Chamber has banner year

PRESCOTT – Outgoing and incoming members of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce were welcomed and honored at the Chamber’s annual meeting Thursday.

The meeting was held in the Hubbard room above the Spot, youth center. Jamie Hillery, Chamber director, said the Class of 2018 was a “wonderful group” who worked hard and did a lot for the community during their time on the board the last three years. Outgoing Chamber President Lauren Doucet, she continued, will be the immediate past president and working with the incoming president, Katherine Crain.

In talking about Doucet, Hillery said she thought she was going to micromanage everything, but quickly realized Doucet was doing what she could to keep things going as the Chamber was between directors. Doucet, she added, helped her grow into the job and make sure everything’s perfect for the community. She concluded saying she didn’t know how Doucet does what she does as her family has two businesses, she’s the president of the Prescott Booster Club and has active children.

Doucet, thanked everyone, adding she was thrilled when former Chamber Director Judy Duke asked her to be on the board though she was new to the community. “I didn’t know what that meant,” she said. ‘I’d just moved to Prescott, but I’d always been involved and was honored to be picked for the board.” The four years she’s been on the board, she added, have been the best of her life and she wants people to understand how good Prescott and its people are. “This is a great place.”

She thanked the outgoing members saying they’re a great bunch and she couldn’t have had a better board to work with. Doucet introduced the Class of ’21, Eric Fatheree, Vince Grimes, Cassidy Lawrence, Jeffery Williams, Ann Williams, the appointed president, and Samantha Gummeson.

Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver spoke, saying he’s honored to still be in Prescott and has nine good department heads who are willing to work with the community, as long as it’s legal. They’re not available, he joked, if someone wants anything illegal done. He said the city’s Code Enforcement Office is back up and running, working to get the city cleaned up for the next state football championship this year.

Hillery presented the annual report, telling the audience the Chamber has 117 members, nine new ones, and is funded by memberships and fundraisers. The Chamber sponsored nine ribbon cuttings this year, including one for the new splash pad. Ribbon cuttings, she said, are one of her favorite activities with the Chamber.

She told of opening a new office on Main St. and not having a ribbon cutting for it yet, because she wants everything to be perfect before that’s done. The Chamber, she said, hosts different events in the community throughout the year including the Fall Festival, Trick or Treat on Elm Street, Breakfast with Santa, the Chamber Banquet and the Easter Egg Hunt, among others. Hillery said her goal is to make sure all Chamber-related events grow each year.

The Chamber, she said, is the hub of the community and where people come for information, such as phone numbers. The Chamber, she continued, works with city and county officials, schools for service projects and scholarships. Hillery said she attends as many events as she can, but her primary job is to protect and preserve local business. “It takes all of us together to keep Prescott strong and healthy. No project is too big or small if we work together. We had a busy year, but it was fun doing it. It’s time to jump in and start over.”

Changes were made to the Chamber’s by-laws and adopted by the board.

Doucet closed the meeting saying the Chamber had a great year last year and is looking forward to the coming year. She introduced Angel Barlow as the new assistant at the Chamber.