“Hometown Heroes” to be featured as Grand Marshals

“Hometown Heroes” will be the featured theme for this year’s 4th of July Parade and Street Fair. From rock ‘n roll on the courthouse steps to square dancing demonstrations, art exhibits to outdoor recreation specialists, historic Main Street in downtown Klamath Falls will have something for everyone all day on July 4th.

Beginning with the traditional down Klamath Avenue, kicked off with a fighter jet flyover, the 3rd Annual 4th of July Street Fair on Main Street promises to be a day of fun, food, friends and good times as special “Hometown Heroes” are honored throughout the day. For the first time Grand Marshals representing local heroes in the categories of Sports, Education, Military and Volunteerism will be honored in the parade. Parade entrants are encouraged to keep to the “heroes” theme, honoring a special hero in their group or organization. This year trophies will be awarded in Civic, Government, Club, Commercial, Family/Individual, Fraternal, School, Non-Profit, Youth, Religious, and Overall Grand Champion categories.

The Street Fair will officially begin with the draping of a huge American flag on the courthouse, followed by the singing of the National Anthem by TBA. The day’s events culminate in a fireworks display over Lake Ewauna.

“This wonderful community event just continues to grow and include more and more participants and visitors”, says Reba VanAcker, Chair of the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce Action Committee that is organizing the day’s festivities. “We’re looking forward to welcoming new craft and food vendors, exhibitors and entertainers to make this year’s event bigger and better than ever.”

For information about events, activities, vendor space, food and parking, contact the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce at 541-884-5193.

The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce is sorry to say that Sarah Weldon is no longer with us.

She received an emergency phone call on Tuesday morning that her father is not doing well, and that she will be leaving town immediately. She is going to stay with him to assist in his care, and make him as comfortable as possible in his final days.

Sarah asked for us to extend her thanks to all those that she has had the pleasure of working with during the time she worked at the Chamber and said that she made many friends and was fortunate to have met some extremely professional and dedicated people.

She will be missed.

To respond to the immediate needs of the Chamber, Chamber president Joe Spendolini temporarily assigned all work at the office to be under the training and guidance of the Office Administrator Lilly Johnson.

I believe this year’s theme “YOUR CHAMBER, YOUR VOICE” says it all. The Chamber of Commerce exists primarily to serve it’s members.

This organization is supported almost entirely by annual dues paid by our members. Our focus needs to be assisting you in areas that effect your business. Part of our obligation is to support, or oppose rules and regulations that hinder the business community’s ability to be profitable. We need to focus effort on bringing resources to our members that will assist them in operating a successful business, like informational forums and other resources.

I am pleased to announce to our community that we have an outstanding board that understands the Chambers role to both our members and our community. This exemplary group of individuals have spent a lot of time over the past year ensuring we fulfill the Chambers obligations to it’s members, and worked to pass policies that had our members and our community as the primary focus. I would like to encourage all of you to let your voices be heard.

This is your organization, you have the right to let us know if we are not fulfilling our obligations, and I can tell you that myself, and the rest of this board, want to hear from you!

This year will be an exciting year of change for the Chamber of Commerce. We will have a new Executive Director, we have 4 new Board members, and we are retiring 2 Board members that have given much to our community, Reba VanAcker, and Norm Holliday. Both Reba and Norm have served on the Chamber Board for 6 years and I want to thank them both for their valuable time, and direction. This organization is a better organization because of their involvement, and we will miss them, although I believe Reba is going to continue as one of our committee chairs.

I want to thank Sarah Weldon, and Lilly Johnson for their hard work and dedication. When the Executive Director resigned, both of these young ladies stepped up and have performed magnificently (they have even tolerated my intrusions). This entire banquet was planned, and organized by the two of them, all the while maintaining their normal daily workload, on top of other responsibilities they’ve had to accept. The new Executive Director will have a pretty easy experience transitioning into that role because of Sarah and Lilly, and the entire board recognizes and appreciates all that they’ve done.

Businessperson’s Brown Bag Lunch And Round Table Discussion

Nuts and Bolts of Establishing a Work Place Drug Policy and Recognizing Signs of Meth Use

WEDNESDAY FEB 28, 2007
Courthouse Basement 4th and Main Street
11:30a.m. to 1:00p.m.

FACILITATOR: Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Groff

Special Guests:

• Patti Buckalew – Assistant Store Manager Ross Dress for Less
• Crystal Agard – Outpatient Counselor Klamath County Treatment Center
• Del Erent – Jodi Choate Owners Mollie’s Restaurant

For further information, please contact Debbie Vought at 883-5147 ext 3197

The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce today announced the resignation of Stephanie Bailey as executive director of the organization. Bailey, who has managed the Chamber for over a decade, is stepping down for personal reasons.

“Stephanie Bailey in the past ten years has been a true leader in the Klamath County business community,” said Chamber president Joe Spendolini. “She leaves big shoes to fill for her successor.”

Spendolini noted that the Chamber Executive Committee accepted Bailey’s resignation last night. He said the Chamber Board of Directors will immediately begin preparations for a national search to replace Bailey.

Ms. Bailey made the Chamber of Commerce a driving force in Klamath Falls and southern Oregon during her tenure. She established strong ties with the governor’s office, the Oregon congressional delegation, and local governments as she advocated for Klamath County merchants. Key recent accomplishments during her time spent as executive director include: