Along with honoring Peg Raney, recipient of the 2017 ABC (Above and Beyond the Call) Award, a highlight of Greene County Chamber and Tourism’s annual meeting was the recognition of milestone memberships.
Wahl-McAtee Tire and Service was recognized as being a member for 50 years.
Honored for reaching the 25-year milestone were Angie’s Tea Garden, John’s Appliance and TV, and the Jefferson Kiwanis Club. The Gardens, Country Blessings, and McLaughlin Imprint and Apparel were recognized for 10 years of membership.
Ora Stevens, outgoing Chamber president, was thanked and given a plaque for his service to the Chamber. He is now serving as Chamber treasurer. Mike Holden is stepping up as president and Tim Pound will be vice president.
Administrative assistant Sheilah Pound characterized 2017 as a year of “rebuilding,” and said rebuilding would continue in 2018, “as we find our niche among the remarkable things happening in Greene County.”
She said the board reviewed the inner structure of board activity and its responsibilities to membership, reviewed by-laws, and looked at the committee structure.
Moving to a new location at the Thomas Jefferson Gardens Welcome Center was an important step during the year and, according to Pound, tourism activity increased.
Jason Cerveny presented a profit and loss report for 2017 and a budget for 2018.
The 2017 report showed total revenue of $129,606, with $50,676 of that coming from events. Expenses totaled $131,813, with $52,804 of that in the events line item. The net loss of $2,207, “which isn’t bad for a nonprofit,” Cerveny said.
He prefaced his presentation of the 2018 budget with “It looks crazy, I know.” Gross revenue from events is pegged at $100,000, with total income pegged at $141,700.
Event expenses are estimated at $40,000. The line item for wages and contract labor is $30,760, a reduction of almost $9,000 from 2017. Total expenses are listed at $123,760, for net income of $67,540. “If we get half that, I’d say we’re doing really good,” Cerveny said.
There was no further discussion of the budget and there was no vote on it by the general membership.
Michael Reese, event and tourism director for the Chamber, reported that the Chamber with its “Reinvent Yourself” campaign wanted to signify to the community that it is making changes for the better. “The challenges that the Chamber faces… are the same issues facing any Chamber of Commerce all over the country,” Reese said.
One of the challenges is to find its place among Greene County Development Corporation and Jefferson Matters: Main Street. “It puts us into a situation of finding what we’re good at, what we’re going to concentrate on,” he said.
He said the Chamber identified five competencies: advance the economic, industrial, professional, cultural and civic welfare of Greene County; encourage the growth of existing industries and businesses while giving all proper assistance to any new businesses or individuals seeking to locate in Greene County; support all activities beneficial to the community and the business environment; promote tourism in Greene County; and promote Home Base Iowa in Greene County.
