PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Allen Harris of Berkshire Money Management is pledging to donate thousands to the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter as part of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce membership drive.

Harris, a member of the chamber and an advocate for the care of abandoned animals, combined his two philanthropic interests by promising to donate $1,000 to the shelter for every person who joins the Chamber of Commerce through Berkshire Money Management.

"In my business you try to create synergy and leverage in investments. I thought I would try it on the non-profit side," Harris said. "The Sonsini Shelter needed improvements and when we heard about the chamber's membership drive, we wanted to do something different."

Harris, founder and president of Berkshire Money Management, said he has been able to get the community involved in two worthy causes that could provide a blueprint to all nonprofits in the area.

He will present a check to the shelter on Wednesday, Aug. 24, during a chamber night at the investment firm's offices on Merrill Road.

Berkshire Money Management's membership fund drive continues until Sept. 7. If you are interested in joining the chamber through Berkshire Money Management, call 413-997-2006.
 

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.