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CURRENT ISSUE VOLUME 19 NO. 4 JULY/AUGUST 2008
Letters to the EditorMarketing MattThe feature article about Matt Whitman and his networking trade secrets ("Do Unto Others", Volume 18, No. 3) was motivational. My first connection with Matt was in his capacity as the Atlantic Canada rep for Thomson Carswell. His effective networking skills quickly became apparent. Not only was Matt very accessible, but he, without hesitation, took the opportunity to conduct some of his signature "anti-networking" with me. It worked and I was very appreciative. The feature article was both a great reminder of the various benefits that are produced by networking and a good lesson in some of the techniques that can be used to make valuable business connections. Great job - it was well written and really captured a part of what Matt's all about (hard to do in such a short story). Keep up the good work! I enjoyed reading your recent article about Matt Whitman. I have worked professionally with Matt and am amazed and inspired by his ability to work with people at the level he does. I enjoyed the article you wrote on Matt and saw great value in it. I am a huge fan of Matt and his philosophy on networking. I think it is great that he does so much to help people and organizations in his community. We have recently launched a non-profit community website called connectingcommunties.ca. Matt was kind enough to submit an article on networking that I think greatly benefited our readers. Lost and FoundExcellent comments on Atlantica ("Paradise Lost", editorial, May/June issue) and the benefits (or lack of) for Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. While I am not opposed to any improvements in transportation, and support benefits to any region or province, this initiative could more realistically be called Maritimeica. That would be a more accurate and honest representation. (Submitted under the heading: Atlantica found, Maritimes prosper). The Maritime provinces must become more closely bound in order to ensure that their resources are developed for their own benefit. We believe that a free trade zone would be a good start. The development of the ports of Halifax and Saint John, N.B. are vital to increasing trade and prosperity of the Maritimes. Sydney, St. John's, NL, Charlottetown and others will eventually reap the benefits of increased traffic. To ensure these port hubs are more than a stopping point we must improve adjoining rail, road and pipeline routes to midwestern Canada and the USA. To do this, we must make Maine a partner. The window of opportunity is now. Our large ports are underutilized, closer to markets, cheaper and safer. Oil byproducts, agriculture, forestry and fish products will be cheaper and quicker to ship. Presently the Maritimes are shut off from the Canadian and U.S. midwest by the Appalachian Mountains within Maine. First, we propose revamping the existing Hwy 9 from Calais to Bangor, and Hwy 2 from Bangor to Montpelier. This alone would decrease transport time and fuel costs by 30 per cent, from Saint John to Montreal, Toronto, Detroit. This would also open up the Albany-Boston area to our ports. We have rail routes between Fredericton and Sherbrooke, P.Q. that are underutilized. We know that this would also increase tourism to the region. Sounds like a simple first step. -------------------- Get the full story with a free one-year subscription to Atlantic Business Magazine.
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