Welcome to the Roslindale Board of Trade

Latest News & Info: N E X T M E E T I N G; Roslindale Board of Trade Monthly Meeting; Tue., June. 2nd @ 6:00 P.M.; Sons of Italy Hall
30 Birch Street, Roslindale
(View Map); N E W S; Photos from the Roslindale Board of Trade 80th Birthday; Photos from the Roslindale Parade 2006; Photos from Nostalgia Night; E V E N T S; Paul Harris Awards Dinner; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .; Got a Roslindale Community Event you would like to promote?

for our Calendar of Events page! (Submissions subject to review before posting.)

Established in 1926, the Roslindale Board of Trade is the community's prime business network. The organization gives a strong voice to business both within the community and the city. It is an effective support for member businesses and their products and services and offers many opportunities for business networking. As one of the oldest business associations in Boston, the Board of Trade is a vital and active organization in the community. This growth mirrors the economic vitality and recent rennaissance of Roslindale.

The Board of Trade's purpose is to better the community through commerce. This means that the RBT offers benefits directly to its own members and to the community. Membership benefits include monthly meetings with an exciting array of educational, community, and social events; a business directory, monthly newsletters, website, discounted health insurance, reciprocal memberships to other business organizations, discounted advertising and timely information about important activities and trends that affect business operations in Roslindale, such as parking, new developments, and special local events.

F. J. Higgins Funeral Home Becomes Exclusive Veterans Provider, Kicks Off Cell Phones For Soldiers Collection Drive

ROSLINDALE, Mass. June 24, 2009: Mike Flynn, Funeral Director of F. J. Higgins Funeral Home announced today that his firm has been selected to become an exclusive, certified Veterans & Family Memorial Care Provider for The Parkway Area of Boston. VFMC Providers are family owned & operated. They are selected for upholding the highest level of ethical business standards and integrity while providing outstanding, affordable professional service. The staff at F. J. Higgins Funeral Home are experts in assisting families with all aspects of the final arrangement process. They work closely with all Veterans Service Organizations and local Hospices.

The government does an excellent job providing veterans and their spouses with burial benefits if you use a Veterans National or State cemetery, however there are very limited benefits for the funeral or cremation arrangements. Mike Flynn, Director of F. J. Higgins Funeral Home has demonstrated a willingness and commitment to reach out to veterans and their families by extending benefits and savings beyond those provided by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs. This includes a preneed discount of 10% off services and merchandise to veterans and their spouses as well as a complimentary wood and glass flag case to the surviving spouse of a veteran who has pre-arranged via the VFMC program.

Another way VFMC Providers are reaching out is by their participation in the Cell Phones for Soldiers program. More than 150,000 troops are serving overseas and are away from their families. Hundreds of Veterans & Family Memorial Care Providers nationwide are calling on all Americans to support these brave men and women by donating your old, unused cell phones. Included in becoming an Exclusive Veterans & Family Memorial Care Provider, F. J. Higgins Funeral Home in Roslindale Square has become an official drop off site for Cell Phones for Soldiers to help troops stay connected with their families.

Local residents can support the collection drive by donating their phones at F. J. Higgins Funeral Home located at 4236 Washington Street, Roslindale Square between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

“We’re proud to show our support for our U.S. troops, and to contribute to a worthy cause like Cell Phones for Soldiers” says Mike Flynn, Director of F. J. Higgins Funeral Home.

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, MA with $21 of their own money. Since then the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.

The donated phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each phone, enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.

Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and recycled to reclaim materials. You can help F. J. Higgins Funeral Home in their goal to help provide every U.S. soldier with a way to call home for free. For more information visit www.VeteransFuneralHomes.com or call F. J. Higgins Funeral Home at (617) 325-0455 or visit their website at www.fjhiggins.com.

