NORTH WEBSTER — New officers and board members for 2017 were elected at the general meeting of the North Webster Chamber of Commerce Monday, Oct. 10, held at the Tippecanoe Township Building. President Sue Ward, Sue’s Creations, will serve one more year as president while Karilyn Metcalf, Dixie Sternwheeler Inc. is the new vice-president and poised to move up. Secretary and treasurer will be appointed by the new board for 2017.

Reelected by the membership for three year terms as board members were David Colquitt, Eastlund Funeral Home; Metcalf; Jim Smith, Loose Moose Motorsports; and Susan Stump, The Papers Inc. Kim Bolt, Mutual Bank, was elected for a three year term. The vote was by ballot and was unanimous.

It was announced Ron Erb, Webster Lake Conservation Association, was selected by the board of directors to finish Jeremy Likens term while Linda Land, Land-o-Lake Cottages, was elected by the board to a newly created three year term. Helen Leinbach, North Webster Community Public Library, will be retiring from the board at the end of 2016.

Much discussion was held about Dixie Day Festival and Artisan Fair. It will be held Saturday, July 29, 2017. An overview of committees was given by Ward. They include but are not limited to set up, clean up, publicity, chamber information booth, artisan fair, car show, food vendors, children’s activities, extra Dixie cruises and events.

The chamber will no longer sponsor the annual Visit with Santa nor the Fall Festival, but will concentrate on Dixie Day and other programs to benefit the membership.

The chamber’s nativity display and Santa set will go up on Pilcher’s lawn after the next general meeting. The lights are already on the Christmas tree and will be checked. Board member Martha Stoelting, The Papers Inc., was asked to inquire to the town of North Webster about changing out the lamppost banners from summer to winter.

Leinbach reported the website has been moved by New Paris Telephone to another server and seems to be working better. It is hoped this is a permanent solution. Ben Ashpole, updenity.com, is at work on a KEDCO program.

Before the meeting, the remainder of the chamber’s office furniture was moved from one location to the other and the phone line has been relocated. Ashpole is looking into various ways to forward phone calls.

Jill & Jennifer’s Beauty Salon is the October 2016 Business of the Month. Information on this longtime local business will be coming through board member Jen Ducey, Tippecanoe Township.

All members and interested parties are asked to attend the next general meeting noon Monday, Nov. 14, Tippecanoe Township Building, 102 S. Morton St. It is optional to bring lunch.