CAPE CHAMBER SOARS TO NO. 3 IN STATE

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's membership surpassed the 1,200 mark following a one-day recruitment blitz Tuesday that netted more than 80 new members.

The new numbers shoved the local chamber into the No. 3 position in membership in Missouri, with 1,231 members, 31 more than previous third-place chamber Jefferson City.

Rozan Bonsignore of MVP Communications, and Michele Tomlinson, of Boatmen's Bank, co-chairmen for the 1995 event, announced the day's totals late Tuesday.

"Our goal for the membership blitz was 60," Bonsignore said. "We finished 81."

The count could go higher.

The early count, about 5:30 p.m., included only paid memberships.

"We usually receive a few membership a day or two following the one-day membership drive, said Linda Minner, marketing and special projects director, who coordinated the new membership count.

"This is great," Chamber President John Mehner said. "Our overall goal is to keep the membership between 1,100 and 1,200. This certainly puts us over that goal."

Going into Tuesday's drive, the membership was about 1,150.

"Working Together We will Thrive in '95" was the theme for the one-day blitz

"We had good participation," Tomlinson said, adding that 27 teams picked up packets at the kickoff breakfast at the Drury Lodge. Bart Ozbun, of Boatmen's Bank's Investment Service, was guest speaker.

Several prizes were awarded following the evening counting session at Drury Lodge, with the top prize for most new members going to the team of Sharon Stanley and Cheryl Ziegler, who reported in with 11 new memberships. Each member of the team received a television set.