Final RBT of the Year (a cookout!) to be held on June 2nd

The next Roslindale Board of Trade meeting will be the final meeting for the year and it will be the Annual Cookout. Join us for a fun-filled evening Tuesday, June 2nd at 6 P.M. at the Sons of Italy. We have extended an invitation to the Washington Street Business Group, and look forward to a nice turnout for this social event. This will be the first opportunity to welcome our incoming President, Michael Tobin, of Tobin & Tobin, P.C. There will not be a formal speaker for this event, but we will have an opportunity to meet with Val Pajer, the District Manager of Staples as well as management from the Roslindale Staples. They will be available to answer questions and to seek input from members as well to provide a brief overview of the many services they offer. There will be a small raffle and proceeds will go to the charity account, and there will be some fun giveaways. Don't miss this rare opportunity to mingle and enjoy the company of many like-minded local folks. Call 617 469-9411 for more information

Next RBT Monthly Meeting to be held on May 5th

This meeting will feature important information including the following:

There will be an important update on the candidate for RBT President.
We will discuss our end-of-the-year BBQ and joint meeting with the Washington Business Group in June.
The District Manager from Staples will be meeting with officers to discuss some matters and would like our input for the June meeting.
There will be a brief presentation on how to declutter an office in a quick and professional manner and at the same time provide more security for your clients/customers.
Our featured speaker will be: Peter Barrett, an executive from IKON Office Solutions.

All members and new businesses are invited to attend this important and informative meeting.

RBT Members Listed in Bulletin Advertisement

A half-page advertisement for the Roslindale Board of Trade appeared in this week's (April 30, 2009) issue of The Bulletin, a free newspaper distributed weekly to the West Roxbury, Roslindale, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Allston/Brighton, South Boston and North End neighborhoods of Boston. The advertisement lists the entire 2008 RBT membership, and also contains 15 "business card" display listings for certain members. Pick up a copy at one of the many businesses in Roslindale that carry it, or view the adversitement here.

Paul Harris Awards Dinner to be Held April 24th

The Paul Harris Awards Dinner, sponsored by the West Roxbury/Roslindale Rotary Club, and honoring Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley, will be held on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 6:00 P.M. at the West Roxbury Elks Hall, 242 Spring Street in West Roxbury. Tickets are $45.00 per person and tables of ten are available for $450.00. The deadline for purchasing tickets is April 15th.

For more information about the dinner, or about the West Roxbury/Roslindale Rotary Club in general, please contact the club at:

P. O. Box 320274, West Roxbury, MA 02132
Email: westroxburyrotary@yahoo.com
Web: www.westroxburyclub.org

A Welcome and a Special Offer

The following letter was maiiled to members of Roslindale's business and professional community, extending a welcome to non-members and a special offer to members:

April 2009

Dear Local Merchant/Professional:

The Roslindale Board of Trade was established in 1926 and serves the Roslindale business community and the neighborhood as a whole. The Roslindale Board of Trade has served this community for over 80 years and the membership reflects that, with over 80 members and growing every day, the array of businesses, organizations and institutions; are a reminder of a continuing commitment to adapt to Roslindale’s growth and diversity. This letter will serve as an invitation to continue to support or re-join our organization by paying your annual dues of $100 or $300 for larger businesses.

The Roslindale community is one of diversity…a population with a wide range of age groups spanning the ethnic and religious spectrum. Collectively, The Roslindale Board of Trade and the "Mom & Pop" stores and regional companies go far in providing a variety of goods and services and employment to a vibrant and growing community. The Roslindale Board of Trade’s goal continues to be to help maintain Roslindale as well as to collaborate with other community organizations in which to live, shop, work and raise a family.

For a limited time, RBT Members will have an added benefit. Any member in good standing between now and May 29, 2009 can purchase any size classified ad in the Shopper’s June 15th Issue for a 50% DISCOUNT. This is a wonderful opportunity to promote your local business in a locally-run newspaper and to also support the RBT goals and objectives, some of which are:

Promoting all local businesses and professional persons throughout Roslindale
Promoting the interests of our members and acting for their mutual protection
Providing an array of speakers and workshops for small businesses that are of special interest and relevant to our members
Monthly advertisements for your business in regular local newspaper ads
Fellowship with other business owners
Providing advice and assistance to members in the operation of their business
Providing letters of support to Members in Good Standing for licensing and permitting purposes
Promoting special events and celebrations

The meetings are usually held the first Tuesday of the month at 5:45 PM at the Sons of Italy, unless otherwise posted. The next meeting will be April 7, 2009 at the Sons of Italy. There will be a short presentation about an innovative Boston program that helps small businesses cut their electricity bills up to 30%. And join us for a fun filled night at a Community Roast being held at the Knights of Columbus on May 2nd, 2009 at 7:00 PM. A night featuring a family-styled catered meal and lots of laughter as we roast Lisa Modecker, the President of the Roslindale Board of Trade for the past four years. Tickets are $40.00 and can be purchased at Travel by Judie in the Square or by calling 617 469-4500. Our mailing address for your application is:

Roslindale Board of Trade, P.O. Box 61, Roslindale, MA 02131

Join Earth Hour in Boston!

