Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce is drawing closer to its annual golf outing, June 18, at Maxwelton Golf Club. This year’s event will include two tee times at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., with Chamber Executive Director Tammy Cotton set to gather golf teams preferred tee times soon.

Golf outing task force chair Larry Biller stated they are still in need of a half lunch sponsor and a half cart sponsor, plus items for goody bags and the raffle.

The golf outing is the chamber’s largest networking event of the year and a great fundraiser with a percentage of the proceeds also benefiting the Chamber Legacy Fund, used for scholarships and charities in the community.

Following the golf outing, the Celebrate Syracuse Parade, July 5, will be the chamber’s next event. The parade route will be the same as last year’s, which traveled from East Main Street onto SR 13 and ended just before the tracks. The parade will step off at 10:30 a.m.

Young Entrepreneur Association of Syracuse-Wawasee received a tour of Blue Barn Berry Farm and a look at its unique business model. The group has begun forming committees, including a mentoring young entrepreneur committee that wants to work with Wawasee’s middle schools and high school.

Group member Erick Leffler is also looking to work with male students to teach business etiquette such as how to properly tie a tie or wear a name tag — skills no longer taught. Additionally, board members discussed bringing a program similar to the customer service workshop the chamber sponsored to the schools.

Biller stated of YEA’s, “I think it’s good for the community for young people to gather together like that.”

In other news:

• The chamber accepted new members: Strategic Consulting Services, New Attitudes Salon, Colbin Tool and Channel Marker.

• Legislative task force chair Tony Ciriello will try to put together a debate in late September or early October between District 22 candidates Curt Nisly, Republican, David Kolbe, Democrat, and Michael L. Stinfer, Independent.

• Cotton announced she has a fall intern lined up.

• Cotton will be approaching the South Bend Silver Hawks in regards to having a Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber Night at Four Winds Field. The night will cost the chamber nothing, and chamber members will be able to receive discounted tickets and a free program and hat.

• Chamber board members listened to a presentation from Brittany Bushong, owner of Babes & Combs, in regards to their services, hopes of Syracuse starting an event similar to Warsaw’s and Goshen’s First Fridays, plus their efforts helping a Syracuse resident place cats in new homes.

Next chamber meeting is at noon July 2 in the chamber office.