GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce has announced its new board of directors for 2011. Daniel Kinney, VP regional market manager, Legacy Banks will leads the board as president. Kate McCormick, partner at McCormick, Murtagh and Marcus is vice president. Edith Gilson, owner of Cupboards and Roses in Sheffield is the treasurer and Scott Rote of Wheeler & Taylor Realty's Sheffield office is the new secretary of the board.

Other members of the chamber board include: Janet Dohoney, Fairview Hospital; Rich Edwards, Catamount Ski Area; Robin Hare, Shopper’s Guide; Pat Melluzzo, Wheeler & Taylor Realty; Cheryl Raifstanger, Kwik Print; Richard Aldrich, Lee Bank; Dan Burke, Iredale Mineral Cosmetics;  Carrie Herrington, WearHouse; Bruce Howden, Howden Farm and Kevin Schmitz, Marketplace Kitchen.

Other new members to the board are:  Vijay Mahida of the Comfort Inn; Georgann Farnum of Salisbury Bank; Karin Watkins of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center; and Karen Climo of Karen Climo Real Estate.

Said Christine Ludwiszewski, chief executive officer of the chamber, “The Chamber is working hard to extend its reach and to include members from a variety of businesses in South County.  By engaging new leaders, we can continue to advocate on behalf of the business community as well as provide the networking and educational opportunities that our members need.”

At the chamber's recent annual meeting, Kinney reviewed the chamber’s accomplishments in 2010, including new welcome signs at both entrances to Great Barrington; successful workshops on social media, Excel and QuickBooks; two breakfasts featuring state Sen. Benjamin Downing, D.-Pittsfield, and state Rep.William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox; an updated website; the September raffle annual fundraiser; the Business Person of the Year event which honored the Ward Family; and a very successful Holiday Stroll.

The Chamber’s first Business After Hours of the year will be held on Thursday, Jan. 13, at the Stagecoach Tavern in Sheffield. More information can be found here.

Berkshire Chamber
The chamber's going to announce its new youth leadership program on Friday morning. We'll be there to report the event but we can tell you it will include a partnership with Berkshire Community College that will allow program graduates to earn college credits.

The Pittsfield Co-operative Bank is offering an incentive for start-ups that do business with them — a free one-year membership in the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. The partnership's goal is to promote chamber membership and economic growth.

"It's not enough to be a willing and well-capitalized lender for our customers, it's tremendously important that we're also building relationships as a financial partner, contributing to the economic and social vitality of the Berkshire community," says bank President Jay Anderson. To learn more about the chamber and its programs, visit www.berkshirechamber.com.

Southern Berkshire Chamber
The next Business After Hours event is Thursday, Feb. 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington. RSVP to Joy at visitor@southernberkshirechamber.com or 413-528-1510.

Chamber members will be also be receiving a survey on future programs and membership benefits. Filling it out will help the chamber better serve its members.

Lenox Chamber
The following members have been elected to serve the Chamber of Commerce for a one-year term as officers: President Ken Fowler, Shear Design; Vice President Bob Romeo, Franklin Street Reality; Secretary Jim Terry, Villager Gifts; Treasurer Judy Culver, Purple Plume

The following members have been nominated to serve the chamber for three-year terms as board members: Dawn Carberry, Berkshire Coupon; Dawn Ramsey-Jacobsson, Cranwell; Peggy Roethel, Garden Gables Inn and Joel Catalano, Apple Tree Inn.