Building on the successful Lights Out Boston campaign launched last year, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced on March 10, 2009 that the City of Boston is participating in Earth Hour, an international event to raise awareness about climate change. Organized by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour 2009 asks all participants to extinguish all non-essential lighting on March 28th, from 8:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. Boston is among over 400 cities worldwide that have pledged to shut off lights for Earth Hour, and today Mayor Menino asked all residents and business to participate by shutting off all non-essential lighting for Earth Hour. March 28th also marks the seasonal launch of the Lights Out Boston program, a campaign that began as a pilot initiative last fall, for the spring bird migration period.

“By turning off the lights, we illuminate how local action can address the global challenge of climate change,” Mayor Menino said. “Through the collective action of the community and property owners, we can demonstrate that easy steps can make a big difference in reducing energy use and improving our environment.”

Confirmed participants for Earth Hour include a number of Boston’s iconic buildings and structures, such as the Zakim Bridge, the Custom House, the Prudential Center, and the Hancock Building. Numerous local universities, business, hotels and neighborhood organizations have already committed to participating in Earth Hour and Mayor Menino invites everyone to join.

Earth Hour participants will turn off all non-essential lighting on their properties, especially architectural lighting, from 8:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. on Saturday, March 28th. Any lighting that is essential for active use or related to public safety, such as street and emergency lighting, will remain on. If any lights need to remain on for additional functions within the building, organizers ask that the shades be drawn if possible.

Earth Hour is a great opportunity for all Boston residents to join city officials and other civic and business leaders in demonstrating the impact of working together to reduce the risk of climate change and to showcase the role of individual contributions to the larger solution.

Visit at www.EarthHourUS.org for general information about Earth Hour and a listing of other participating cities.

Change of Date of March RBT Meeting -- Tuesday, March 10th

The date of the March meeting of the Roslindale Board of Trade has been changed. This month's meeting will be Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 6:00 P.M. at Doyle's in Jamaica Plain. We will be having a joint meeting with the Washington Street Business Group. This will be primarily a social opportunity with important community updates. A buffet will be provided. This will be the only meeting in March; there will not be a separate RBT meeting.

First RBT Monthly Meeting of 2009 to be held on January 6th

The first Roslindale Board of Trade meeting of 2009 will be held on Tuesday, January 6th at 6 P.M. at the Sons of Italy Hall. At this meeting, Attorney Sean Cannon will give a brief but informative presentation about new state regulations issued by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations that involve businesses and that many small business owners may not be aware of. These regulations govern data breaches and require anyone, including businesses, to take proactive steps to ensure personal information that a person or business licenses, stores, or maintains is properly protected. Topics of the presentation will include:

The history and purpose of the regulations
How to determine if these regulations apply to your business
The steps a business must take to comply with the regulations
Deadlines by which a business must be in compliance with the regulations
Questions and answer period following the presentation

Also, there will be important updates and an opportunity to catch up with fellow businesses on what’s going on in the New Year. Please call 617-469-9411 if you have any questions.

Volunteers Needed for Holiday Charitable Activities

The Roslindale Board of Trade will be distributing donation cans to various businesses to bring in much-needed resources to the Roslindale Food Pantry. Also we are in need of volunteers to ring the bell for the Roslindale Food Pantry outside of the Village Market on December 19, 20th, Friday and Saturday. Please call 617 469-9411 for more info. Season's Greetings and thank you for your support!

RBT Holiday Celebration at Robyn's

The Roslindale Board of Trade's Holiday Celebration will be held Tuesday, December 9th at Robyn's Bar and Grill, 4195 Washington Street, Roslindale, from 6:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. The first two hours will be for socializing and enjoying hot appetizers & beverages. Then, starting at 8:00 P.M., there will be Trivia Night, and our members are invited to participate. Please R.S.V.P. by December 5th by calling 617-469-9411. Hope to see you there!

