Scott City's chamber reorganizes without board of directors

The Scott City Chamber of Commerce has new leadership and a new organizational plan as it enters 2006 -- changes the chamber hopes will help guarantee the long-term viability of the organization.

Last October, the leadership of the chamber expressed doubts whether the business association would exist in 2006. Then-president Paul Schock said membership had dwindled.

But new members took charge, taking over leadership positions starting last December. Last Thursday the group held its first full meeting under the new formation.

Now the chamber is no longer run by a board of directors, said new president Mitch Bass, area supervisor for Sonic Drive-In. Instead decisions are made by a majority vote of all members.

Three officers administer the organization -- Bass, secretary Kim Porter and treasurer Nancy McCarty.

Bass said the new way of doing business will help the chamber be more open to ideas and give businesses more of a say in the direction of the chamber.

In past years membership had dwindled from 40 in 2001 to about 30 in 2003. Bass had no membership data for 2004 and 2005, and attempts to contact Schock failed. Now membership is at 32, with about 10 active members, said Bass.

Part of the chamber's new focus is to bring local businesses together, partially through after-hours meet and greets held each week.

"We want to talk about things and make our businesses and residents understand that you have to buy locally, and to buy locally you have to know each other," Bass said.

Business owners interested in becoming members are invited to attend meetings or social events.

City administrator Ron Eskew said he likes what the new chamber is doing as it presses forward. The city is a key member of the chamber.

Eskew said opening votes to the entire membership is a good system for a smaller chamber like Scott City. New ideas can be heard, but they won't be so numerous as to cause gridlock, he said.

Both Eskew and Bass said the focus of the new chamber is building membership and working on a local level for its first year.

"At this point in time, we need to get a good, solid membership base and get active members locally, then we'll start reaching out," Eskew said.

The main focus of business now is early planning for the Memorial Day weekend Citywide Yard Sale and the Scott City Summerfest, both annual events, said Bass.

A welcoming committee has also been established to help integrate new businesses into the community, Bass said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182