CHAMBER'S ONE-DAY MEMBERSHIP BLITZ SURPASSES GOAL

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce membership is over the 1,100 mark following a one-day recruitment blitz Tuesday that resulted in at least 64 new members.

"Our goal for the annual one-day membership drive was 60," said Linda Minner, administrative assistant for the chamber. "The initial count Tuesday evening shows us with 64 new, paid memberships, which puts our membership at 1,107."

Minner said the chamber's overall goal was to get the membership over 1,100.

The new figure places Cape Girardeau third on the Missouri Chambers of Commerce list, behind North Kansas City and Springfield, and puts the city at the top of the list in its population bracket.

"I think we'll see another 15 to 20 members trickle in this week," she said. "That would put us right at 1,122 to 1127."

The membership drive Tuesday started with a kickoff breakfast. The final wrapup count started at 4:30 p.m., with a deadline of 5 p.m. to turn in names of new members.

More than 75 volunteers armed with prospective member cards and informational packets visited pro~spective members throughout the day Tuesday, working in two-person teams.

The campaign motto for the chamber's membership blitz was "75 Years of Excellence, Join the Celebration."

"Excellence is not just a one-day thing," said Bob Hendrix, president of the Cape Girardeau chamber. "We strive for excellence in our organization every day. That's one of the reasons that our chamber is the top membership chamber in its population category and among the top three in all categories."

The local chamber's membership fluctuates between 1,100 and 1,200.

"It all depends on when you ask about the membership," said Neal Coffin, vice president of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, which keep tabs on chamber memberships throughout the state. "If you ask about membership around income tax time, you get one figure; ask the day after a membership blitz and you get a better figure."

Coffin is in the process of compiling chamber memberships now.

"We're compiling totals for the new chamber directory," he said. "This publication comes out every two years, and this is the year. It should be ready within eight to 10 weeks."

Highest on the Missouri membership list this week was the North Kansas City Chamber.

"North Kansas City and Platt City chambers merged recently," said Coffin. "Their combined total is over the 3,000 mark, largest in the state."

Coffin said Cape Girardeau figures continued to amaze him.

"They're right up there with some metropolitan area totals," said Coffin. "In fact, Cape Girardeau is among the top three chambers in membership."

Second on the statewide list is Springfield, at 2,000, which is followed by Cape Girardeau.

Fourth on the list is Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), with its latest figure of 1,042.

Joplin and St. Joseph MSAs share the fifth position, each with latest figures of 750 chamber members, said Coffin.

The St. Louis area includes several chambers of commerce ranging from 550 to 600: Kirkwood at 550; Downtown St. Louis, 600; Chesterfield, 600; and Florissant Valley, 635. Others like St. Charles, Creve Couer-Olivette and Clayton range from 400 to 425.

"St. Louis also has its Regional Commerce & Growth Association, which tops 4,000," said Coffin. "But this represents many St. Louis communities and a few areas across the river into Southern Illinois."

"We're proud of our chamber," said Hendrix. "We're involved in everything. One of our primary emphasis is in economic development, but we're also into agri-business, health and social concerns, education, transportation and much, much more.

"There's something in our program for everyone," said Hendrix. "We have a very diversified program of work. We have a total of 17 committees, and more than half of our membership serves on a committee, board or task force. We keep our members involved."

Hendrix said, "We keep our members informed about what is happening and what will happen in Cape Girardeau that affects vital business interests."

The Cape Girardeau chamber totals have been as high as 1,250 in previous years.

Following are the top 15 chamber memberships in the state:

North Kansas City, 3,000.

Springfield, 2,000.

Cape Girardeau, 1,100.

Columbia, 1,042.

St. Joseph, 750.

Joplin, 750.

Downtown St. Louis, 600.

Florissant Valley, 635.

Chesterfield, 600.

Branson, 600.

Kirkwood, 550.

Blue Springs, 500.

St. Charles, 450.

Creve Couer-Olivette, 425.

Clayton, 415.