Olney Chamber hosts business luncheon at Sassy Heifer
The Olney Chamber of Commerce quarterly lunch was held at the Sassy Heifer Tuesday, March 23. Mitch Kipp, the regional coordinator from Senator Drew Springer’s office (SD 30), attended the event. The executive director, Deidre Choat-Brown, said there were 32 guests from approximately 17 businesses present.
w“In attendance were our members from our larger businesses—Air Tractor, Cemco, Tower Extrusions—down to our smaller businesses—True Tex Services, Spirit of Texas Ranch, LB Business Services, Running H Livestock. The event was a great success. We were pleased with the outcome. We hope to grow our attendance for each upcoming event,” Choat-Brown said.
Chamber Board President Anna Rogers shared the board’s vision for the Chamber’s networking events.
“Thanks for coming together in a different setting today. This luncheon is a way to give businesses and individual members an outlet to use their chamber membership. The Chamber membership is like a gym membership that is only beneficial if you use it. So, we encourage you to attend our events,” Rogers said.
Rogers continued with an overview of the Chamber’s two big projects. The first is the Christmas decorations that include the replacement of wreaths and garland. Regarding the Christmas tree, Rogers said, “Our goal is for the Christmas tree to be the largest Christmas tree on Hwy. 114. Or, the largest one we know.”
The downtown gazebo is also on the list of projects. “We received money from the Travis Edwards Foundation to repaint the gazebo. We will landscape the area so that it will be low maintenance but really shine as the crown jewel of the town,” Rogers said.
Chamber board member Chad Edgington followed Rogers’ presentation with a question to the members; “What can we [the Chamber] bring to you that would be beneficial to your business?” He suggested bringing in guest speakers from the metroplex to cover various best practices or engage with customers via social media. Chamber members appeared to be receptive to those ideas. Edgington concluded, “We want the Chamber to exist for the businesses, and we want to make the businesses stronger. We want to get your logo and name out there and help sell things and strengthen the businesses. We would like you to come to these business lunches and learn something that will make your businesses stronger.”
After finishing the Mexican lunch prepared by the Sassy Heifer, members conversed with one another and networked. Some of them shared thoughts about the event.
Pastor Harrell Braddock of First United Methodist Church said, “It was good to come together as we’ve been quarantined for so long. Business owners have a new tool called networking through the Chamber. We should take advantage of this lunch and network with folks and learn something about the businesses in the community that you may not have known.”
Olney Hamilton Hospital Board Member/Secretary Rita Choat said, “We’re proud of our daughter for how she has become involved with the community through her new job at the Chamber. Working for the Chamber was an opportunity for her to come back home. Deidre, Anna and Lyndsey working together make a good team.”
Mayor Rue Rogers said, “This was a great community turnout. The Chamber director and the Chamber board are doing a great job revamping the organization to support the local businesses. The local businesses make Olney what it is and are one of the great things about this town. They create several jobs here, and we need to continue to invest in these businesses so they can continue to grow.”
The Chamber board and director acknowledged the businesses for their participation in the luncheon.
“Thank you to all of our members that took the time to attend our quarterly lunch. We hope to see you at the next one in June,” Choat-Brown said.
The Chamber has 103 members and is still growing. For more information on how to join, visit the Chamber’s Facebook page or website to learn more. Phone: 940.564.5445 Email:- chamber@brazosnet.com.