The Columbia-Adair County Chamber of Commerce, "a starting place in getting to know the community," says new President Sue Stivers, was 40 years old in August. Good memories of past leaders and activities were shared at the monthly meeting.

Bill Walker was credited with having been one of the strongest promoters of Columbia, and hardest workers for the Chamber of Commerce, in its history.

Edgar Troutman, Past President, shared stories about landmark activities and decisions that brought us to where we are today. He remembered when there were no water works in town, just a dipper at the well by Curry's (just below the Thunderbird on the roof). He remembered cow days, horses on the square and hazards such as the time the Chamber merchants decorated downtown and a winter storm threw the Christmas star onto the top of another building.

Founders of the Columbia-Adair County Chamber of Commerce were Alvin Lewis, Ruth Richardson, Lynn Jeffries, John Horton and George Akin.

"I remember Lynn Jeffries," said Robert Flowers, President of the Bank of Columbia, "He was always sending locally grown or made items promoting Columbia and Adair County. Once he sent a country ham to some friends in the north. He received no comment. When he spoke with them some time later he asked if they'd received his gift only to be told, "Oh, we did but by time it arrived it had spoiled and gotten all moldy and we had to throw it away."

What's next?

President Stivers already has a plan of action, with calendar dates to back it up, taking the organization to a stronger and more serious business agency. Right after she was elected, she made the rounds to local organizations with one message, "I want the Chamber of Commerce strengthened. When new businesses and individuals look at Adair County - by mail, personal visit, or by phone - they do not communicate with The Industrial Board, they don't ask where the Heart of Adair is - they try to locate the Chamber of Commerce."

Sue made no bones about it from the first minute then-President David Martin recruited her, "The only way I'll lead the Chamber is if it is run as a serious organization with a positive attitude."

Her mission: "To promote and enhance the commercial, industrial, agricultural, cultural and civic well-being of Columbia - Adair County."

One of the Chamber President's first goals - separate board meetings for administrative matters freeing the luncheon meeting for informative programs - took place at the September meeting with guest Hilda Legg, Executive Director for The Center for Rural Development in Somerset.

George Kolbenschlag introduced the Adair County native who spoke to the group of about 50 on "The Center" which exists to help communities and businesses do long range planning and improvements, and "CenterNet" which she believes will "help us rise out of poverty through communications".

"Technology alone is not the answer to all our problems," she said, "But what we do with that technology is the answer." Her three A's of technology include: "Awareness, knowing where technology exists to help you; Accessibility, the ability to use it; and Application, making it work for you."

She envisions public access video conferencing from Columbia through CenterNet to the world. Marilyn Sparks reported from the last CenterNet meeting that the foundation is built for it to actually become a reality here. All Adair County schools and government agencies are working together to make this possible.

Hilda has helped from the beginning to develop The Center around Congressman Hal Rogers' goal, to create a south central Kentucky where "No young person will ever again have to leave home to find his or her future."

CHAMBER NEXT STEPS

GOALS ON WHICH PRESIDENT STIVERS

WILL WORK THIS YEAR:

1) Promote business and community growth and development by promoting economic programs which are designed to strengthen and expand the income potential of all businesses within the city of Columbia and Adair County.

2) Provide opportunities for the local business community to participate in small and retail business programs that meet specific business needs.

3) Work with and support efforts of agricultural agencies and groups within the county that support the expansion and diversification of agricultural products and marketing.

4) Provide opportunities within the chamber that create the atmosphere for networking, leadership and outreach for chamber membership.

5) Promote cooperative efforts between business and education and continue to promote improvement in the community's public education system.

6) Promote the improved understanding of the health care system in our community and its importance to our community as an economic asset.

7) Assist the Industrial Authority, where appropriate, with recruitment to develop a positive labor climate in the community.

8) Recruit and maintain an active membership base that provides the resources needed for undertaking a program of work that meets the needs of the business community.

9) Assist the Tourism Commission, where appropriate, in promoting our city and county, in attracting tourists to our area and in emphasizing the importance of tourism as an economic asset.

10) Promote public policy development relative to the issues of importance to the county and city and encourage unity of purpose of public organizations in guiding the future development of Columbia and Adair County.

Plan of action

to attain those goals:

* Activate the board to meet separately to get chamber business out of the way, freeing the monthly luncheon meeting for special programs.

* Build on the outstanding Christmas in Columbia celebration.

* Increase membership from the 80 members when she began to 200 members.

* Improve communications by updating the booklet of Adair County data and also by printing a membership directory.

* Start the fall festival.

* Hold a small business seminar April 28, 29 and 30, 1998 free to members.

* Develop a web page to promote chamber members and Columbia and Adair County.

* Appoint ambassadors who will attend and report news back to the chamber from one of the many organizational meetings in the county held each month.

"I can't, you can't, but we can," is one of Sue's sayings. She believes the chamber should be the hub, communicating with all other groups and keeping members informed on everything that's happening in the county. She will communicate with members by extensive use of all the media as well as at the monthly meetings.

columbia-adaircounty.com

Marilyn Sparks, Chairperson of the Internet access committee, is happy to announce that when you arrive on the world wide web at columbia-adaircounty.com you will tap into the best Adair County has to offer.

In her beginning report to the chamber she gave the following outline of what one can expect to see and hear:

* Welcome to Columbia/Adair County Kentucky, Alan Reed narrating to photos of local scenes with background music of the Kentucky Song.

* Mission: To insure that Columbia/Adair County, nestled in the heart of five major lakes and the home of Lindsey Wilson College and Mark Twain's mother, be worthy of its residents by having a clean, secure living environment and by enabling the community to enter the 21st Century as a model of how a small, rural community overcame its obstacles and gave its citizens the quality of life they need and deserve.

* Data about our county - population, stats, maps, and the ability to click on the following areas for more information and photos: airport, Chamber of Commerce, churches, city/county government, education, health care, history, industrial authority, items of local interest, libraries, local media, organizations, showcase of local artisans, tourism, Giles cabin, Q&A, local links, state links, and more.

Also serving on this committee are Kim Helm, secretary of the Chamber and the Industrial Authority, and George Cheatham.

More news of this group and the web site will be in future issues.

One new member may have

answer to layoff worries

"People here just need the opportunity," says Richard Hirsch, Regional Director of Holland Employment, one of two new personnel agencies to join the chamber this season, "and we can be the catalyst. We can get the person in, to prove him or herself, through all the corporate barriers."

His comments and those of manager Tom Buck were very positive in a time when job news is very bad. Adair County is becoming known as the county with the highest unemployment in the state of Kentucky.

Two to three thousand layoffs do not mean that that many people will suddenly be available for work, Hirsch says. Some will take early retirement while those who are second income earners may elect to stay home.

"We're not at all sorry we opened offices here just as the layoffs happened," he says, "This just means that the quality work force here will be sought after by other plants around us."

Holland does all the hiring for Sumitomo plants in Kentucky.