New Member Welcomed at RBT November Monthly Meeting

New RBT member Angel Class of Sign Pro was warmly welcomed at the Roslindale Board of Trade's monthly meeting on November 12, 2008. Mr. Class is the president of this new business, located at 44 Lochdale Street in Roslindale. Mr. Class introduced himself and described his company's services, which include graphic design, full color printing, large format printing, neon awnings, banners, vehicle wraps, interior and exterior store building signs, real estate signs, channel letters, LED light boxes, A-frames, backlits, and window lettering. Sign Pro also services all signs. Sign Pro can be reached at 617-331-9630.

RBT Members Listed in Bulletin Advertisement

A half-page advertisement for the Roslindale Board of Trade appeared in this week's (October 30, 2008) issue of The Bulletin, a free newspaper distributed weekly to the West Roxbury, Roslindale, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Allston/Brighton, South Boston and North End neighborhoods of Boston. The advertisement lists the entire 2008 RBT membership, and also contains 15 "business card" display listings for certain members. Pick up a copy at one of the many businesses in Roslindale that carry it, or view the adversitement here.

Substation Proposal Presentation Meeting on November 5th

There is an important meeting involving the three proposals submitted for the redevelopment of the MBTA Substation located on Cummins Hwy & Washington Street. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 5th at promptly 6:30 PM at the Roslindale Community Center (lower level). Each development team will make a 15-minute presentation with 10 minutes of questions and answers to follow each presentation.

Please come to this important meeting, as this project will impact the entire Roslindale Business Community as well as will have an effect on Roslindale Board of Trade member’s Brendan Higgins and Mike Flynn of Higgins Funeral Home. Please come to hear the proposals and weigh in on what proposal best suits the Roslindale Business Community.

All RBT members were invited to attend a meeting with one of the Developers and this information is posted on the website for your review prior to the Community Meeting.

If you have any questions, please contact: Lisa A. Modecker at 617 469-9411.

Real Estate Developer Meets With RBT Members

Merill H. Diamond, principal of Diamond Sinacori LLC, one of the firms which have submitted a proposal for the revelopmenet of the MBTA substation building at the intersection of Cummins Highway and Washingon Streets in Roslindale Square, met with RBT members on Friday, October 24th at the office of RBT President, Lisa Modecker. Mr. Diamond opened the meeting by describing his philosophy of development of existing real estate with an eye for historic preservation and harmony with the surrounding community. He then presented an overall view of his firm's proposed development of the substation site. The RBT board members were particularly impressed that Mr. Diamond not only made this effort to meet with the RBT members at this meeting, but also, during the planning process, met with the substation property's abutter, Higgins Funeral Home, a long time RBT member. Mr. Diamond provided the following documents describing his work and experience:

"Mayor of Roslindale" Lisa Modecker at the 2008 Roslindale Day Parade

Lisa A. Modecker, Esq., president of the Roslindale Board of Trade was "elected" this year as "Mayor of Roslindale", and she participated in the Roslindale Day Parade on her very own float! You can see her in the following photo and video.

RBT President Lisa Modecker elected "Mayor of Roslindale"

Lisa A. Modecker, Esq., president of the Roslindale Board of Trade has been "elected" as the 2008-2009 "Mayor of Roslindale", The "Mayor of Roslindale" campaign is a fundraising drive conducted by the Roslindale Parade Committee to help fund the costs its annual parade, held in late September or early October. Any Roslindale resident of business owner can "run" for this "office", with each vote for a candidate contributing funds to the parade fund. We congratulate Lisa on her victory! The following is Lisa's "victory speech":

I want to take this opportunity to announce that I am officially the
"2008/2009 Mayor of Roslindale".

Thanks to everyone who voted for me and generously supported my campaign, your efforts and contributions are greatly appreciated, especially the Pleasant Café’ & The Boston Brick House Pizza.

Any RBT member who would like to participate in the Roslindale Parade this year is welcome to do so. Feel free to meet at the float by 12:30 P.M. on Sunday, October 5th on Cummins Hwy. The "Mayor of Roslindale" float is next to Senator Marian Walsh and is in the "Parade Officials Division."

I encourage all members to support the Roslindale Day Parade a wonderful community event.

Most Sincerely,

Lisa A. Modecker, Esq.
Mayor of Roslindale

Check out the Local First Roslindale website!

Local First Roslindale is a project of the Roslindale Board of Trade and its goal is to promote locally owned and independent business owners in Roslindale. If you are a Roslindale business owner, join today! Find out more at localfirstroslindale.org