NORTH WEBSTER — North Webster Chamber of Commerce tackled an array of agenda items at its Monday, Sept. 16, regular monthly meeting, not the least of which was distributing the ballot for 2020 officers and directors.

The North Webster Chamber of Commerce met at its headquarters Monday, Sept. 16, to discuss business through the end of the calendar year. (Photo by Martha Stoelting)

President Jim Smith announced his departure from the board at the end of December. Mindy Scaggs is the only nominee on the ballot for president in 2020.

Five board members are running to fill board seats expiring in 2019. They are Kim Bolt, Kara Dobbins, Karilyn Metcalf, Susan Stump and Tammy Waliczek. Chamber members may vote for up to five of the candidates.

No vote will be held for vice president, as Amanda Meerzo’s current term does not expire until the end of next year. The secretary and treasurer are appointed by the board.

In other business:

• Treasurer Bolt reported according to the latest figures the chamber made $944.54 from Dixie Days. She also announced Milestone Early Education Center requested a donation from the chamber for its current annual fundraising campaign.
The North Webster-based preschool, day care and latchkey program is soliciting funds because United Way has stopped funding all day care centers.

During the ensuing discussion, the board recognized the need for day care and acknowledged some prospective residents to the area look at such programs in deciding their relocation. But the consensus felt granting the request would likely encourage a spate of requests from other similar programs.

The board decided it would help promote the fundraising campaign by newsletter and social media.

• Board member Elise Guy presented the opportunity for chamber involvement in the 2019 Small Business Saturday the day after Black Friday. Because many North Webster businesses close that day and their owners and employees head to larger cities for family and shopping time, the suggestion was made to have such an event during one of the Business After Hours events instead.

Discussion was tabled until the October meeting to allow Guy to assess the sentiments of local business owners.

• The next Business After Hours event is 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at Mohawk Pier, 10147 N. SR 13. The event will be preceded by a 4 p.m. ribbon cutting for the business’s new location. Subsequent meetings will take place Thursday, Oct. 17, at Loose Moose Motorsports, Pierceton; and Thursday, Nov. 21, at Todd Realty in North Webster.

• Brenda Peterson reported on her investigation into the costs of stringing Christmas lights on the big tree in the front lawn of Pilcher’s Shoes. The 29 50-foot sets of 6,000-hour LED lights would cost $4,900, with an additional annual $1,900 fee for installation and removal.

Several alternatives were discussed, including soliciting donations of lights, leaving the lights in place throughout the year and having chamber members provide the labor.

Action was tabled until the October meeting to allow further checking of prices for the lights and renting a scissor lift.

• Smith said the chamber’s recent golf outing, held in partnership with the Optimists, was a “successful event” netting about $1,900 for the chamber’s current beautification project.

The chamber will next meet at noon Monday, Oct. 7, at the township building across from the entrance to the Mermaid Festival fairgrounds.