Strategic planning for 2015 was on the minds of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce at its monthly meeting Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the chamber office. Several ideas were presented by executive director Tammy Cotton.

Suggestions for items to be in the works included revising the mission statement, checking if any by-law changes are necessary, taking a look at fundraisers and networking events, and budgeting versus profit planning. Other items that might be considered included setting a job description for the executive director and having her under contract, review changing committees to councils and setting other goals for 2015. The board was asked to consider these and any other goals for the next year they might have.

Chamber President Richard Owen presided during the business meeting. Leaving the chamber board of directors at the end of 2014 will be Tom Tuttle, Dan Buchman and Owen. A nominating committee was appointed consisting of Susan Littlefield, Sylvia Gargett, Jack Birch and Father Larry Biller.

During task force or committee reports, Chip Erwin noted an ambassadors meeting will be held soon. He will contact members. A new group, the education council, has been formed. It includes Holly Tuttle, Tricia Small, Biller, Wawasee High School Principal Mike Schmidt and Cotton. More interested members for this council are being sought, especially teachers or retired teachers. Contact Cotton, 574-457-5637, or email [email protected].

The next events task force activity is the Fall Harvest Festival for the last day of the Syracuse Artisan and Farmers Market, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Because this event has grown, it is being moved to Lakeside Park for the festival day only. It will continue at Veterans Memorial at Crosson Mill Park until Oct. 11. Littlefield reported a membership task force meeting will be held soon to look at the pricing of membership tiers. Members are being sought for this also.

Only one of the 16 restaurants and caterers sent information July 9 about the Taste of Syracuse has responded. Follow up calls will be made. It is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Syracuse Community Center.

Kristi Martin and Tricia Small reported on the young entrepreneurs group. A tentative meeting is hoping to be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, at Oakwood Resort. The chamber will email definite plans when they are confirmed. Members and all interested parties are invited to stop in to meet and mingle.

It was announced Absolutely Apparel and Gifts is for sale. On Saturday, Aug. 9, Wawasee Kiwanis Triathlon, the Navy Seals jump, and the Flotilla Lillypad II cruise fundraiser were to be held. An art festival is planned for Oakwood Resort Saturday, Sept. 6.

The next meeting of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce will be held at noon Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the chamber office, 110 1/2 E. Main St., uptown Syracuse.