Create Area Chamber of Commerce met on February 8, with seven members present.
Items discussed by members included: Membership renewals, with a current target goal of 100 members. A gift card drawing incentive was approved, if members renewed by March 10; Preparations for Cruise Nights has begun, with discussion on the effects of construction at Main and Exchange; and Debbie Piepenbrink is the new coordinator for the Crete Farmers Market.
In additional business: Chamber Board Officers elected were Judy Petrungaro – president, Jamie Healy – vice president, Julie Ciarlo – treasurer, and Betsy Janicki – secretary; New resident letters have been sent, with an invitation to pick-up a Welcome Bag at Crete Country Store; Discussion held to set up strategic planning to create a safer place for village events, especially with the planned construction in town; GoLo will build a new gas station on the southeast corner of Main and Exchange to replace the existing one; and Quik Scripts pharmacy soon will come to the northwest corner of Main and Exchange. Also, Park and Pals is raising money for a Fitness Court to be installed at Heritage Park, with a motion passed to make a Chamber donation to the project.
The Chamber’s Bunny Hop event will be held April 1-8. To obtain a ticket for the drawing, anyone 18 years or older who comes into a business while wearing bunny ears will get a ticket for the April 12 drawing, plus Park Pals will hold a breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Palm Sunday.
In new business, members discussed looking into a Chamber business card to provide Chamber information, including a QR code for obtaining up-to-date information on all Chamber businesses. Meeting adjourned.