Kiwanis Weekly Meeting - January 20, 2010

This weekly Kiwanis meeting held in the Brethren Retirement Community Chestnut village Meeting Center included an number of necessary incidentals preceding our featured speaker Chamber of Commerce President Sharon Deschambeau who was introduced by Kiwanis President Mike Henry.

The incidentals include introduction of welcome guests, Danielle Bankson and Paul Reitz (new John Boehner aide) and potential new member Tina Chalmers, The Daily Advocate Editor. A reminder by Ken Kurz that for the Hospital tour next Wednesday, please use the Main Entrance and park in the North employees parking lot. The preparations for the Annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast are in progress and sign up for the event will start next week.

President Sharon Deschambeau discussed many activities of the Darke County Chamber of Commerce. She started by stating the Chamber Mission Statement: “To promote economic development, advocate business interests and foster community partnerships.” Each topic or committee that was subsequently reviewed accurately functioned within this Mission Statement. The Chamber is a Private Membership Driven Organization that is categorized by the IRS as 501 (c) (6). It is a committee driven organization. She noted that the Chamber receives 500 phone call and 200 walk-ins per month.

Mrs. Deschambeau reviewed the activities of a few of the Chambers committees, including the Agricultural Committee, the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors (recently received Ohio State recognition), Education Committee, the Legislative Committee, the Business Committee and the Young Professional Committee that just selected the Outstanding Individual from the “20 under 40 Group” – Susan Allread, Greenville Federal Savings Chief Financial Officer. President Deschambeau also identified a special event scheduled at the Economic Development Meeting on January 29 when the introduction of Darke County Dave will officially occur.

The next Kiwanis Meeting will be held Wednesday January 2t, 2010 at Wayne Hospital. The lunch will start at 11:45 before the tour. Reservations should be made in advance. Contact Ken Kurz to verify that your name is on the list. The regular meetings are open to anyone interested in learning about the Kiwanis Club activities. We do have an excellent lunch and (with only very rare exceptions), the meeting and lunch will be over before 1:00 P.M. Call Al Bliss at 548-5687 or contact any Kiwanis member for details.