be the #1 place to do business among the G7 countries for the next 5 years. Not only are business costs and tax rates low in Canada compared to other countries, but the country also boasts strong investment stability, industry leadership, a highly skilled work force, strategic location, and overall lifestyle advantage. How to start a business in Canada Canada welcomes foreign business investment and has many government resources to help business owners interested in expanding across the border. However, it is important to review and ensure compliance with the Investment Canada Act to be able to conduct business in the country. Non-Canadians must file an application for review of their investment to ensure that it is beneficial to Canadians. If you are starting a new business or acquiring a business in Canada with less than $5 million in assets, a review is generally not necessary but a notification must be filed with the Investment Canada Agency before you make the investment. Incorporating in Canada Though you can register your corporation as a sole proprietorship, partnership, franchise or cooperative, most foreign companies choose to run incorporated businesses in Canada. Before you proceed with incorporation, youll need to complete a NUANS (name) report in order to ensure that your company name will not infringe on any other registered corporate name in the jurisdiction. Once you have established the name you want to incorporate, youll need to consider whether you want to run your business as a subsidiary or conduct your business in Canada through a branch operation. Though both options require incorporation, they are treated differently in terms of taxes, capital, and liability. Federal vs. Provincial Incorporation You will then need to decide if you want to incorporate federally or provincially. Federal incorporation allows you to conduct business across Canada, while provincial incorporation limits your business to the province(s) of incorporation only. Requirements, restrictions and fees vary federally and between each province.
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What a jewel! This is what a zoo should be! These are some of the many comments we have heard from visitors and zoo colleagues to describe the New York State Zoo. It is thanks to you, our guests and supporters, that we are worthy of such high praise. We have come a long way since the Thompson Park Conservancy first began operations of the zoo in 1991. The old iron and concrete exhibits have been replaced with natural habitat enclosures. The buildings have been updated or renovated. Gardens, picnic areas and play spaces have been added. All to create a wonderful family experience. Our collection defines our commitment to conservation. The New York State Zoo focuses on the education, conservation and displaying of New York wildlife and wild places. From Wolves, Bears, Mountain Lions, and Eagles to the rarer Wolverine, Snowy Owls, and Canada Lynx we share with our guests the unique fauna not only to the New York area, but also the region.

This year the New York State Zoo has several new additions to the collection that are waiting to meet our guests. Helping you connect with the animals and creating memorable experiences is one of our goals this year. Our educational department, staff and volunteers will be more available with keeper chats and other presentations this summer. The zoo will also host several events to give value to you visit. To find out more about the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park visit our website at nyszoo.org or facebook page.

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Photo Gallery from the 2012 Job & Career Expo

THANK YOU TO OUR APRIl BUSINESS AFTER HOURS SPONSORS:

SPONSORED BY COSPONSORED BY

AJ Missert
Doldo Brothers Eagle Beverage Company

Member Milestones for May: Congratulations!

MVP Health Care 5 YEARS Carlowden Country Club 5 YEARS Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce 10 YEARS ABC Self Storage 15 YEARS Cummings Funeral Service, Inc. 60 YEARS

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Jefferson Express helps local residents gain employment

Jefferson Express has been offering free Resume Building and Interviewing Techniques workshops at The Workplace since May of 2011. The workshops teach participants how to put together a strong, targeted resume and offer tips on giving strong interviews. To date the workshops have reached over 250 community members. While it is difficult to track how many community members have gained employment because of their experience at a Jefferson Express workshop at The Workplace, there are several success stories that describe the impact Jefferson Express is having in our community. The most recent success comes from Gwen Decker of Rodman, NY. I noticed the Jefferson Express van while I was out for a run, says Decker. I went to the website to get information on what they had to offer. Then, I also asked the Workplace to email me monthly calendars/newsletters of the workshops being offered. Gwen has participated in the Resume Building workshop and returned for the Interviewing Techniques workshop the day before her interview. According to Decker, The workshops provided resources and ideas for improving my resume and interviewing techniques. Decker put the ideas to good use, as she was offered and accepted the position at the New York State Tug Hill Commission. Overall, Decker states that she was impressed with the quality of the services provided and the individual attention of the instructors/ presenters. The best aspect for me was meeting instructors/presenters that were interested in providing me with assistance on a relaxed level. The workshops also allowed us to exchange ideas during group Q&A/discussion. Finally, Decker says [I] would encourage people to take advantage of these workshops and be open minded. During the time of unemployment it is critical that you think outside the box and explore unknown territory, even if its outside your comfort zone. You just might be surprised what you gain; its all about learning and growing. Keep moving forward! We congratulate Gwen on her new job and look forward to helping others prepare for their next interviewing opportunity. For a listing of upcoming Jefferson Express workshops at The Workplace and in your community, visit www.sunyjefferson.edu or call the Continuing Education Division at 315-786-2233.

