Rotary Recap 8.13.2014

 
President Julie was the program today. She wore her Chamber of Commerce bonnet and shared with us all of the positive developments.
 
Katie LaBrie was hired in April as the new Chamber Director. When she started there were 52 Chamber members and now there are 94, so she must be doing something right! To off-set her work load, there are two Ambassadors who help her in the office four hours per week, and there is a lot of activity. The one vision the board had for the new director was to focus on Louisburg and provide value to Chamber businesses. Just in the past month, they have partnered with other organizations to bring the Candidate Forum and the New Teacher Luncheon.
 
Part of that activity is thanks to the Membership Chair Jerry Dixon. He started Chamber Connections every other Friday. Chamber Connections is a fun and informal networking group open to all members and future members of the Louisburg Chamber of Commerce. The group meets every 1st and 3rd Friday morning from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. at various locations. This Friday, August 15th it will be at Sidelines Sports Grill. Every person who attends has the opportunity to network and offer information about his/her business. Meetings include a continental breakfast, introductions from everyone, two business presentations, and time to exchange business leads and information at the end of each meeting. 
 
Thirty-two people attended the first Chamber Connections meeting in May and attendance just keeps growing. In those short 3 months, there has been $55K generated in referral dollars - exactly the kind of interaction they were hoping to create. The cost of admission is a business card at every meeting. Membership in Chamber Connections does require a Chamber membership after the first meeting and all Chamber Connections hosts are Chamber members. Many of the new Chamber members have come from Chamber Connections. 
 
It's exciting to have such a visible Chamber of Commerce - something is always happening and you can count on your membership to generate exposure for your business whether it's at a social event, Blazin' the Burg or Dining in the County. And it's time again for Blazin' the Burg.
  • There are already 89 registered runners for the September 20th event, compared to 30 from this time last year.
  • KC Wolf will lead the Fun Run
  • The Marching Cobras will provide entertainment
  • Sidelines Sports Grill has partnered to provide after-race entertainment
  • The Miami County Sheriff's Department has donated a couple of officers to secure safety
  • Running with the Cows shared their running list, so word is out in the running community
They still need 50 volunteers to help with the event on race day, so please help, if you are able. Craig reminded everyone that hosting an annual race is a lot like landscaping: the first year it SLEEPS, the second year it CREEPS and the third year it LEAPS. While this is the fourth year, the first did not involve the publicity in the running world that it has in the last three. Last year there were 400 runners...they are planning for more!
 
The Chamber event after Blazin' the Burg to plan for is Halloween on Broadway that will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2014. 
 
In Other News:
  • Next week is the Rotary board meeting at 11am at TimberCreek​
  • ​Andy tore the muscle from his right pectoral and will have surgery on Friday...no more boating for YOU!
  • Craig will close on their new home this week (Happy Do$$ar)
  • Kiersten officially has a college student (Happy Do$$ar)