Monthly Events

Chamber Breakfast

Chamber Breakfast is held on the second Thursday of each month at major meeting venues throughout the L/A area. The breakfast always features a speaker of public/business interest, introduction of approximately 10 new members, and exhibits by four to six Chamber members. At this monthly breakfast you can feel the energy that is propelling the L/A area to lead the state of Maine in new developments. Average attendance is 215-275 members per month.

Business After Hours

Business After Hours is generally held from 5 to 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at a different Chamber member each month. This is a networking and social event at which Chamber members and guests make key contacts to grow their businesses and organizations. Average attendance is 150-200 people per month.

Chamber Seminars & Brown Bags

Chamber seminars are held at least monthly at the Business Service Center on topics of interest to Chamber members. Seminar topics have included sales techniques, customer service, marketing, and technology issues. Topics are chosen based on the results of member surveys and the seminars are offered at a nominal cost to members. Attendance is usually 25-40 members.

Brown Bag seminars are held at least monthly at noon in the Business Service Center. These programs are offered free and are on topics identified by Chamber members as important. Attendance is usually 15-25 members.

Annual Events

Chamber Annual Meeting

The annual meeting is The Chamber’s premiere event held annually at the end of January. It features the annual report and the prestigious Chamber awards for business excellence, community service, public service, business support, and business education partnerships. The annual meeting is always sold out, with attendance of 450 members.

Not Your Normal Formal

Not Your Normal Formal is the Chamber’s annual “big” social event, featuring a special and different theme each year, a world-class auction, and several cash prizes of up to $5,000. The great annual party is held the first week in May for the first 200 couples to purchase tickets.

Collaborative Programs with other Organizations

Business-To-Business Trade Show

The Androscoggin Business to Business Trade Show (organized by the LAEGC) is held during the second week in June. It is held at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee and features 200 exhibits, a special kick-off breakfast and a festive Business After Hours at the Colisee. The show draws an attendance of approximately 2,500 people and exhibit space is nearly always sold out.

Adopt-A-Spot

The Adopt-a-Spot program is a cooperative effort of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, the city of Lewiston, and the city of Auburn. The program is designed to promote beautification as well as a sense of pride within Androscoggin County.

Special Education and Workforce Development Programs

With the guidance of the education committee The Chamber organizes a wide array of programs to bring employers, educators and students closer together. These include:

* Two career fairs for all 10th graders and all 7th graders;

* A Job Fair which last year had 60 exhibitors and over 500 job applicants;

* Over 50 Junior Achievement programs which last year reached over 1000 students;

* The Young Entrepreneurs Academy which this year has 10 students starting businesses;

* A Scholarship Scramble which over the last 15 years has raised over $560,000 for scholarships for local students.