President’s Report – December 2017
Hello December! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays bring so much hope for what’s to come. Hopefully, this season allows you to stop from your busy day-to-day and cherish those most dear to you. As we look ahead and close out this year, I want to thank you for working, living, and serving our North County community. Together, we are making a difference for our community and look forward with anticipation for 2018.
Just a reminder, we are still collecting new toys and cleaning supplies for our area member non-profits! Our non-profits do so much for those in need in our community, please drop by the chamber office until December 15th and help us give the gift of joy and hope!
Mark your calendars! we are having free Social Media seminars on December 18th and 19th at 9:30 a.m. at the Chamber office. Blue’s Arthouse Graphics & Web Design will be covering Facebook and Twitter on the 18th and Vivial will be covering Instagram, LinkedIn & SnapChat on the 19th. We only have a few seats left, so please give us a call to reserve your spot.
We want to remind you that our monthly chamber meeting prices will go from $22 to $25. We will also have Membership Breakfast meetings in 2018, to give our full membership the opportunity to network and get involved. I hope that many of you take advantage of this opportunity. We also have Membership Meeting Sponsor slots open for 2018, as well as Non-profit of the month slots open for 2018. Please call the chamber office as these slots fill in quickly.
This year’s Nite of Stars Roaring 20s Gala was incredible! If you were unable to attend the SOLD OUT event, it was spectacular and one for the ages! During the event, it was my pleasure to announce our 2018 Business Person of the Year! This prestigious honor was awarded to a couple that exemplifies true leadership, dedication and hard work: Nathan and Christina Bennett. Nathan and Christina are the most generous and faithful community and business leaders in North County. Outside of what they do for Hendel’s daily, they serve the community in every way, whether it’s teaching a marriage class at their parish or helping revitalize old Florissant, Nathan and Christina are the epitome of true leadership and the community spirit of North County. Please help us honor them at our January at our Installation Awards luncheon.
Our committee did such a wonderful job creating a memorable evening. Thanks to co-chairs Kitty Harrison and Darla Tinker for spearheading such a wonderful event and to all the committee members, Board of Directors, and chamber members that donated, gave and volunteered to make the event a success. We couldn’t have pulled off Nite of Stars without you and of course, Jaime and Michelle worked tirelessly to make sure that no detail was missed. We danced the evening away with Big Papa G, while Kent Miller Photography captured the evening forever! We also had a photo booth sponsored by Delmar Gardens and many wonderful live and silent auction items!
I have to say thank you to our amazing sponsors: Presenting Sponsor Christian Hospital; Gold Sponsors Life Care Center of Florissant and the Bridget at Florissant; Silver Sponsors Aperion Care, Central Bank of St. Louis, Delmar Gardens Family, Handyman TrueValue, Life Development Support Center, Mungenast Hyundai, Valley Industries, and US Bank; Bronze Sponsors were the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors, Gary’s Auto Service, Kwik Kopy Print, Pallottine Renewal Center, St. Catherine Retirement Community, Trinity Catholic High School, The Valley – A Stonebridge Community and Vivial.
Please be sure to sign up for our December Luncheon as we will present a Chamber update to wrap-up the year! We will also have Tammy Long with the Missouri Chamber talk briefly about what the Missouri Federation Benefit Plan and we will sing some carols along with the Ferguson-Florissant School District choir! The luncheon will be at Norwood Hills Country Club on December 20th at 11 a.m. Also, the chamber office will be closed from Christmas to New Year’s Day.
I leave you with my last quote for the year:
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year” – Charles Dickens
Venus Martz
Chamber President