In Appreciation of Homefront Heroes-Military Spouse Appreciation Day

By: Sara Lynch, ACS Outreach Coordinator
The Friday before Mothers Day, is an official day of recognition for the many men and women who are married to military service members serving in the various branches of the United States Military. For the spouses of Fort Drum, the day is marked each year, by a special event held in their honor. The military spouse serves as the anchor to the military Family. These special men and women are our friends, co-workers, neighbors and community members. They are the silent ranks who wait with strength as their Soldiers train and deploy. Military Families come in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life. Despite the diversities of military Families, there are many commonalities and characteristics such as courage, honor, commitment and selflessness Army Community Service (ACS) is aware of the challenges that come with being part of a military Family. We understand that the strength of the Soldier depends greatly upon the strength of his or her Family. We further

understand that the role of the Spouse is often a solo part. Left to maintain the household by oneself, the Spouse endures separation and the complications that arise because of it. Spouses are not only expected to keep their heads up, keep positive for themselves and their children, but also for their Soldiers morale. The sacrifices they make as well as the role they play in the morale of the Soldiers serving our country, is a testament of the strength the Military Spouse possesses. It takes a special kind of person to fill the role of Military Spouse. It takes commitment, resilience, passion, will, internal strength,

devotion, ingenuity, imagination and faith. This year ACS has teamed up with AAFES, Sams club and Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes to provide a free movie at the Multi Purpose Auditorium for spouses showing from 11-2 pm followed by a lunch at the Adirondack Creek Community Center from 2-4 pm. This is done to show our appreciation of the men and women who are the homefront heroes here at Fort Drum. As a community we are honored to show thanks and appreciation for their service.

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May; High Blood Pressure Education Month

kidneys and can lead problems including heart attack and stroke. Blood pressure consists of two numbers systolic & diastolic. Systolic (the 1st number) shows how hard blood pushes when heart Blood pressure; what is it? is pumping while diastolic It is a numerical measure shows how hard blood of how hard your blood pushes against the walls of pushes when heart is reyour arteries as it circulates. laxed and filling with blood. It tends to fluctuate up and Adults should have a blood pressure of less than down throughout the day but if it stays up, it is known 120/80. 140/90 or higher is considered high. as high blood pressure or hypertension. High blood Causes include being very pressure can damage overweight, alcohol, too blood vessels, heart and much salt, aging (arent we all!), inactivity, insulin resistance and family history of hypertension. There are symptoms that most of us dont know we have until checked by the doctor. As with other health issues, lifestyle changes can help prevent high blood pressure. These might include losing extra weight, limit salt intake, exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables (that doesnt mean loading your corn on the cob with gobs of butter and salt!), low fat dairy and low in fat. Having your blood pressure checked only takes a minute; many pharmacies even have a blood pressure machine that you can take advantage of to check yours. Wouldnt hurt to take a look and keep this silent killer at bay. HEALTH CARE REFORM INCHING FORWARD 1. Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order establishing a statewide health exchange. Included in the rhetoric is this health
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The people of Watertown are going crazy for pushups as a way to get in shapeand give something back to our wounded warriors. Its called Pushups for Charity, and its causing quite a stir. Run by Chris and Jessica Page of Page Fitness Athletic Club, a Professional Training Facility here in Watertown, Pushups for Charity is a fun way to get fit and make a difference by supporting the Boot Campaign, an non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and men and women of the U.S. Armed Services who have come back home and could use a hand.

