Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce

Weekly Update   December 6, 2002

 

CHAMBER HISTORY COMES ALIVE: Did you know that when it formed in 1912, your chamber was set up as a for-profit corporation with shares of stock going for $25 each? That in 1914, the Board of Directors approved a resolution endorsing “the continuance of organized baseball in Chillicothe”?  You can learn a whole lot more about the chamber’s history and have a great time doing it next Thursday. Our 90th Anniversary Celebration will be at the Christopher Conference Center from 6-9 p.m. We’ll have hors d’oeurves, a cash bar, beer, other refreshments and a birthday cake along with music and a special presentation on the chamber’s history. Admission is $5, payable at the door. You may pre-register by clicking this link, 90th Anniversary registration or by calling the office at 702-2722. This event is sponsored through the generosity of: Etched in Our Memories, Horizon Chillicothe Telephone, Newton Financial Services and Adena Health System.

 

PAYMENT NOT DUE UNTIL JAN. 31: Dues invoices for 2003 should be arriving at your businesses soon, but payment is not due until Jan. 31. This gives you a chance to have your payment credited to whichever year might be the most advantageous to you. The invoices will reflect an across-the-board increase approved by the Board of Directors in November, the first of this kind in many years. Members also are reminded that payment can be made in annual, semi-annual or quarterly installments.

 

GOT ANY FIREWOOD?: The First Capital Village, a collection of artisans and craftsmen who will set up camp in Yoctangee Park on Statehood Day weekend next year, is in need of seasoned firewood. If you have any you’d like to donate, contact David Musser at nuni@adelphia.net or call the local Bicentennial office at 779-2003.

 

NEW DOWNTOWN PRESIDENT: Bruce Arnold of Carr’s was elected the 2003 president of the Downtown Associates this week. He takes over from Bob Etling of Schlegel’s.

 

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: Bob Rude, a consultant with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, will be presenting "Drug-Free EZ" which is a drug-free workplace program built especially for small businesses. This program of the Ross County Safety Council will be held Thursday, Dec. 12 at the Ross County Service Center on Western Avenue, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. The cost is $8 per person and this program is open to non-members as well. Call 702-2722 or e-mail ccinfo@chillicotheohio.com to register.

 

SHARE A BUSINESS AFTER BUSINESS: We have one of our smaller businesses signed up to sponsor a BAB late next year, but a partner is needed. This would be a great opportunity for another small business to help shoulder part of the cost and for maybe a local non-profit to show off its facility to chamber members. If you’re interested in a partnership, give Marvin Jones a call at 702-2722. As an FYI, the 90th Anniversary Celebration is serving as this month’s BAB while January’s will be on the 15th at Infosight on U.S. 23 north of Chillicothe.

 

A HEALTHY SIGN: For those who might have missed it, PACCAR Inc., the parent of Kenworth Truck Co., on Dec. 3 declared an extra cash dividend of 70 cents a share on top of the regular dividend of 20 cents a share. This was in response to third-quarter earnings which were triple those of a year ago. The dividend will be paid Jan. 6 to stockholders of record Dec. 18.

 

PIKE COUNTY NEWS GOOD FOR US: The creation of more than 250 jobs for Pike County was announced this past week. Getting the most play was the 50 jobs to be created by the United States Enrichment Corp. which chose Piketon as the site to test the centrifuge technology of uranium enrichment. Construction is expected to begin in 2004 and operations starting a year later. By 2010, the company has pledged to build a permanent plant for the technology that would employ 300-500. The other good news came from Mill’s Pride which is expanding operations in Waverly and adding the 200 jobs.

 

NEWEST MEMBERS: Please welcome the chamber’s newest members: Steak N Shake on North Bridge Street, Arledge’s Greenhouse on Blacksmith Hill Road and HELP Computer Solutions, Stanhope Drive

 

CALENDAR PARTY MONDAY: A party will be held Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Pump House Center for the Arts to recognize the winners in the Huntington Bank Youth Commission Calendar contest. The calendars also will become available that evening.

 

DISNEY WORKSHOP AVAILABLE: In conjunction with the Central Ohio Chambers of Commerce, we are offering The Disney Keys to Excellence, a half-day of training with the Disney Institute on Thursday, March 6. There are two components to the seminar: “Service, Disney Style” and Leadership, Disney Style.” The program will be 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Villa Milano Banquet Conference Center, 1630 Schrock Road in Columbus. The cost is $175 for members and $225 for non-members. Call our office for more information.

 

DID YOU KNOW?: That according to figures from the Ohio Department of Transportation, the busiest place for traffic in 2000 in Ross County on U.S. or state highways was on U.S. 23 in the Main Street-Charleston Pike area with 39,930 vehicles per day. That compares to 37,530 per day on North Bridge Street where it meets U.S. 35 and 17,240 vehicles a day on Main Street at Paint Street. To learn more about traffic counts, check our link on our home page at www.chillicotheohio.com.

 

DATELINE IS OUT: Members should have received their copies of the monthly Dateline newsletter this week. If you didn’t, give us a call and we’ll see that you get it.

 

UPCOMING CHAMBER-RELATED EVENTS:          

            December

 

 

This newsletter goes weekly to more than 350 of the chamber’s members for whom we have e-mail addresses. If you have an item you’d like to include, e-mail Executive Director Marvin Jones at mjones@chillicotheohio.com. If you’d like to be omitted from this mailing, reply and ask to unsubscribe. To stay abreast of chamber activities, make sure to visit www.chillicotheohio.com frequently.