Business

Chamber of Commerce Implements New Events, Programs and a Pledge

Chamber and Industrial Authority officers and staff, from left: Ryan Steger, Chamber president-elect; Shelby Jones, executive assistant; John Morton, 2007 Chamber president; Sandy Romenesko, executive director; Emma Kennedy, administrative assistant; Kandi Kegley, administrative assistant; Curt Steger, Industrial Authority chairman.

From a community-wide pledge to new annual sponsorships‚ the Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Industrial Authority/Chamber of Commerce recently marked several important firsts.

In February 2007‚ members welcomed the Chamber’s inaugural – and soon to be annual – general membership meeting‚ gathering on Fat Tuesday at Old Silo Golf Club for a Mardi Gras-themed breakfast. Having expected perhaps 50 members to attend‚ Chamber officials were thrilled when 75 turned up.

“Every time a member joins they’ve asked us‚ ‘When’s your membership meeting?‚’ but until now all we’ve ever had were board meetings‚” says Sandy Romenesko‚ the Chamber’s executive director. “We wanted a venue to inform and educate our members so they would desire to be active and involved.”

Members heard reports from committee chairs‚ networked and enjoyed a community trivia game. The result?

“We have people participating now who wouldn’t have if it weren’t for the meeting‚” Romenesko says.

The Chamber’s first member directory also enjoyed an enthusiastic debut‚ prompting the publication of a second edition in spring 2007. At 70 pages in a 5-by-7-inch format‚ it’s a handy compendium members often keep in their cars for quick reference.

Streamlining its fundraising solicitations‚ the Chamber has initiated an Annual Sponsors program that enables it to go to the financial well less often.

“It seemed as if we were always on the phone asking for support for a golf tournament or $100 for something else‚ and it was taking a lot of administrative time and effort‚” Romenesko says. “We thought a one-time solicitation from the 25 members who tended to give the most would make things easier for everybody. We asked them for $1‚500 and thought maybe 15 would respond. It’s amazing‚ but we actually got 23 members to help.”

Perhaps the most far-reaching Chamber effort recently‚ in partnership with other civic and business leaders‚ has been the development and distribution of a community pledge for Mt. Sterling.

“While we may not possess big-city appeal or be on a beach‚ we knew we had something special here in Mt. Sterling‚” Romenesko says. “We wanted a way to tell others that we are proud of our community and the way people act here.”

Soliciting input from the community via newspaper ads and through the schools‚ meeting once or twice a week‚ a committee ironed out the wording for a pledge it hopes everyone in the community will adopt.

“We want it to be in every home‚ business‚ public building‚ school and restaurant in town‚ and so far the response has been very good‚” Romenesko says. “You think it might be a little thing‚ but people call us all the time to buy a copy.”

Copies of the pledge are available at the Chamber offices. An 8-by-10-inch copy is $5; an 11-by-14-inch copy is $10.

Story by Laura Hill
Photo by Greg Emens

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