2012 Annual Meeting Minutes

The Laurens Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting
January 23, 2012 at the Laurens County Club.
     Joe Fulsom of the SBA was the speaker.  His topic was
How to Grow Your Small Business.
     President Ashley Akridge gave the following report.
     The chamber currently has 51 members which is an
increase of 16%.
     A  subcommitte of the chamber-retail trade has been
set up.  They meet the last Wednesday of the month at
Deb's at 7 A.M. to brainstorm ideas.  Anyone is welcome
to attend.  Events they have planned so far include "Cocktails,
Mocktails, Store Trails" on February 9th and Spring Open
House April 26th.
     The chamber is sponsoring a Hearts of Gold raffle for a
fundraiser for fireworks.  We have 300 tickets to sell.  Contact
Ashley, Connie or Charity to donate items for the basket.
     The Easter Egg Hunt will be in April.
     Celebrate Laurens will be July 20th and 21st.  The inflatables,
fireworks and 4 Wheeler pull have all been booked.  Sentimental
Swing Band will play in the gazebo Friday night at Sportsmens
Park.  We hope to have the wine festival and inflatables in the
City Park under the shade.
     Other events for the year will include garage sales, Christmas
open houses and Soup Supper/Santa.
     Chamber members can now post events on the chamber
website.
     Shop local flyers will soon be sent out.  Pocahontas County
Economic Development is working on a county wide project.  There
will be three leadership meetings in the months ahead.
     Window Clings have been ordered to use instead of framed
membership certificates.
     New chamber bucks will be printed-will include a $50 buck.
Ashley thanked Rita Schmidt for keeping track and selling the
chamber bucks.
     The Highway 10 sign is available for chamber members to
advertize an actual event.
     Some projects for 2012 include make over 3rd Street with
planters and a general "spruce up", welcome banners, look
into outlining buildings with white lights, golf outing.
     Becky Braesh thanked the Laurens Sun and The Paper for
their coverage.
     Kate Ellis has agreed to serve another three year term. 
Charity Madsen will finish out a two year term.  Becky Braesh
will finish out a one year term. 
     Inor Joelson nominated Katie Fuchs for a three year term.
Motion died for lack of a second.
     Don Aschenbrenner and Bill Mather volunteered to serve
three year terms.
     Kristy Mather handed out the financial statement.
     Bill Mather thanked the chamber board for their work.

     Connie Dallenbach
     Secretary