The Chamber officially celebrated its holiday party this week at the Buttonwood Manor in Matawan, and it was great seeing a good turnout for this event.  Our guest of honor was Christopher Patrick Conklin, an Aberdeen teenager suffering from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (P.O.T.S.).  This causes his body to be unable to counteract the effect of gravity when standing up.  Though confined to his wheelchair, Christopher and his family greatly appreciated the support our members have provided during this difficult time for them.  You can read more about Christopher and his condition here.  Aberdeen’s own mayor, Fred Tagliarini, appeared to lend the support of the township.

Members then enjoyed a terrific meal and exchanged gifts as part of our gift swap.

Feel free to view the pictures of our event below, and share your thoughts on the event…we look forward to helping you achieve your goals in 2012 and wish you all the best for a successful and prosperous year!

Best,

The Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber

Please join the Chamber in efforts in collecting donations for Christopher Patrick Conklin. Christopher is a 14 year old boy from Aberdeen who lives with his mom, dad, 12 year old brother Timmy, his grandmother and his dog Rufus (who never leaves his side). Due to an emergency exploratory surgery in March 2011, ChrisPatrick has become disabled, bedridden most of the time and unable to attend school anymore. ChrisPatrick’s mom is unable to work more than a couple of hours a week now, as he cannot be left home alone like a typical teenager. The loss of income paired with the ever growing hospital and medical bills has left this family in need of help.

Our Goal:
To help ChrisPatrick receive the modifications necessary to live with P.O.T.S.

What is P.O.T.S?
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is characterized by the body’s inability to make the necessary adjustments to counteract gravity when standing up. It is also referred to as Dysautonomia, which literally means deregulation of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is the master regulator of organ function throughout the body. It is involved in the control of heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiration, digestion, endocrine cognitive and other vital functions. Deregulation of the autonomic nervous system can produce the apparent malfunction of the organs it regulates.

What Does This Mean for ChrisPatrick?
ChrisPatrick is 14 yrs old and struggles with some of the most basic functions that healthy people take for granted, beginning with getting out of bed in the morning. Each day and each moment brings new and unexpected obstacles for him. Some of his symptoms may include (differing from day to day) orthostatic intolerance (the inability to remain upright sitting or standing), Tachycardia (extremely fast heart rate), brachycardia (slow heart rate), palpitations, chest pain, dangerously low blood pressure, wide swings/sudden drops in blood pressure, excessive fatigue, exercise intolerance (something as simple as a walk to the bathroom), dizziness, fainting/near fainting, gastrointestinal problems, nausea, insomnia, shortness of breath, anxiety, tremulousness (trembling or tremors), convulsions, frequent urination, cognitive impairment, visual blurring or tunneling, and migraines.

The Needs of the Family to Help Their Son
The family home needs some major modifications to create a safe environment for ChrisPatrick; such as porch railings, a ramp, widening of the front walk way to accommodate a wheel chair. ChrisPatrick’s bedroom is currently on an upper level and this has proven to be very unsafe as he has taken many falls on the stairs and in the shower. With some minor structural changes he can have a 1st floor bedroom and bathroom that is handicap accessible. Also, an adjustable bed is needed to elevate his legs to help with venous blood flow throughout his body. There are also the mounting medical bills due to regular doctor office visits to specialists, X-Rays, scans, MRI’s, blood work, medications and regular trips to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. ChrisPatrick needs to move his body on the days he isn’t bedridden to prevent muscle atrophy and possible blood clots. He is too weak to withstand physical therapy. His family is saving for a recumbent exercise bike to use at home and hopes to raise funds to join Meridian Health and Wellness Center in Hazlet for their swimming pool, medical staff on site and physical therapists.

ChrisPatrick’s life from his Mom’s Perspective
ChrisPatrick went into the hospital for an emergency appendectomy and life totally changed. To begin with, it took the doctors 3 days of TRYING to locate his appendix and at 4am on day 3 they finally said “we can’t wait any longer, we have to open him up and do exploratory surgery.” The surgery was successful, they found his appendix posterior and wrapped around and attached to his intestines, it burst during removal. The surgeon assured us our son would be back to 100% within 7 days….YEAH RIGHT! At the seven day mark he wasn’t even waking up much, couldn’t walk and it looked like he either had a stroke or brain damage from the surgery. Now keep in mind I was fighting with doctors the entire time because I know my son’s physiology better than any of them and insisting there was something majorly wrong. Then we began months of tests, hospital stays, ER visits and specialist who called my son a liar and/or mental because there were so many symptoms they couldn’t make the info fit into any diagnosis they were aware of. I had a pediatric neurologist yell at me when I told him I was going above him; right to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia…his ego did not like that at all!!! This is a man who on two different occassions said my son had to be making it up. Fast forward and CHOP was able to diagnose within minutes. This has been the second life changing diagnosis in my son’s life, so let me tell you, knowing what the monster is you are facing is actually a relief. Now you know what it is; now you can face it head on. Except Dysautanomia morphs and every day is a different challenge. ChrisPatrick is 14 and can’t stand up for more than 3 or 4 minutes, can’t balance, can’t walk farther that the front door to the car, his heart can’t regulate, his blood pressure can’t regulate, he falls and needs X-Rays for possible fractures, his body temp can’t regulate, his blood pools in his legs because it doesn’t know how to pump against gravity, this causes oxygen loss to the brain causing memory loss, extreme chest pains, he can’t digest food well, has severe abdominal pain and he has headaches everyday. He is afraid to fall asleep because his epinephrine levels and nor-epinephrine levels aren’t controlled which causes night terrors he can’t wake up from. He can’t walk up stairs, after 2 to 3 stairs it looks like he has congestive heart failure and has to sit down or he passes out. When he does fall asleep, he can sleep for 36-40 hours so we have to pick him up and get him to eat / drink / use the bathroom as he is falling back to sleep. I can’t work because I have to spend my life a foot behind him to catch him when he falls or loses consciousness. He has a wheelchair and a mobility chair. I have a handicap parking pass for him and have to apply for SSI disability benefits for him. He can’t attend the Culinary School or become a chef like he has had his heart set on for years. He can’t go to school / hang out with his friends / do anything like the typical kid. I have a stack of medical bills and prescriptions that could bankrupt a 3rd world county, but can’t work to pay them off. There is NO CURE and the only treatment is lots of salt and fluids to increase blood volume and to lower the risk of passing out. Other meds are all a guessing game, but most POTSY’s have such sensitive systems from the syndrome, the meds make things worse. My son questions me about his future and I have no answers for him.

