Year-end recap, man, where do I even start?
There are so many amazing things that happened within the chamber this year. Narrowing it down has become quite the task and I’m pretty sure I’ve rewritten this at least five times.
From January to December 2023, the Neodesha Area Chamber of Commerce was busy with growth and new adventures. For more than half the year, the chamber relied solely on its working board of directors to grow in membership, promote members, plan events and do the things that most people don’t even know the chamber does. Things such as Sidewalk Sales, Business After Hours, Chamber Coffees and Ribbon Cuttings. They designed and purchased a billboard promoting Neodesha, co-hosted the annual Neodesha Easter Egg Hunt, put together a Day of Directory for Alumni Weekend and awarded winners for Yard of the Month.
They did an amazing job and the work that the board has done to rebuild the chamber over the past several years should be celebrated. Please take a moment to think about and appreciate what it took to restart an organization with the magnitude of a chamber of commerce.
For several years, the board worked to raise funds to hire a part-time director. Earlier in the year, they reached the goal, took the plunge and I took on what may be my biggest adventure to date. They hired me, Robyn Pierce, as Chamber Director in August.
Together, we hit the ground running planning the second annual Chamber Dinner & Auction – Denim & Diamonds. The success of the event rested on the generosity of our business community. The board and I spent countless hours putting together a lineup of auction items to bring in top dollar. Held at the end of September, with approximately 130 attendees, over 40 live auction items and a new exciting element of chance, Glitz in a Glass, the fundraiser brought in more than $18,000.
After the auction, we planned the first Cemetery Tours. Close to 50 people braved the bitter cold the night before Halloween to hear the stories of some of the most famous and tragic deaths from residents of Neodesha’s past.
Cemetery Tours rolled us right into the holidays and the formation of the Retailer Round Table Committee, made up of chamber members who own a retail business. The committee met and planned marketing and promotions for November and December to promote shopping locally in Neodesha. Projects for the first meeting included the organization of Christmas Open Houses, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday Sales and Shop Local & Win Christmas Bingo contest, where we gave away $500 in chamber cash plus prizes!
Rounding out the year, we hosted several give back events for the community. These events included: annual lighted Christmas Parade, Photos with Santa and the Christmas Trees on Main Street decorating contest. A fun new addition this year was a reindeer experience! To add to the annual Christmas Parade and Photos with Santa, we brought in a live reindeer! Itsby-Bitsy, the reindeer, made her first Neodesha appearance, first riding in the parade and then greeting children waiting to see Santa.
Aside from the auction and events, the board and I continued to cultivate the growth of the chamber through memberships and to provide opportunities for our members and community. As of the end of 2023, the chamber proudly boasts a directory of 89 overall memberships. Twenty-six of those members newly joined in 2023. Thirteen are held by individuals in the Neodesha community. The chamber currently offers several levels for membership based on the type and size of the business. Individuals can join the chamber to stay in the know of chamber news as well as receive invitations to networking events.
In December, we held the first Breakfast with Business, a member only event. While this may have been our first Breakfast with Business, we plan to hold the event quarterly in 2024. The sponsored event will cover various educational topics from featured speakers. Sponsors for the event will provide breakfast for attendees and have the opportunity to provide an update on their business before the speakers begin.
Whew, a lot has happened in 2023 and the calendar is already filling up for 2024! Join the Neodesha Area Chamber of Commerce to make sure you never miss an event or networking opportunity!
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Introducing our new board members: Chelsea Fyfe, Shannon Herge, Miranda McKellar, Lily Pendleton, Frances Oldweiler, Christy Springer and Kaitlyn Sundberg.
These individuals join current board members: Miranda Carpenter, Erica Huguenin and Stephanie Tyler.
Thank you to Stacy Jensen, Cori Johnson and Shawna Reynolds for their time serving the Neodesha Area Chamber of Commerce. Their time on the board has been invaluable and for that we are grateful.
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620-288-9572 • P.O. Box 41, Neodesha, KS 66757
Robyn Pierce, Director: 785-770-2999