The Pushups for Charity Challenge takes place on May 19th at 10am. Complete information is available at http://pushupsforcharity.com/pagefitnessathleticclub for those who want to participate, donate or just come out and watch teams compete to see who can do the most pushups in 90 seconds. Our goal is two-fold, explains Jessica Page, co-owner of Page Fitness Athletic Club, running the Pushups for Charity event here in Watertown, we want to show our support for our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our

freedom and security, and we want to engage our local community in a fun way to get fit. The community is really rising to the challenge there is a lot of interest in Pushups for Charity. I think that says a lot about our communitys interest in supporting wounded warriors, and is a reflection of how much people appreciate the importance of being healthy, says Page. Pushups are one of the foundational exercises for overall body strength and lean muscle development. Lean muscle increases metabolic activity so the body burns more calories. Additionally,

pushups are a simple exercise anyone can do almost anywhere. Pushups are a gateway exercise, says Page, people feel results quickly, sometimes within days, and that inspires them to do more exercise. Facebook: www.facebook. com/pushupsforcharity Twitter: #PushUpsForCharity Youtube: http://youtu.be/IYGWYx5w78 To register for the event please visit: http://pushupsforcharity.com/ pagefitnessathleticclub

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New Member Profiles, Cont.

NORTH COUNTRY GOES GREEN Patti Shaughnessy PO Box 6143 Watertown, NY 13601 (315) 771-3513 ncirishfest@gmail.com www.ncirishfest.com North Country Goes Green is a non-profit organization that specializes in charitable contributions. Each year an Irish Festival is hosted by the organization with the goal to raise money to bring children from Northern Ireland to Northern New York for four weeks in the summer. The organizations strong support of Project Children assists in the efforts to support the children of Northern Ireland. The Irish festival established a scholarship fund for graduating seniors and college students in the tri-county area, giving four (4) $1,000 scholarships away each year. North Country Goes Green also donates to a number of local charities including, Disabled Persons Action Organization, the Childrens Home of Jefferson County, and the Johnston School of Irish Step Dancing in Watertown, NY. LEONARD PRINTING Erica Leonard 34 Franklin Street Carthage, NY 13619 (315) 523-3183 nnyprint@nny.com Leonard Printing located in Carthage, NY offers print services, design, and marketing consulting. With 100% free delivery, there is never a need to worry about getting your product. Leonard Printing can print brochures, flyers, postcards, business cards, booklets, posters, and more! For the technologically, creative, or time challenged, these experts can work with you to design your materials and give you exactly what you are looking for to make your business, non-profit, or special event, stand out amongst the rest. Need help trying to figure out the best and most cost effective way to get your name out there? The pros at Leonard Printing can give your business the boost it may need. ORGANO GOLD INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR Reinaldo Alvarez 26632 Boyer Circle Evans Mills, NY 13637 (315) 955-3386 reinaldoalvarez@gmail.com reinaldoalvarez.organogold. com Providing high quality, delicious coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, Organo Gold is a global distribution family that is growing and thriving every day. A family that is caring and compassionate and believes that the knowledge of Ganoderma should be in the hands of people worldwide. Its a family that cares about you. By infusing Gourmet Coffee and an ever expanding product line with the power of the Ganoderma Lucidum herb, Organo Gold has scientifically developed a healthy alternative to regular coffee that not only tastes great, but makes people feel great. EXTREME BUILDERS INC. Karla Stefanini 17227 Cook Road Watertown, NY 13601 (315) 777-1144 karla@extremebuildersny.com www.extremebuildersny.com Extreme Builders, Inc. is a woman owned general contractor specializing in residential and commercial building. With a combined team experience of 30+ years, the team is confident in providing top quality work. Services range from custom built, turn-key homes to small project remodeling. Extreme Builders work with many local subcontractors who are able to fulfill every homeowner desire from custom tile work to landscape perfection. By working with recognized and reputable building suppliers, customers always receive affordable pricing on all their project needs. OCEANS BELOW Joseph Foy 18201 Bast Rd. Watertown, NY 13601 (315) 408-8278 oceansbelow@oceansbelowmusic.com www.oceansbelowmusic.com Oceans Below is a musical entertainment band that currently consists of 4 members. They play covers ranging from the 1950s to the current era and they will play gigs ranging from acoustic shows to full blown band gigs. Oceans Below will be playing at the farmers market this summer and at the Business After Hours on June 21 on Arcade St. Currently they have their first, self-produced, and all original album available for sale at $10 each. CDs are available from the band and will be available to purchase songs from their website.

