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Outgoing Chair of the Board Reflects on Chamber Year

by Jeff Nelson, Commerce National Bank

When you sit back and think about the past year, it is amazing to see all of the things that have occurred.  Just one year ago, Hillary Clinton and Rudy Guiliani were the leading candidates to become our next President.  Gas was approaching $4/gallon.  The Dow Industrials were above 14,000, and I was making plans to take over as Chair of the Board for the Chamber.  Okay, maybe that last one wasn’t as momentous of an event but as they say about politics, ‘everything’s local’.

     Over the past year, the Chamber has been busy.  On the Programs side, we had our most successful Recognition Dinner ever.  We recognized attache’ as the Business of the Year, Dr. Paul Knapp as the Businessperson of the Year and Tim McCoy of the Boy Scouts as the Community Volunteer of the Year.  This great event allows the Chamber to recognize leaders of the Clintonville community with local residents and businesspeople.  My thanks go out to Lynne Gentner, Denise Baumann and all of our volunteers in making the dinner and silent auction a success.

     On the heels of the Recognition Dinner, we held our annual Student Citizen Breakfast in April.  Sue Lusk Gleich and Joe Jackson chaired this event that recognizes the success of local area middle school students.  My thanks go to Sue, Joe and their team of volunteers for another great success.  We also had tremendous success with the annual golf outing in May.  My thanks go out to the Golf Outing chair Joe Weithman & BJ Mull and all of the volunteers for their help.

    Later in the summer, we had our most successful Cruise the Ville.  What started out as a car show has grown into a tremendous community event, attracting over 2,000 people.  Brenda Pinnell again led a team of volunteers in putting this event together, providing a wonderful weekend of activities for local residents and giving greater attention to the local business community.  Cruiser Night at Studio 35 was a great addition. This event required a tremendous amount of work and I thank Brenda and the entire group of volunteers in putting it together.

    In addition to our programs, Chamber successes during the year included continued business development within the community, progression on the use of the UIRF funds allocated to the community back in 2005, and continued expansion of our networking opportunities for members.  The Chamber has assisted local developers for projects along High Street and continued to be a business advocacy voice to local government

       Our Government Action Committee, under the leadership of Vice Chair John Raphael also had a very active year.  The Chamber endorsed the Columbus City Bond package which will bring significant improvements to our community.  We also recognized the importance of our local schools and endorsed the Columbus City Schools levy.  Both of these issues were approved by voters in November and Chamber support was important..

     During the year, we were saddened by the departure of Jeannette Nini as our Program Director.  Jeannette accepted a position with the National Association of Diaconte Directors at the Pontifical College Josephinum.  We wish her well in her new position.

     I’d like to thank our board for their assistance through the year.  As a board member, these individuals are looked upon to take an active role in managing the Chamber.  I would also like to thank the Ambassadors, our member relations group that we began in 2007 and really took off in 2008.  And finally, I want to extend my thanks to our Chamber President, Ernie Hartong.  Ernie serves a vital role as the do-everything man for the Chamber.  He assists in developing new members, helps out in all of our programs, and serves as a vital link to our members.  Few realize the amount of work that Ernie puts into his job as Chamber President.

My best wishes to incoming Chair of the Board Jacquelyn Murphy, I am confident that her leadership and the continued involvement of our Chamber board and volunteers will continue to make the Chamber the leading community organization in Clintonville.  2009 will be an exciting year.

    Again, my thanks to our members, volunteers, and Board for a great year.

