Inside the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce

By Michael Wells

communications director

Leadership Cape class of 2003 to graduate

On July 31, the 2003 class of Leadership Cape will graduate from the seven-month-long program that identifies emerging leaders and puts them in contact with community leaders.

At the First Friday Coffee on Aug. 1 at the Show Me Center at 7:30 a.m. the 2003 class will present their group project presentations. Past group project presentations have developed into plans for a skate park, a speakers' bureau, a community calendar and many other tangible improvements to Cape Girardeau and the surrounding region.

The 11th annual Cape BBQ Fest coming

The best two days on Earth are coming up Aug. 22-23 at Arena Park as the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce sponsors its 11th annual Cape BBQ Fest. People interested in competing in the event need to contact the Chamber ASAP at 335-3312. People who want to volunteer during the event can call Cathi Schlosser at the Chamber office.

We will also have activities for children at this year's event.

The Chamber will again have a barbecue stand where sandwiches, chips and drinks will be sold. We ask the general public not to solicit barbecue from the many teams that will be assembled, county health regulations forbid this. That is why the Chamber has its own barbecue stand to serve the public.

Don't miss the best two days on Earth!

Teachers Business After Hours slated

The Show Me Center will again be the site of a very special Teachers Appreciation Business After Hours as the business community welcomes back teachers K-12 to a new school year. This event is held each year to let the teachers, administrators and staff of our public, parochial and private schools know how much the community supports them and what they do.

Welcome Back Students Picnic

On Aug. 24, the day after Cape BBQ Fest, the Chamber and Southeast Missouri State University will again sponsor the Welcome Back Students Picnic at Capaha Park. This is a great way for area businesses to get involved in welcoming back a major contributor to the local economy. How? By reserving display space to showcase your business, that's how.

And how do you do that? Contact Erin Fluegge at the Office of New Student Programs at 651-5166 or e-mail to newstudentprogs@semo.edu or submit a display space request at http://ustudies.semo.edu/nsp/tablerequest.asp by July 25. All participants must be set up by 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 24 for the event.

We've sold out the bridge lights

Due to overwhelming response, we have sold out of both big and small light sponsorships for the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge. We still have a limited supply of Eastern Access prints by local artist Eric Bryant for $200. Contact the Chamber to purchase this great painting.

All people sponsoring lights will have their names on a placard on the Cape Girardeau side of the bridge on permanent display. All people who either sponsored a light or bought a bridge print will be invited to the Light the Bridge party in the spring of 2004.