Ron Woodworth is chamber's newly elected president
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Chester Chamber of Commerce's monthly board meeting was held at Reid's Harvest House, Tuesday, April 17, 2012.
Ron Woodworth is the chamber's newly elected president, along with vice president Steve Hayes, and Mike Ritter, treasurer. Directors re-elected to a three year term: Chris Blechle, Terry Moore, Chris Diddlebock, Ron Pechacek, Robert Welker, Ron Woodworth and Dan Colvis.
Out-going President Tom Welge was thanked for his two years of commitment and service to the chamber. Tom expressed appreciation to the Advisory Board, the directors, and the Executive Director for their help during his term as president.
Nominations are being accepted for the Chamber's Citizen of the Year which will be presented at the annual dinner Friday, June 18. Nominees need not be a member of the chamber. Letters should be sent to the Chester Chamber Office at P.O. Box 585, Chester, IL 62233, no later than June 2, 2012.
This year's annual chamber dinner will be held at the Chester Country Club featuring an evening with Frank Sinatra. Chef Wally, owner of Wally's Originals, will cater the dinner. Tickets are $20 each and must be purchased in advance from any director or by visiting the chamber office at 10 Bridge By Pass Road, or contacting the office at 826.2721.
Tom Welge will be the keynote speaker at the Birding the Bottomlands event Saturday, April 21, 2012. The Middle Mississippi River Partnership, along with the Chester Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Bureau, Southern Illinois and Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Societies, Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site, Clifftop, and the Kaskaskia Lock and Dam are hosting the 2012 event. Birding field sessions will be held from 6-10 a.m. at various locations along the middle Mississippi River in both Illinois and Missouri. The festival will be at Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site from 12-3 p.m. The afternoon festival will feature many conservation related educational and demonstration activities. For additional information, contact the chamber office at 826.2721 or visit the website at www.midmiss.org.
Ribbon cuttings were held last month at Jody's Farm House Café and Fanciful Finishes. Additional ceremonies will be held on April 25 to welcome Mr. Kenny's BBQ and the new managers at Rub A Dub/Tropical Snow.
Thanks to Superintendent Chris Diddlebock and Chester High School, the chamber will soon have its own website. The high school will help with the website design and development. The chamber's current link on the city's website is outdated and members are asked to be patient during the construction of a new site.
A committee consisting of several directors will review applications and select the recipient of the chamber's $1,000 education/vocational scholarship which will be awarded to a high school senior.
Directors commended Director Don Welge for his induction into the Louisiana State Alumni Association. Don has been very active in the Chester Chamber of Commerce for years, as well as numerous other professional, community and civic boards.
The recent Titanic 100 year anniversary celebration was attended by 150 guests including a number of directors and chamber members. A special thanks to Tammy Grah, the sponsors, Friends of the Chester Public Library and many volunteers who helped make the wonderful evening possible.
Many directors attended the recent Regional Leaders Breakfast at the Coulterville VFW Hall on April 12, 2012. The breakfast focus was the Prairie State Energy Campus and guests were given an opportunity to tour the grounds following the breakfast. The Chester Chamber was a bronze sponsor of the event.
Economic Development Director Chris Martin reminded about the upcoming Small Business Development Center of SIU Carbondale class on "How to Start Your Own Business" on May 4, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Randolph County Court House. There is no charge for the class. For information or to sign up contact the Southern Illinois University at 618.536.2424 or email sbdc@siu.edu.