     Jeff Nelson

     2008 Chair of the Board

Board Elects Officers for 2009

The Chamber’s Board of Directors elected officers for 2009 at it’s December Board meeting.  Jacquelyn Lucas Murphy of Edward Jones Investments will serve as Chair of the Board.  Murphy has been a Chamber Board member  since 2002 and previously served as Vice Chair of

 Programs and Membership.  Joe Patchen of  Carlile, Patchen and Murphy will continue to serve as Vice Chair of Programs, and in addition was named Chair-Elect.  New Board member Gary Weaver of KEMBA Financial Credit Union will serve as Vice Chair of Membership.  Weaver has served as a Chamber Ambassador, so the membership role will be and expansion of those efforts.  John Raphael, Patrick J’s, will serve a second term as Vice Chair of Government Action and Economic Development.  Under Raphael’s leadership the Chamber will continue to work closely with Columbus City Council, City Departments, and the Clintonville Area Commission to present the views of the business community on important issues.  Linda Wiget, CPA, will also serve a second term as Secretary/Treasurer.

   “2009 will be a challenging year for the Chamber,” Murphy told the Chamber Notes. “We will continue to work to provide services and opportunities for our members through our traditional programs, such as the Community Directory, Celebration  Dinner, Student  Citizen Breakfast,

Curise the Ville and others.  We will also be looking for new opportunities to help

our members grow.”  Murphy also noted the Chamber will be looking for more

membership involvement.  “The Chamber is an organization of volunteers, and  we

are always looking to our members for new ideas.  We have been successful in the

past because our members were engaged, and that tradition will continue.”

Business Briefs.....

J.S. Brown Honored by NARI

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J.S. Brown & Co. has been recognized as a recipient of the 2008 NARI ACE Award. The ACE Award is presented by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) of Central Ohio. The ACE (Achievement in Consumer Excellence) Award, a consumer rated awards program honors NARI members that provide exemplary products and/or service. “The NARI ACE Award provides consumers a valuable tool to help them begin and complete successful remodeling projects, and that tool is the knowledge that they are selecting a professional remodeling contractor or product supplier that they can count on to do the quality work they desire. “We work hard to bring integrity and quality craftsmanship to every project.  This award is a validation of our efforts,” said Jeff Brown, President.

The NARI ACE Awards were presented during the NARI annual Awards Gala which was held on Friday, December 12th, 2008

Lockett Opens Balance Point at Spine & Sports

     Kitt Lockett has established her practice, Balance Point Integrative Health & Wellness within Spine & Sports Chiropractic Center at 4000 Indianola Ave. In addition to Licensure with the State Medical Board of Ohio for Therapeutic Massage, Lockett is also a Registered Polarity Practitioner and Reiki Master with the Tere Mai influences. 

Lockett stated, “We have thousands of opportunities a day to teeter between wellness and illness; it's your conscious decision to have health.”   Balance Point blends Massage, Polarity, Reiki, Cranial Sacral, Reflexology and Energetic Food Awareness to give clients a well rounded session addressing personal issues all the while educating and empowering them to take care of their health.

     Call 573-7746 to schedule appointment or call Kitt Lockett directly at 271-8175. After hours and weekend appointments are available.

     For information on a new employee health program from Spine & Sports Chiropractic

Click HERE

KEMBA Ranked #1 in ROM

     KEMBA Financial Credit Union has been ranked number one in Central Ohio for   Total Return to Members.  Credit Unions across the country are evaluated and ranked by Callahan and Associates, a leading industry analyst as part of their Return to Member (ROM) ranking.  It ranks credit unions on three areas, how much value is returned to borrowers, how much value is returned to savers, and a service usage component. 

  “It is KEMBA’s sole purpose to serve our member-owners,”  said Jerry Guy, President & CEO of KEMBA.  “This system is designed to measure how well credit unions return value to their members and we are proud to be ranked first among our peers.”

    Guy added, “With so much focus on the negative aspects of the financial world lately, it is nice to show our members that their financial institution is safe, sound and secure.”

North Area Real Estate Association  Names Officers for 2009

Members of the North Area Real Estate Association elected officers for 2009 at their December meeting.  Leading NAREA in 2009 shown at right are;

Stratton Alt, The Alt Company, Secretary, Sue Hanson, Keller Williams Capital Partners, Vice President, Joe Jackson, Keller Williams, Past President, Lee Ann Ringer, (Outgoing Treasuer), Traci Klinger, Keller Williams Capital Partners, President.  Not pictured are Vicki Morello, Strategic Mortgage Services, Treasurer and Kasey Welch, RE/Max Capital Centre Realtors, Tour Director.

