News Business Editor

The 2010 Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce Board got off to a roaring start for the first meeting of the year with new goals, positive financial reports and a myriad of activities lined up for the year. New Board members welcomed were Bobby Gibson, Palidin Apartments; Karl Sosebee, ConocoPhillips; and Barry Bickle, Eastman National Bank. An orientation for the new Board members follows the February Board meeting.

The Board voted to follow a membership campaign outlined by Chamber Chairman Sue Lunsford. The campaign is destined to grow the membership base, but offering incentives to the individuals who bring in a new business as a member. The individual will receive $100 in Chamber Bucks for every business that pays their dues up front. The goal is 40 new members.

For every individual or organization signed up and paid in full the member signing them up will receive $25 in Chamber Bucks. Rich Cantillon, Chamber executive, described the mini membership as a win-win, as the winners will be spending their Chamber Bucks will be using them to trade with members of the of the Holiday Giveaway merchants.

A Chamber week is being planned with the regular membership drive, and also a Party at the Palace at the Marland Mansion, which is set for Aug. 21. Lunsford expressed appreciation to immediate past chairman Steve Crank, who with a team hosted the Chamber auction in 2009 and helped put the Chamber budget in a positive financial position.

Treasurer Ryan Schwabe in his report gave the financial position and commented the Chamber was in a good positive position. Cantillon commented this speaks well of the community and that a lot of other Chambers across the state are not as well financed. Reports were given by Lunsford and Daren Wilson.

Lunsford attended the Martin Luther King breakfast and urged others to attend next year. Lunsford and Cantillon were among those from Ponca City attending the Perry and Tonkawa Chamber banquets. Chamber Chairman-elect Daren Wilson and his wife represented the Ponca City Chamber at the Newkirk Chamber banquet.

Upcoming ribbon cuttings are for Coates & Schwabe, CPA's PLLC, at 10 a.m., Feb. 4 in the RCB bank building. The open house of RCB Bank, which had a major remodeling, is set for Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. New Chamber members include ENB Science/True Dose, and Steichen Spray Service.

Jayne Detten, Main Street director, announced the Street Scape project is nearing completion. The Main Street banquet and awards presentation is Feb. 12 at the Marland Mansion and awards for the years are to be presented. The theme is Mardi Gras.

Mayor Homer Nicholson spoke about projects within the city, which are under way including the new YMCA Aquatic Center, and the stimulus money dedicated to demolishing uninhabitable homes and to repairing other homes. Discussing snow removal, Nicholson noted that the city does not clear residential streets, but clears major thoroughfares. Nicholson said the city is in better shape financially than a lot of towns, but plans to have a flat budget for 2010 to 2011.