The California Area Chamber of Commerce's plans are confirmed, for the most part, ahead of Christmas California Style next week, as the group's focus now shifts to consider its slate of board officers for 2022.
The Chamber's board discussed a tentative slate of officers at its regular monthly meeting last Thursday, with plans to finalize and vote on the slate of candidates at the group's December meeting. The board will also vote whether to approve the Chamber's proposed 2022 budget at that meeting.
The following month, the Chamber will vote to approve any changes to its by-laws at its January 2022 annual meeting. In the meantime, Chamber Executive Secretary Sandra Ratcliff said Thursday there are around five by-law change recommendations set to be under consideration to be included with the final update by-laws, pending approval at a special session prior to the annual meeting.
The board members with expiring terms will also need to decide whether they'll stay on for another three-year term by the December board meeting.
As far as more immediate upcoming events are concerned, the group learned that a total of 61 slots -- the entire slate from last year and a few additions -- have been filled for the Chamber's Christmas in Proctor Park lighting displays, which will begin to go up following Thanksgiving. The Chamber's Christmas California Style committee also plans to install arrow signs to help guests with directions while viewing the displays.
For the new event added to this year's agenda, the "Cookie Crawl," the board was informed that around 40 tickets have been sold so far, and 20 businesses and organizations have committed to participating. It will start at 10 a.m. at Sweet Chipotle and run until 2 p.m., as patrons make their way along the rest of the route visiting other participating businesses.
Other business from last week's meeting included confirmation the Chamber had been provided with a new portable sound system, courtesy of Commerce Bank and Cale Brown. Purchasing a sound system was one topic of discussion from last month's meeting, as board members agreed it would be beneficial to have on hand for events like the upcoming annual dinner and during the Ozark Ham & Turkey Festival.
In her report, Ratcliff informed the board that five new members had joined the Chamber during the past month -- The Well Calimo, California Lions Club, Milk Barn, M&M Plumbing and Reset Health & Fitness.
The Chamber's next regular board meeting is set for 8 a.m. Dec. 9.