MT. VERNON - The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce celebrated a record-breaking year and honored members of the community during its annual banquet on Friday.
"We brought in over 40 new members this year," Chamber Executive Director Brandon Bollard reported.
In addition, Bullard unveiled a new Chamber website.
"This is the official unveiling of our newly designed website, at www.southernillinois.com," Bullard said. "This is the Rolls Royce of Chamber sites."
The new site will be more member and user-friendly, described as "streamlined" for member-to-member communication.
Bullard also announced a newsletter will be going online in the near future, and starting in January 2013, a new billing system will be used for members.
"And, we've put prayer back in our board meetings," Bullard concluded, as members of the Chamber applauded. "Lord knows we need the help."
According to outgoing Chamber President Brett Hall, a more efficient office will be the result of the new billing structure, as well as a better budget. Hall said in the past, the board determines a budget based on what it thinks it will receive. Under the new system, all members will be billed at the same time instead of at various times throughout the year.
"Starting this time next year, we will have the money and an actual budget for it," Hall said.
Hall also noted the record breaking year, with more ribbon cuttings, more participants in the Leadership Academy, more classroom grant awards, more member-to-member sponsors and the new Momentum Summit with leaders at the state, regional and local level participating.
The Chamber also took the opportunity to honor its selected Students of the Year and Rend Lake College Scholarship recipient — Hannah Herzing of Waltonville High School, Kathryn Thomas of Woodlawn High School and Christian Hollenkamp of Woodlawn High School.
Other honorees included Sarah Beard — Ambassador of the Year; the Citizen of the Year — the Rev. Rob Dyer; Small Business Person of the Year — Jim Czerwinski of Magnum Steel; and the President's Award honoree — Continental Tire the Americas.
Hall passed the gavel to the new Chamber president, Kay Zibby and retiring vice presidents and board members were introduced. Retiring vice presidents are Lynn Hutchison, Ambassadors; Zibby, from Educational Clearinghouse Committee; Tom Upchurch from Internal Affairs; Ed Cunningham from Past Presidents; David Keen from Small Business Council and Chris Bernard from the Special Events.
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