ABC World News & BerkShares

 Perhaps you saw ABC World News' Stephanie Sy standing on a soapbox in front of Rubiner's on Wednesday with lights and cameras surrounding her. She was talking about Great Barrington's Main Street for a segment on BerkShares.  The shot showed BerkShare businesses Lee Bank, Troy's Travel, Barrington Outfitters, Tom's Toys, Evergreen, and LaPace on one side of the street and I See GB,  AdventureUs, Gorham & Norton, Baba Louie's, Neighborhood Diner, The Coffee Shop, White Knight Records, Tune Street,  T. P. Saddleblanket, Crafted in Katmandu, Jack's Country Squire, Hildi B's, Main Street, and Vault Gallery on the other. 

She was talking about how it would take a Main Street of locally owned businesses to launch a local currency like BerkShares, because business managers are also the owners and are making their own decisions.  They to not have to ask permission from a corporate office to participate in an innovative local program. 

Stephanie exchanged federal dollars for BerkShares on camera at Berkshire Bank.  Then interviewed Sharon Palma and Louann Havey of the Chamber of Commerce and learned that the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce and the Lenox Chamber of Commerce are discussing joining in the BerkShares program because they see it as a way of bringing attention to the independent businesses in their towns.   

At Rubi's Café, Stephanie bought lunch for Asa Hardcastle, President of BerkShares, Inc.--of course using BerkShares.  They then sat down for a long talk, the cameras rolling.

At Guidos the film crew set up in the colorful fresh produce section so that Stephanie could talk to Rick O'Neill, Christopher Masiero, and Matthew Masiero about the over 100,000 BerkShares taken in to-date at the Great Barrington and Pittsfield stores.  Customers like using BerkShares and that's what counts for them, Chris and Matt reported.

The Snap Shop has no limitations on acceptance of BerkShares.  Steve Carlotta and Tony Carlotto told of how customers come in with BerkShares bulging in their pockets to buy cameras.  The program is bringing back old customers that they thought were lost to internet shopping.  Instead of sales as an incentive, use of BerkShares is the incentive. 

Producer Suzanne Yeo expects the program to air next weekend on ABC World News evening program.  She is working hard to edit the nearly 7 hours of shooting into a two to four minute segment.  A longer segment will be available at ABCs website. 

Suzanne will let us know when it will air.  Because so many people have asked, we will pass on the time via email to all BerkShare businesses.

Thanks to all who participated in shaping the news story.  It should draw national attention to the local businesses of Main Street, Great Barrington in particular, and the southern Berkshires in general.