Join the Canajoharie Palatine Chamber of Commerce!
Year End Letter
from Chamber of Commerce President Dolores Jacksland
Season's Greetings to all my friends and Canajoharie Palatine Chamber of Commerce members. In 2009, the Chamber supported the Ayres Memorial Animal Shelter with a $200 check, which came from the proceeds of our 2008 Calendars which featured local business owners and their pets. We also made dona tions to the Canajoharie School system supporting the music department, the 7th and 8th grade trip to Schenectady, and the annual prom.
In the spring, we cleaned up the village park and gave the information booth a fresh coat of paint, which it badly needed. We staffed the booth with some wonderful employees who met over 1000 tourists and gave them information about what to see and do here in our two villages. In May we raised money to buy American flags for the light posts on our new bridge. We once again organized the Village Wide Garage Sale with over 40 garage sales participating this year.
Throughout the summer we provided electricity to the waterfront after the village decided to strike this expense from their budget. As a result, our restaurants, shops and barbershops retained the summer time opportunity to serve river traveling visitors. We again sponsored the Canajoharie Farmers' Market.
We've been busy again in December, first decorating the town for the holidays. On Dec.4, we held our annual Elves Night Out Event, which was the biggest and best one yet. We held an Outdoor Holiday Decorating Contest of homes and businesses complete with cash prizes generously sponsored by some of our commercial members. Over 30 properties participated.
At our last monthly, meeting, Dec. 8, we officially launched a beautiful new website. Please visit www.canajohariepalatinechamber.com and let us know what you think. We have lots more to put on the website, especially a new and improved business directory.
In 2010 we will continue work on the new web site and we will design new brochures. We'll also continue to sponsor the Farmers' Market, and support our school kids and other local organizations as best we can.
All of these projects cost money and your board this year has voted on a budget which will cover all of this and more. The money must come from a combination of dues paid by members, donations and fundraising. You can help by promptly renewing your membership and volunteering to work on one or more of our annual fundraising events. Please consider purchasing a sign for our waterfront signboard.
We need the support of all members to achieve our goals. This will be the final year for many of the officers and board members who have been serving the last four years. We need a new slate of officers to step up for 2011 so this is the time to get involved and affect the direction of your chamber. Our first meeting in 2010 is March 9, at 6pm at the Hearn Agency, please plan to attend. Feel free to respond to this letter with suggestions to help our chamber. Or call and ask for one of the board members to call you back to discuss your ideas and concerns. Or send us an email at info@canajohariepalatinechamber.com. Let us know what you think the chamber should be doing, give ideas for projects and let us know what would make the chamber more relevant to you and your business.
Dolores