Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce Officers are shown at an event held earlier this year. From left are President Ethan Mattingly, vice president Ashley Palmer, secretary John Boyett and treasurer Nicki Harbor. Also pictured is former office manager Jennifer Stidham, current chamber board member and the marketing director for First National Bank.
HAMILTON — To aid in assisting the growth of the City of Hamilton, as well as annual events planning and overall marketing efforts, the Hamilton City Council voted on Monday, Aug. 19, to increase its yearly donation to the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber will be earmarking some of the monies to help fund a full-time chamber director position.
Previously, the city had donated $29,900 to the chamber on an annual basis. They are increasing their donation by $22,000, to total $51,900, which will go into effect during the next fiscal year, which starts on Oct. 1.
During a work session on Tuesday, Aug. 13, chamber president Ethan Mattingly and vice president Ashley Palmer had discussed the chamber’s goal of having a full-time employee.
During the last several years, the chamber office manager has worked part-time, with approximately 12 hours per week being designated to allow the chamber office to be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The chamber has had some excellent office managers, but with most people seeking jobs with more hours, there has been some turnover, requiring the chamber officers to have to re-train new personnel on handling all of the many chamber events multiple times.
In fact, chamber officials explained they have had six different office managers in the last five years, creating excess struggle for the organization and leading to their desire to transform the role into full-time.
Mattingly noted the office manager position will now be turned into the new director position, with the director having more responsibilities within the day-to-day operation of the organization.
“We are working diligently at the chamber to promote the ennoblement of our chamber members,” he said. “These new assets will allow us to have a full-time chamber director, which is a position we’ve been needing for many years.
“I am excited to see what the future holds for our new employee and our members! I am very grateful for the city council’s investment into the chamber of commerce!”
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page noted, “It’s going to be exciting to have a full-time chamber director that will continually promote and provide new activities and information about our city to people,” he said. “And they’ll also be able to oversee more and be more hands-on with the activities, as far as carrying them out.
“We think this will be a real plus for the city. We appreciate the volunteers and the chamber of commerce board and members, but we’re also looking forward to having a person working full-time. We think it will be beneficial to the chamber and the city.
“Before--with a part-time basis and only being able to offer a few hours a week--they were having some turnover. But when you offer someone a full-time position, it allows them an opportunity to continue in their job and be a long-term employee, and that’s going to be an advantage.”
Chamber events
We asked former chamber president and current vice president Ashley Palmer to provide a list of chamber events.
These include “Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt; National Day of Prayer; Dinner on First (all chamber members); Welcome Baskets for the Alabama Plein Air Artists; Leadership Summit; Shrimp Boil; Back to School Bash; Hometown Christmas (downtown merchants put it on and the chamber helps out); Christmas Parade; Santa on the Square; Walk of Trees; and the Buttahatchee River Fall Fest. The chamber also helps sponsor the Miss Hamilton Pageant.
A new event will be a Pickleball Clinic and Tournament with a professional pickleball player.
The phone number for the chamber is 205-921-7786, and its website is hamiltonchamberofcommerce.org.
See complete story in the Journal Record.
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