We will be collecting donations for ChrisPatrick and his family on:

Date: Tues., Dec. 06th

Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm

Location: The Buttonwood Manor
                  845 Route 34
                  Matawan, NJ 07747
                  732.566.6220

If you are unable to attend this event and are interested in donating to this family, please make check payable to “Cindy Conklin” (ChrisPatrick’s mother) and mail to the Chamber office at PO Box 522, Matawan, NJ 07747

On behalf of the Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, we would like to thank everyone for participating in the Matawan Day and Food Festival on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Events such as this bring the community together and would not be possible without your support. Your participation helped make this event a great celebration of our community.

This event was a very successful second Matawan Day and Food Festival for the Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce. We had over 130 vendors take part in the event and thousands of our local residents and their families came out and enjoyed the day. We look forward to seeing the event grow in the years to come.

We welcome your feedback on this event and suggestions to improve future events. We look forward to your continued support with this community event.

If interested in participating in next year’s Matawan Day & Food Festival, please click on the links below for more information on how to become a Sponsor and / or Vendor.

Matawan Day & Food Festival Sponsorship Application 2012

Matawan Day & Food Festival Vendor Application 2012

The Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce will be presenting Matawan Day & Food Festival in assocation with The Recreation Commission of The Borough of Matawan. Matawan Day will be held on Sat., Oct. 15, 2011, from 2pm-8pm, on Main St. from Mat-Ab Library to Maloney’s Pub. Rain Date: Sun. Oct. 16th.

Matawan Day & Food Festival attracts approximately 8,000 people to Matawan’s Main Street where families enjoy the experience of tasting the wonderful variety of foods offered by the local restaurants, seeing the talents of local crafters and artisans and meeting businesses invested in the well-being of the community.

If you are a business and would like to be a sponsor, please fill out our Matawan Day & Food Festival Sponsorship Application 2011. We have sponsorships ranging from $25-$750, with many opportunities for your business to appear in advertising for the event.

Businesses have the opportunity to set up a table at the event as well. Prices vary depending on your type of business, and we encourage you to consider participating! Complete the Matawan Day & Food Festival Vendor Application 2011 to join us and celebrate the community.

Food vendors please complete the Temporary Food License Application 2011.
Also, if you are a food vendor and plan on using propane, please complete this Fire Code Permit Application 2011.

Thanks for your interest in this event and we look forward to seeing you there!

Spotlight Players is a community theater with the following goal: to entertain, educate, and enrich. We provide entertaining theater to local audiences, enhancing our area’s cultural appeal with shows that are moving, thought-provoking, and just plain fun. We welcome the community to come out and get involved with the many aspects of putting on a community theater production such as being a member of the cast, stage crew, set design, or publicity just to name a few. Frequently we give some of our high school/college students who have been involved in our productions and are planning to seek a career in theater the opportunity to be a Stage Manager or student director with the chance of eventually moving into a director role.

Our season consists of 3 family musicals, one adult dessert theater
drama/comedy production, and occasional special concert events. Our cast members consist of many local talents with some coming from as far as north & south Jersey and New York.

Spotlight Players will periodically hold fundraisers at some of our
Performances, most recently for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Currently all of our productions take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Matawan on Route 34 & Franklin Street. Spotlight Players is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. We are a proud member of the Matawan Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, the Monmouth County Arts Council, and The American Association of Community Theatre.

For additional information on Spotlight Players and our upcoming shows and auditions
Call 732- 583-7874 or visit our website at www.spotlightplayers.org.

Join the Chamber, as we express our appreciation to those local businesses that helped contribute to sending two couples, experiencing financial hardship, from the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional High School to their Senior Prom.
We would like to show recognition of appreciation to those businesses. Thank you for your generous contributions.

Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce
Michael A. Moyers, President
Contribution: $300 cash (4 tickets to the prom)

Tiffani’s Vintage Closet
Paula Agneta-Bungay, Owner
782 State Route 34
Matawan, NJ 07747
Tel: 732-970-5778
Contribution: Two – Gift Certificates (girl prom dresses and accessories)

Flowers by Melanie
Melanie Straniero, Owner
1061 State Route 34 #J
Matawan, NJ 07747
Tel: 732-441-7740
Website: www.flowersbymelanie.com
Contribution: Two – Gift Certificates for Corsage
                    Two – Gift Certificates for Boutonniere

Platinum Limousine Service
Thomas Giles, Owner
1086 Arbutus Way
Laurence Harbor, NJ 08879
Tel: 732-890-2476
Contribution: Two – Gift Certificates for Limousine Service To and From Senior Prom

Liquid Glow Air Brush Tanning
1061 State Route 34 #F
Matawan, NJ 07747
Tel: 732-290-1919
Contribution: Two – Gift Certificates for Air Brush Tanning

My name is John Ambrose and the Company I represent is Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc., which is a 37 year old company that started with a car accident and has grown into a company that has given hope to those of us that have needed Legal questions answered.

The benefits of this company are numerous, including:

• Legal Consultations/Advice
• Letters and Phone calls from a lawyer to others on your behalf
• Contract review (including Will preparation)
• Motor Vehicle Services both Major and Minor
• Trial Defense Services
• IRS Audit Legal Services

Another area of coverage is Id Theft: the company protects / restores your identity in all areas of Identity theft, including Social Security , medical , drivers license, Credit Card, character criminal with complete  monitoring of your  credit with notification if there is any  unauthorized  activity. The coverage is nationwide 24 hours a day.

The coverage is for the both spouse or significant  other, never married  children under the age of 21 living at home any never married  children under the age of 23 who are full time students, and any dependent child regardless of age who is mentally or physically disabled ,for whom the member is primarily responsible. Additional info can be found at my web site www.mywallofsecurity.com or you can also email me at ambrose@prepaidlegal.com.  I look forward to helping you.

Business Name: Pre-Paid Legal Services

Business Contact: John Ambrose

Web Site: http://www.mywallofsecurity.com

Phone: 908-601-9778

Join the Chamber in supporting the New Jersey Blind Citizens Association for their gift auction this year. We are looking for members who can to provide coupons and other business-related items to the auction for bidding. This is a great way to help a worthy cause in your community!

If you’d like to attend, the event details are as follows:

• Date & Time: May 20th, 2011 at 5:30pm for visually impaired and 6pm for regular admission.
• Fee: $15 donation
• Location: VFW Post 2179, 1Veteran’s Lane, Port Monmouth, NJ (Click here to open an interactive map in a new window)

Anyone willing to make a donation can drop his or her item off at fellow member Sandra Dalton’s office at Ameriprise Financial starting in May:

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc
Sandra H. Dalton, CDFA, ChFC, MBA
14 Cliffwood Ave., Suite 250
Matawan, NJ 07747
TEL: 732-970-7540 x116

The event is being held on May 20th, so be sure to get your items in before then!

For more information, go to the NJ Blind Citizens Association website, or click this link to get more information directly from the gift auction flyer.

We’re getting ready here at the chamber for our 10th annual Business Expo.

You can meet your local business owners and professionals at the Reception Center at St. Clement, Route 79 in Matawan NJ.  We’ll have some great DJ Entertainment by Total Sound Entertainment, and there will be free admission, free food and free door prizes!  So, to recap:

• Event: 10th Annual Business Expo
• Where: The Reception Center at St. Clement, Route 79, Matawan, NJ
• When: Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011, 6pm-9pm
• Entertainment: DJ Entertainment by Total Sound Entertainment
• Admission: Free
• Food: Free
• Door prizes included!

Interested?  Find and click the appropriate forms below to become a member, buy some advertising, or even set up a booth for the event!

Chamber Membership

• Membership Application 2011 (New Member)
• Membership Renewal Application 2011 (Existing Member)

Documents needed for the business expo:

• About the Expo
• 2011 Business Expo Application
• Top Ten Things to make a Better Expo booth

Business Directory

• 2011 Directory Advertising Application

For more information, contact the chamber office at 732-290-1125 or contact us at info@macocnj.com.

Tracye McDaniel has accepted a position as CEO of Choose New Jersey, a non-profit corporation created in June to aggressively promote New Jersey as an excellent place to invest and do business.  As CEO, Ms. McDaniel will advocate the state’s core strengths:

• strategic access to local and global financial markets (New York, and the numerous ports in New Jersey itself)
• a highly trained workforce
• a comprehensive distribution network of world-class sea and airports
• state-of-the-art energy and communications infrastructure
• elite research universities (Princeton, Rutgers, etc.)

She’ll use these resources as important features unique to a New Jersey business environment.  Congratulations to Ms. McDaniel from all of us here at the Chamber of Commerce!  We are looking forward to seeing what kinds of exciting things this organization will do to help our own businesses!

To see the introduction, please view the whole video below.