May; High Blood Pressure Education... Cont.

exchange will lower the cost of health insurance, local governments and individual New Yorkers across the state Individuals who currently buy their coverage directly will see their cost drop 66 percent small businesses will see the cost of providing coverage to their employees drop by 22 percent. While it is being lauded by a number of high profile groups, nowhere does the release mention specifically how this is going to be accomplished. You can be sure Chambers of Commerce will be in the mix. 2. No major updates on Health Care Reform / the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA); however, many areas of health coverage and plans have been impacted. Some of these are; Claims and Appeals Preventive Services Covered Without Cost Sharing Womens Protective Services as part of PPACA Dependent Coverage to Age 26 No Pre-existing Conditions Exclusions for Children Under 19 No Limits on Essential Benefits Health reform Checklists For more information on any of these topics feel free to contact me at the Chamber.
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FEATURED Events IN May... ClICK HERE FOR DETAIlS

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Upcoming Events Calendar for May

May 5,
21st Annual Bright Beginnings Community Child Care Conference, 8:30 AM - 4:15 PM, This event is an opportunity for the child care providers in our community to receive professional development, network, and exchange ideas. A complete conference outline and registration form can be found at www.capcjc.org. For more information please call the Jefferson-Lewis Childcare Project at (315) 782-4900 extension 239. A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SOLDIER 2012, This is a day when you will get to walk in their boots and see how they train and live, what kind of weapons they are using and how effective they are; what kind of equipment they have and how it is used; what their food and drink tastes like and how they like it; and most importantly, what they are thinking and doing in preparation for their next deployment. For reservaMay 6, tions email Mike Plummer at: USO HOLDS STUFF-ATRUCK EVENT TO COLLECT plummike@aol.com THE COMFORTS OF HOME FOR OUR TROOPS, 10:00 May 11, AM - 6:00 PM, The USO will Childrens Clinics signature be holding a Stuff-A-Truck fundraising event the Celebevent at Sams Club (21341 rity Chefs Event, 6:00 PM Sams Drive), Watertown, - 10:00 PM, It is that time of NY on May 6th, 2012 from year when we begin to think 10am - 4pm. Civic groups, about the North Country clubs and organizations, and Childrens Clinics signature individuals are encouraged fundraising event-the Celebto buy or bring an item from rity Chefs Event. This year the USOs wish list to help we will celebrate on Friday, support the troops. 21341 May 11th at the Clayton OpSams Drive, Watertown, NY era House at 6 pm. 13601 315-777-8006 or usoftdrum@uso.org May 11, Entrepreneurial Training May 8, Course to be Offered Online Clayton Communuty Band The NYS Small Business Presents,THE JERSEY Development Center at JefBOYS MEET RAY CHARLES, ferson Community College 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Clayton in Watertown is offering Opera House, For Hospice its popular Entrepreneurial of Jefferson County / Clay- Training Course in an online ton Opera House, Admisversion from May 14 through sion $5, Students admitted August 20. The online course FREE, if accompanied by an consists of reading materials adult, Tickets available at and exercises designed to the Opera House Box Office guide entrepreneurs through (315-686-2200) www.clayto- all aspects of starting and noperahouse.com, or at the running a small business. door The course also includes a casters North Country Bridal Show on Sunday, May 6th from 10am at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Ag Building! Package includes: 10x10 booth, table with linen and skirting, 2 chairs and power accessibility. Plus station promotions: 8 promotional announcements per day of featuring your business through May 5th on all 8 Community Broadcasters Radio Stations.

May 9,

one-on-one discussion with an SBDC Advisor to discuss each participants specific business project, whether in person or through email or phone contacts. The fee for the course is $195.00 per person; registration deadline is May 11, 2012. Online registration and payment. You may also pay by cash, credit card or checks at the SBDC offices; call (315) 7829262 or mail your registration to: SBDC/JCC, 1220 Coffeen Street, Watertown, NY 13601.

May 5,

May 11,

Jefferson County Historical Societys Mothers Day Tea at the 1876 Mansion! 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, The Jefferson County Historical Society is inviting all to come and enjoy a lovely afternoon celebrating the Mothers in your life at the 1876 Paddock Mansion. Mothers, grandmothers and all that love them are invited. For more information you can contact the Jefferson County Historical Society at 782-3491. Walk MS: 2012 - Watertown, Walk MS is a simple but incredibly powerful way for you to share in the hope for the future. Walk MS is our rallying point, a place and time for us to stand together and to be together, while raising funds to end this disease.

