Good news was sounded Monday afternoon at the monthly meeting of the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce. The chamber has reached its halfway mark in its shoe drive due to the recent surge of support from the North Webster Church of God.

Currently about 2,500 pairs of shoes have been collected out of approximately 5,000 needed.

During a recent one-day event, 14 bags of 25, or 350 pairs in total, were collected at the church under the supervision of church staff member and representative to the chamber Chris Waldrop. Collection sites are set up in the North Webster Community Center, North Webster American Legion and at the chamber office in the Tippecanoe Township Building, 102 S. Morton St., for ongoing donations.

The shoes are part of an effort of the chamber to fund its Stair Step Program. The program will benefit the local community while the shoes go on to become inventory for micro-enterprises in Third World countries and to provide needed footwear.

Vice-President Dave Colquitt presided and announced the chamber is joining with the town of North Webster in a beautification project. Seasonal banners will be hung on the 20 decorative lampposts throughout downtown. They will join the already existing snowflakes on the lampposts.

Mutual Bank has been selected as the chamber’s business of the month for November in honor of its 125th anniversary and its donation of a paper shredder to the chamber office. As part of the celebration, a contest throughout the bank’s service area was held to recognize volunteers. Chamber board member Karilyn Metcalf was the only local person selected for one of the monetary awards and will be contributing it to the Dixie Sternwheeler Inc.

Free Santa Visit

Upcoming happenings under the chamber’s guidance include the kick-off to the holiday season with “a visit with Santa.” From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, the free event featuring a personal sit-down with Santa Claus and photo, activities, pizza and prizes will be held at the North Webster Community Center. At 5 p.m. a parade of kids, parents and all in the holiday mood will form at the NWCC parking lot and follow Santa in a North Webster Fire Department truck two blocks down SR 13 to Pilcher’s lawn. There the town tree will be lit at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to participate.

The chamber Christmas dinner and party for members and employees will be held Monday, Dec. 1, at the Tippecanoe Township Building. Social hour is at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Chamber member Grill ‘N’ Grate, Syracuse, will be catering. Invitations for the Christmas party have been mailed. RSVP is necessary to attend.

Membership renewal forms for 2015 are also in the invitations so members should be on the lookout for them as well.

In other business, follow up is being done on new attractions for the fall festival so a decision can be made by the end of 2014. Committees are being reorganized by the chamber board with the hope of more membership input and participation.

Anyone with a desire to be an integral part of the community and the chamber is urged to consider being a chamber ambassador. This is a volunteer liaison who interacts with members and potential members learning of ideas, needs and concerns. This information is then relayed to the chamber so it can better serve the community.

Contact President Sue Ward.