President Sue Ward ran a tight ship at the general monthly meeting of the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce Monday at the North Webster American Legion Post 253. Her goal was to efficiently and effectively deal with chamber business before the program by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. (See related)

Plans are well underway for the Heart of the Harvest Fall Festival. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. The family friendly event will be held at the Lions Club Festival Grounds. Committee co-chairmen are Jen Ducey and Ward.

The chamber will have its “famous” soup booth. The ever-popular, old fashioned cake walk will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Pumpkin decorating will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Face painters and balloon artists will be there all day as well as bounce houses.

Craft vendors are being sought. Applications can be downloaded at northwebster.com. As information is confirmed about other activities at the festival, they will be reported.

David Colquitt and Ducey have agreed to serve as the nominating committee for officers and board members for 2015. President and treasurer terms are up as are some of the board terms. Those with an interest should contact the chamber office, 574-834-7076. Nominations will be made at the October meeting.

Ward announced Lakeland Kiwanis Club of North Webster as the business or organization of the month. Dixie Day and Fall Festival ads for 2015 had been placed in the Indiana Fair and Festival Guide.

The chamber shoe drive has been expanded with the assistance of churches throughout Kosciusko County. Shoes, new or used, can still be dropped off at the chamber office in the Tippecanoe Township Building, at the North Webster Community Center or the North Webster American Legion. This helps micro enterprise in African countries, as well as raise funds for the chamber children’s activities throughout the year.

Board member Helen Leinbach has placed the purchase order for the new chamber laptop and software. A limited number of Dixie Day T-shirts are for sale onboard the Dixie boat until Labor Day. The chamber is maintaining a relationship with WNIT, the Elkhart PBS station.

Incoming president of the Ligonier Chamber of Commerce Cindy Taylor was a guest. Visitors are welcome at general meetings of the chamber. The next meeting will be at noon Monday, Sept. 8, at the legion, 756 S. SR 13.