Chamber seeks officer nominees

McCOOK, Neb. -- A nominating committee has been appointed by the board of directors for the McCook Chamber of Commerce to seek individuals willing to serve on the chamber board for the upcoming year. The committee consists of Bryan Loker of High Plains Radio, Jade Lesko with Citta’ Deli, and Terri Skolout with MNB Bank.

According to Dawson Brunswick, there are three board member positions that will be filled. Two of the open positions are eligible to serve another term, if they so choose, and the third position will be filled by a new member.

The nominating committee will present three names for board approval. In addition, members can also petition to have their name on the ballot to serve on the board. The entire membership will vote to elect the new board members.

Brunswick told the Gazette that the chamber board also approved changes in the chamber by-laws. One of those changes revolves around the title for the paid director of the chamber. Going forward, Brunswick will be referred to as the President/Chief Executive Officer of the chamber, and the presidency will be referred to as chair; past-president will be past-chair; and president-elect will be chair-elect. Brunswick said that the changes conform with the chamber industry and also correlate with how most businesses refer to the leadership in their organizations and board of directors.

Another change to the bylaws requires the chamber banquet to be held in the first quarter of the year, rather than limiting it to January. This years banquet will be held March 7th at the City Auditorium with a business meeting at 5 p.m., social hour starting at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Great Plains Communications is the corporate sponsor of the casino games following dinner. Brunswick stressed that participants will not win cash at the casino games, but there will be prizes for the top three “high rollers”, as well as a few door prizes. For those not interested in “gambling”, bingo will also be available.

Dinner will be catered by Citta’ Deli, and Sehnert’s will provide the cash bar. Brunswick said deadline for purchasing chamber banquet tickets is Friday, Feb. 28.

In other business, the board set Crazy Days for July 9, 10 and 11. Wagner Auto Group will once again sponsor a cruise night and car show during Crazy Days. Brunswick said that the March 4 retail marketing committee meeting will focus on planning the promotion and other details of Crazy Days.

Brunswick, who started his position with the chamber last September, said that he is constantly learning something new at the chamber. “It’s definitely one of those things that you think you have an idea of what goes into it when you start. And every day what your job is changes.”

He went on to explain that making the move from West 2nd Street to the Keystone Business Center “has been the best thing that’s happened to me in this job.” He said that being closer to community resources such as the McCook Economic Development Corporation, Red Willow County Tourism, Nebraska Business Development Corporation, and McCook Community Foundation Fund Committee helps him build relationships that have been extremely beneficial, both for the chamber and for Brunswick personally. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”