    The NAREA meets every Wednesday at 8:30 am at the Clintonville Woman’s Club

Celebration Dinner Will Be Feb 20th

Nominations Dues For Chamber Awards

The Clintonville Area Chamber of Commerce’s 9th Annual Celebration Dinner and Silent Auction will be held at the Blackwell on Friday, Feb 20, 2009.  The gala event kicks off the Chamber’s program year. 

    “The Chamber’s Annual Celebration Dinner is really a wonderful opportunity to honor Clintonville businesses and volunteers that make our community great,” said Lynne Genter, of the Clintonville Farmers Market and Dinner Chairperson.  “It continues to grow each year, and we expect a record crowd again in 2009.”

    Nomination forms are currently available by clicking the link below or at the Chamber office, 4219 N. High St.  The form will also be appearing in The Booster,  in late December and early January.   Awards to be presented will be the “Business Person of the Year”  which honors an individual for their leadership and business and volunteer contribution to the community, the “Business of the Year” which honors a business and their employees, and “The Booster Community Volunteer of the Year”  presented to a Clintonville resident.

    Jeanne Rucker of Panera Bread will serve as the Chamber’s 2009 Silent Auction Chairperson.  Chamber members have found the auction to be a great way to promote their products and services.  Rucker and her committee have already begun contacting members for auction items.

     The Deadline for Nominations is January 16th

     To download the 2009 Nomination Form Click HERE

Business Person of the Year	Business of the Year
Dr. Paul Knapp, Knapp Veterinary Hospital	attaché
Melissa Goodrich, Colonial Candy Shoppe	Southwick, Good & Fortkamp
Brenda Pinnell, Bernie's Garage	Clintonville Automotive Repair Service
Katie Palmer, SoBo Style	RE/MAX Capital Centre Realtors
Anand Saha, Mozarts Bakery	Weiland's Gourmet Market
G. Scott Smith, Wier Arend Funeral Home	Volunteer of the Year
D Searcy, Terra Cotta	Tim McCoy, Boy Scouts
Paul Love, Coldwell Banker King Thompson	Susan Barrett, Adena Brook Community
	Betsy Hubbard, WRI
	Roger & Lynne Genter, Farmers Market
	Algy McBride, Historical Society

Chamber Members Roll Up Their Sleeves to Help Red Cross

   On December 30th, Chamber members, their employees, and customers participated in the first “Clintonville Blood Challenge” for the American Red Cross at the Whetstone Recreation Center.

Below, Grant Bain, Sales Manger and Dirk Bengel, General Manager of the University Plaza Hotel are ready to do their part.  Left, California Concept Cuts had 100% employee participation in the blood drive.  Owner Carmen Rincones was one of the first Chamber members in line on  Dec. 30th.

       In all 17 units were donated, and while slightly less than the events goal, it was a good start to what will hopefully become a growing annual event for the Chamber and the American Red Cross.  The Chamber would like to thank Laura Pappas, new ARC Donor Recruitment Representative for coordinating the event and Connie Terry,  Rec Center Director for their help.  Thanks to the Chamber members and individuals who took time to give the Gift of Life.

2009 Clintonville Community Directory Coming in Late February

At right is the cover for our 2009 Directory.  If it looks familiar, it should.  It was the cover of our first Directory in 1999.  The picture is an original painting by

local artist Mary Heath Morrison.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Thursday, January 9

Clintonville Area

Commission

Regular monthly  meeting

7:00 pm

Whetstone Library

Monday, January 12

Chamber Ambassadors

4:00 pm

Chamber Office

Thursday, January 22

Opportunity Luncheon

11:30 am—1:00 pm

Clintonville Woman’s Club

3951 N. High St.

Reservations Required

Call 262-279

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