Though leaders with the Ardmore AL/TN Chamber of Commerce described 2011-2012 as a challenging year, the group and its members looked toward the future Tuesday at its annual luncheon event.
Outgoing director Jeanette Dunnavant, who filled in as emcee in place of an absent President Bill Downs, said there were fears the Chamber would have to cease operations because of escalating expenses and decreased revenues.
The group received a hand, however, from member George Dimock of Accounting & Business Service who personally loaned the Chamber $3,000. It was likely no surprise that Dimock was honored with the Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year award.
“He loaned us that money to keep the doors open,” Dunnavant said. “How many people would do that?”
In accepting the award, Dimock said he had two pieces of good news — the first was he had written a 15-minute acceptance speech, and the second, that he had left the speech at home.
“It’s been a bumpy year, but we’ve leveled off,” Dunnavant said of the Chamber’s fortunes. “I think we’ll have a good year.”
The Chamber is trying to sell its building, located at 29910 Ardmore Ave. next to Fred’s. The office had been manned by volunteer Director Linda Higginbotham, but she now manages Chamber business while working at Accounting & Business Services.
Dunnavant again thanked Dimock for allowing Higginbotham to conduct Chamber business while “on the clock.”
In other awards, the Chamber honored North Alabama Insurance Agency as Small Business of the Year; CB&S Bank as Medium Business of the Year; and Piggly Wiggly as Large Business of the Year.
Serving lunch at the event were members of the 2011-2012 Ambassador Youth Leadership program, all of whom are students at Ardmore High School. Ambassador program director Kyle Lewter praised the students for their dedication to serving the Chamber.
“I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about the class they showed,” he said. “They represented the Chamber, town and county very well.”
Other business at the luncheon included recognizing outgoing officers for 2011-2012: Bill Downs and Michelle Brady, presidents; Betty Broadway, vice president; Mary Cribbs, secretary; and Laura Knight, treasurer.
Outgoing directors included Alice Smith, Bill Norman, Dunnavant, Joe Smith, Kyle Lewter and Linda Keith.
Incoming officers for the 2012-2013 year include: Joe Smith, president; Mary Cribbs, vice president; Laura Knight, treasurer; Bill Norman, president-elect; and Alice Smith, secretary.
Incoming directors include Ben Whitt, Bill Downs, Fran Cross, Crystal Tucker, Steven Wright, Kyle Lewter, Tonya Faulk and Dave Martin.
Incoming President Joe Smith said he looked forward to working with the new officers and directors.
“We’ll take old ideas, incorporate new ideas and make the Chamber better,” he said. “It’s our goal to get the Chamber back to where it should be and to support the community.”
Local News
Related Photos
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Right, Jeanette Dunnavant, an outgoing director of the Ardmore AL/TN Chamber of Commerce, passes the gavel to Joe Smith, the new 2012-2013 president of the chamber. The group held its annual membership luncheon Tuesday at the Ardmore Annex Building on Main Street. News Courier/Adam Smith
Discussion
Ardmore Chamber looks toward future at luncheon
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