By Bonnie Culverhouse
The year 2020 left no one unscathed, including the Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce. But President/CEO Jana Morgan says businesses in Minden are making a comeback, and her organization is doing everything they can to ensure their 243 active members can do just that.
“As far as 2021, everything will happen between now and December,” Morgan said.
For instance, Morgan said “Duck Derby” will kick off July 2.
“We sell the ducks and, of course, every dollar the Chamber brings in goes back into the community,” Morgan said. “Besides to keep our lights on, we just use the money to provide business owners and businesses the opportunity to promote themselves.”
At Duck Derby, Chamber members are offered the opportunity to purchase a booth to promote their business.
“We sell ducks at integral dollar amounts,” Morgan said. “We race them down Main Street. We build our own big plastic ‘avenue’ we put together and release water from the hydrant. The current takes the ducks down the street.”
Duck tickets are sold online at greaterchamber.com or in person at the Chamber office.
When the sun sets, Morgan said there will be fireworks downtown to celebrate July 4, even though it is July 2.
“There will be a handful of vendors and jump houses for the kids,” she added. “It is a great opportunity for people to come out and celebrate with their families.”
The Chamber will be involved with “Grillin’ on Main,” in June, however, that will mostly go through the city while the Chamber supports it by sharing a booth with Tourism.
“Then we will roll right into WEEF in August,” Morgan said. It is the Webster Education Endowment Fund, which was not recognized in 2020.
“We are going to offer scholarships this year for the teachers, since we can get back into the schools,” she said.
Another Chamber-sponsored event that was not recognized last year was Webster Youth Leadership and Webster Adult Leadership.
“Nothing happened except 15 Under 40 last year,” she pointed out. “That was it, except for First Responders (recognition banquet). It really wasn’t what anybody hoped it would be.”
Currently, the Chamber is accepting nominations for “Businessperson of the Year,” “Business of the Year” and “all the awards we normally give away. And of course, “Woman of the Year” and “Man of the Year” are also incorporated in that same frame,” she said.
Those awards are made during the annual Chamber Banquet, which will be held September 23 this year.
“We feel like at that point we will be able to get 500 in the Minden Civic Center, rather than the 250 it is right now,” Morgan said.
