GUESTS: Dale Snell, Ameriprise Financial Services, our newest member. Angela Hayes, Elliott Mortuary. Colby Davis, Ward Daviss son. Jason Ball, Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, our guest speaker.
FINES: Ward and Colby Davis were our morning Sergeants. Harley Macklin and Dean Brigman paid for bringing their antique cars. We should have paid them. Darren Wicks and Dennis Reiser were talking which got their whole table fined. Terry Brigman won the pot last week, but wasnt here, so his brother Dean was fined. Another table was fined with Jeff Roberson, Dane Power and Harley Macklin. Larry Sloan was singled out by Colby to pay a fine. Stan Macgirvin, since he wasnt sergeant today, paid a fine. Doug Foss paid an honorary fine since Colby was here helping today.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: For every guest brought in during March or April a 15 point certificate will be given to the member who brought the guest. If the guest joins the club the member who brought the guest will receive a certificate worth 30 points. Certificates can be redeemed at Longs of Hutchinson at a 1 point equals $1 value for AMBUCS clothing apparel.
PROGRAM: Jeff Roberson introduced Jason Ball President and CEO of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce. Jason began his duties here in January 2013. He and his wife Sandy moved here from Lincoln, Nebraska where he served as Director of Business Development for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce/Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development for four years. He felt his first duties were to try to stabilize the chamber and the city. One of the 2013 success stories was retention and expansion of Haven Steel. Another 2013 success story was certification of the Kansas Enterprise Industrial Park. A key factor when trying to bring new businesses to locate here in the park. He visited 57 businesses last year with as many planned for this year. They are assisting with the Sports Arena project to make it into a true multi-use facility. The chamber continues to promote Hutchinson nationally for business development working with businesses on site selection. Re-development of the Hutchinson Mall will be on going. Proposing the annual State of the City Address to be calendared as an annual chamber breakfast event. At year end 2013 there were 1,143 chamber members with 770 businesses who hosted 50 events last year. View the newly designed chamber website at http://www.hutchchamber.com/ .
Lucky Aces Pot: Doyle Ehling had left and a Joker was drawn for him which was a $0 win. The pot increases to $334.00.
Newsletter Drawing: Bob Bush was not here. Increases to $20 next week.
Newsletter question: How many members did the chamber report for the year ending 2013?
Editor: Steve Conard