About 80 people attended last night’s Greene County Chamber Annual Meeting.

It was a relaxed atmosphere with a special promotion for this year’s Bell Tower Festival with its circus-theme of Bell Tower: Big Top by people wearing different colored dots on their faces.

The highlight of the evening was the 2014 Above and Beyond the Call Award winner who was Diane Wise of Grand Junction.  She was honored for her efforts in leading the Grand Junction community by fundraising for a new community center.  She said they went over their $30,000 goal to receive the full $220,000 Vision Iowa Grant to help teardown the final two buildings near the site of the new community center.  The ABC Award is given to someone who demonstrates volunteerism and effects positive change in the community.

She told Raccoon Valley Radio that she was completely surprised to be recognized as this year’s ABC winner.  She joking said she almost didn’t go to the event, but she’s glad she did.

The 2015 Chamber Board Officers were also introduced.  Ben Yoder will remain as president, Omega Sang will be vice-president and John Brunow will be treasurer and secretary.

Economic Development Director Ken Paxton spoke about projects in 2014 and looking ahead to 2015.  He said that being named Iowa’s first Home Base community to help military veterans find jobs was huge in 2014 and because of that commitment, Paxton will introduce Governor Terry Branstad during his inauguration later this week.

Sang presented the business membership milestones.  Receiving their five-year recognitions included Bett & Bev’s BBQ, Greene Bean Coffee, Greene County ISU Extension and P.A.W.S.  Ten-year members were Syngenta Seeds, Greene County Fair Association, Heaven’s Best, Jefferson Veterinary Clinic and Region XII Council of Governments.  Kingsgate Insurance was honored with a 15-year membership award.  20-year memberships included Clark Heating & Plumbing, Dr. James Teusch D.D.S., State Farm Insurance and Subway.

Fareway received a 25-year membership award and for being a Chamber member for 35-years was Genesis Development, Greene County Medical Center and Medicap Pharmacy.

Other highlights included a new business promotion from Bret Durbin that every merchants purchase $100 worth of Chamber Checks and every time a customer spends at least $20 at a Chamber business, they receive a ticket for a weekly drawing for $100 in Chamber Checks.  Sang talked about memberships going from a business based structure to a benefits-based structure to increase Chamber memberships.

The evening ended with a two-person performance of “Flight of the Lawnchair Man” from Robby and Angie Pederson.

Other pictures below: