CAPE CHAMBER LOOKS TO NEW YEAR, OFFICERS

Doug Groesbeck, manager of Union Electric's Southeast Missouri District, will be introduced as new chairman of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Jan. 30, but he will officially begin his duties this week.

Groesbeck, who has been in the Cape Girardeau area about three and half years, heads the cast of new officers and board members who were approved by the Chamber Board during the December meeting.

The new officers and six new directors begin their work Friday, as the chamber heads into the new year.

Following a successful one-day membership blitz in May of this year, the chamber membership is around the 1,200 mark. The goal of the annual blitz is to sign about five percent of the total membership, which in 1997 was 56 new members. The blitz produced 88 new members.

Over the past decade, the local chamber has ranged in membership from 1,022 in 1987 to a high of 1,230 in 1995.

The chamber will enter the new year ranked No. 1 in its 50,000-and-under category in the state, and third in total chamber membership, behind the Greater Kansas City and Springfield chambers, who count 3,000 and 1,750 members respectively.

Groesbeck came to Cape Girardeau in June 1994 from the Lake of the Ozarks area. He has served in a number of positions for Union Electric since joining the company in 1984. He was appointed to an unexpired chamber board position the following year.

In his first monthly newsletter to chamber members, Groesbeck said he was looking forward to 1998.

"We have a strong board of directors, an active membership and a high-quality chamber president in John Mehner," said Groesbeck.

Among chamber priorities for the following year are supporting area highway improvements, helping to secure funding for the regional airport tower, promoting the SEMO Regional Port Authority; and continuing to partner with the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association.

Chamber officers and new board members will be introduced at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting/dinner dance Jan. 30, to be held at the Show Me Center on Southeast Missouri State University campus. The social hour starts at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. and the dance at 9 p.m.

Two big awards will be presented during the meeting -- Small Business of the Year and the Rush H. Limbaugh awards.

Four directors who leave the board Dec. 31, will be recognized at the meeting for their services. They include Jane Daume of Kwik Kopy Printing; Kim Kurka McDowell of the Southeast Missourian; Jill Smirl of KFVS-12; and Dennis Marchi of Schnucks.

The chamber is already accepting reservations for the annual meeting. Additional information and reservations are available by calling the chamber, 335-3312.

Groesbeck will replace outgoing board chairman James Wente, whose final day as chairman is Wednesday. Wente remains on the board as an ex-officio member.

Other new officers include Bart Ozbun of Merrill Lynch Investments, chairman-elect; Howard Meagle of KFVS-12, vice chairman; Jay Knudtson of NationsBank, treasurer; and Wente, Southeast Missouri Hospital administrator, past chairman.

Six new directors have been elected. They are:

-- At-Large Division: Donna Burk, Southwestern Bell Telephone, and Jerry Zimmer, Zimmer Radio Group.

-- Retail Division: Paul Hawkins, Sears, Roebuck and Co.

-- Service Division: Lyle Davis, A.G. Edwards & Sons; Steve Ketelsen, South East Missouri Bank; and Craig Wells, Mercantile Bank.

Hawkins will be serving his first three-year term, but has been a member of the board about a year. He was appointed to fill an unexpired term last year.

Completing the board are: Don Beckham, State Farm Insurance; Jim Biundo, Southeast Missouri State University; Kathy Brown, Procter & Gamble Paper Products Co.; Ron Dirnberger, Thorngate, Ltd.; Alan Gregory, Gregory Construction; Steve Green, Union Planters Bank; Don W. Hill Jr., Capetown RV Sales and Kim Swartz, Capaha Bank.

The six ex-officio members are Harry Rediger, Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association; Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast Missouri State University; Dr. Melvin Kasten, Cape Girardeau City Council; Beverly Estes, Cape Girardeau Convention & Visitors Bureau; Mike Miller, City of Cape Girardeau; and Dr. Dan Tallent, Cape Girardeau Public Schools.