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March 25, 2009
Dear BerkShares Businesses,
Congratulations. Because of your use of BerkShares local currency, the
Berkshire region is winning unprecedented excellent media coverage. People
around the country and around the world are watching pictures of our small
towns, our locally owned shops, our mountain landscapes, our small farms and
restaurants, our theaters and art galleries, our creative, diverse, and
unique economy.
The theme of these stories is that in hard economic times, a group of
citizens, business owners, and banks have worked together to create a way of
supporting the local economy and keep wealth circulating in the region.
The media attention has come prematurely. BerkShares are still in their
early stage of development. The businesses involved are primarily clustered
in the Southern Berkshires and are only beginning to involve the wider
trading region of all of Berkshire County. A BerkShares loan program to
support new business startup is in committee. A checking system allowing
for greater re-circulation between businesses remains in design phase.
But the media recognize the full potential of a local currency even at this
early stage. They see and report that instead of waiting for government
stimulus money which must of necessity be limited, citizens of the
Berkshires are creating their own local stimulus plan with a beautifully
designed currency.
While national financial institutions are being blamed for the current
economic crisis, Berkshire Bank, Salisbury Bank and Trust, Lee Bank,
Pittsfield Coop Bank, and Lenox National Bank are praised for their
creativity, flexibility, and commitment to the local community through their
participation in BerkShares.
BerkShares are being copied by community groups in other regions. Each new
group changes an aspect of the program to better fit their town, their
businesses. Each new emerging program again references BerkShares as their
inspiration and the beautiful Berkshire region that is its home.
The Detroit News story posted yesterday highlights "Detroit Cheers" issued
by a group of business owners inspired by BerkShares. The story can be read
at the news section of the BerkShares website:
http://www.berkshares.org/press.index.html
Friday's FujiTV story on BerkShares was shown throughout Japan and included
a stroll down Great Barrington's Main Street:
http://fnn.fujitv.co.jp/en/news/headlines/articles/CONN00151528.html
The Boston Globe, NBCTV, CNN, New York Times Magazine, and USAToday all have
stories planned. Please welcome these reporters and their film crews when
you see them in town. Their stories will draw visitors to the inns, stores
and cultural venues of your neighbors and friends and help build a stronger
Berkshire economy in troubled times.
Please also welcome our newest BerkShares Businesses listed below.
Best wishes,
The BerkShares Team
P O Box 125
Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413) 528-1737
www.berkshares.org
New BerkShares Businesses
Barbara Coperine Furniture
40 Bridge Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413) 528-8300
Contact Person: Barbara Coperine
Contact e-Mail: becoop@verizon.net
Custom-built furniture and cabinetry since 1978. Kitchens, libraries,
tables, beds, benches~ from Shaker reproductions to sleek modern designs.
Bashour and Lee Realty
PO Box 61, West Stockbridge, MA 01266
(413) 429-6634
Contact Person: Lori Bashour
Contact e-Mail: lorijo1@aol.com
Rooms, studios, one and two bedroom apartments available for long term
lease. Located in Housatonic, West Stockbridge and Pittsfield.
Drew Finn -- The Berkshire Home Inspector
805 Grange Hall Road, Dalton, MA 01226
(413) 684-2019
Contact Person: Drew Finn
Contact e-Mail: hi@hip123.com
http://www/hip123.com
Full time home inspector for 25 years, same day report with photos, follow
up calls encouraged.
GBGEEKS.COM
35 Silver Street, Apt. B, Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413) 854-1568
Contact Person: Paul Moulthrop
Contact e-Mail: paul@gbgeeks.com
http://www.gbgeeks.com
General practitioner of computer magictry.
Kitchen 2 Baths, Inc.
964 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413) 528-3801
Contact Person: Diana Jamieson, CKD
Contact e-Mail: k2binc@verizon.net
We are a Kitchen and Bath center offering professional design, sales, and
installation. Products include cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures and
more...
Lenox Softworks
114 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240
(413) 637-0099
Contact Person: Mike Ward
Contact e-Mail: ward@lsw.com
http://www.lsw.com
Lenox Softworks provides web development, email marketing, and search engine
optimization services.
Stitch Productions
68 Monument Valley Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413) 429-5636
Contact Person: Stephen Keech
Contact e-Mail: Stitchproductions@gmail.com
A full service pre-production and production facility for professional audio
recording, mixing and mastering.
Taggart House
18 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA 01262
(413) 298-5152
Contact Person: August Murko
Contact e-Mail: a@taggarthouse.com
http://www.taggarthouse.com
Our distinctive guest rooms offer private baths and luxurious amenities.
Deep soaking tubs, heated towels, afternoon wine with fresh local cheese,
and full-course candlelit breakfasts highlight your stay. Retreat to the
billiards room, warm by roaring fires, read in the paneled library, stroll
the grounds, or relax with dinner and shopping in the heart of Stockbridge.
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