PLANS ARE SET FOR CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP BLITZ

"1994 -- New Outlook -- New Focus" is the theme and 65 new members is the goal of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's annual one-day membership blitz, which will be conducted next week.

"Sixty-five new members will put us around the 1,150 mark again," said John Mehner, president and chief executive officer of the chamber. "Our present membership is about 1,085."

The annual membership drive will be held Tuesday, starting with a kickoff breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Drury Lodge.

Vernon Auer, a longtime member of the chamber's membership committee and one of only four persons who have received honorary lifetime memberships in the chamber, will be keynote speaker during the membership kickoff buffet breakfast.

Co-chairpersons of the membership drive this year are Larry Shafer of the U.S. Postal Service and Cheryl Davis of Hawthorn/Century.20Membership teams will call on Cape Girardeau businesses and professionals who are not already members of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

A year ago the one-day blitz netted 78 new members.

"We want to keep the chamber over the 1,100 mark and preferably around 1,150 in membership," said Mehner. "The membership fluctuates throughout the year between 1,050 and 1,150.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce is the fourth largest chamber in the state of Missouri, and that includes the Kansas City and St. Louis areas.