Railway Historical Society of NNY Cake Walk, 6:00 PM 8:00 PM, Railway Historical Society of NNY, Croghan Railroad Depot, Main Street, Croghan, NY, Croghan Recreation Park Pavilion. Donations of baked goods needed & can be dropped off the day of cake walk at the Croghan Recreation park from 3:30 PM till start of Cake walk. Come and win a cake for Mothers Day! Food & refreshments available for a small fee.

May 6,

May 19 & 20,

May 6,

North Country Bridal Show, Its the Community Broad-

TISWT Scavenger Hunt, Saturday, May 19th 10:00am6:00pm and Sunday, May 20th, 11:00am-4:00pm. Reservations required - reserve your space early! $25.00 per person (non member) $20.00 per person (member, military, designated drivers)- Get your friends and family and join in the fun sleuthing for clues. Discover places and amazing facts, sample delectable award-winning wines

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May; High Blood Pressure Education... Cont.

Have you recently received via mail or email Annual Group Information Forms from Excellus? These forms must be completed and returned to Excellus soon. If you have any questions or need assistance, contact me at 315-788-4400 or email me, insurance@ watertownny.com, I would be happy to help out. *********************** NORTH COUNTRY HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, INC. ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2012 LEGAL AND LEAN This years sixth annual local human resource conference will take place on June 6, 2012, 9am to 4:00pm at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1290 Arsenal Street, Watertown, NY. This is an opportunity to learn directly about NYS / Federal laws regarding I-9 Compliance and Improving Customer / Patient / Client Care with Lean Businesses Practices during the morning session. HR professionals and those who manage employment of others need to hear this critical information to ensure compliance within their workplace and get some insight into doing more with less. The afternoon session will cover Change Leadership and Continuous Improvement and will wrap up with Same Sex Marriage impact. Reference materials will be provided and lunch is included. There is an early bird registration (May 15th). To register or get more information go to website, www.northcountryhra.org or contact Cherie Moore, 315-376-6899 or cherie. moore@na.manpower.com. Dennis Baeslack VP, Member Benefits GWNC Insurance Agency

tion of highly skilled and educated workers with sophisticated infrastructure and a leader in many growth industries. Canadas location strategically places it in the global economic forefront and its inclusion in NAFTA gives access to millions of consumers in North America. Canada has fared relatively well in the economic recession and lends stability to an otherwise turbulent atmosphere for investors. Finally, Canada is renowned globally for its clean and friendly environment and is considered a fantastic place to raise a family, live, work and invest. Article Source: http:// EzineArticles.com/6883285

enjoy a day full of music, art, creative expression, food and networking. BetterArts open house is in conjunction with the First Annual Artists Studio Tour, showcasing more than 27 artists and 21 studios in the Thousand Islands Region. At Better Farm, guests can enjoy artwork on display in the Art Barn gallery space, a tour of studio spaces, open-air art projects that invite visitor participation, live music and open jam sessions with guests, and information on betterArts upcoming free and low-cost workshop schedule. For more information on betterArts, to donate or sponsor a table or item for raffle at the Open House event, visit www.betterarts. org, or call Holly Boname at (860) 836-0535.

Doing Business in Canada... Cont.

For foreign companies it is important to note the residency requirements for each jurisdiction. On a federal level, only 25% of the board of directors must have Canadian residency. Provinces such as Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario require at least 51% of the board to be Canadian residents, while British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec have no requirement for residency. These variables may influence with what jurisdiction you decide to register. Canadian Advantage

Upcoming Events Calendar for May

and enjoy the many surprises along the way. You dont want to miss this fun event. Participating locations: Coyote Moon Vineyards, Otter Creek Winery, River Myst Winery, Tug Hill Vineyards, Thousand Islands Winey & Home Again Alpaca Farm Contact director. TISWT@ gmail.com or call 315-6466070

May 26, BetterArts Annual Open Canada has a strong competi- House and Fundraiser,10 tive advantage for business a.m.-8 p.m. at Better Farm investment. With one of the in Redwood. This event most dynamic economies in invites all residents of the the world, Canada is a naNorth Country to come and