First Chamber meeting ends unresolved
Chamber, it’s a funny word when you think about it. Torture -chamber
bringing up images of drafty, stone castle rooms.
For others it might be of a pot kept by Great-granny under the bed.
A chamber of a different kind was on the agenda Thursday Evening,
October 8, 2009, as members of Several Wears Valley Business’ and
various interested citizens gathered at American Pie Pizza and Video in
Wears Valley to discuss the need for, and possibly lay the foundation for
the Wears Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Steve Bieritz of Wears Valley Realty Group headed the meeting with
minutes kept by Michele Bryan of East Tennessee Realty.
Bieritz called the meeting to order by having those in attendance
introduce themselves and their Business.
John Edwards, President of the Friends of Wears Valley, said that he and
the friends supported the idea of a chamber, though they will not be a
part of the chambers infrastructure.
After the introductions wee over the questions began. Foremost on
everyone’s mind seemed to be What benefits a potential chamber brings
to the table, What dues might be, How best to promote Wears Valley.
Ideas for promotion included everything from placing billboards at each
end of the Valley-, to working with existing tourist centers such as Pigeon
Forge. Mona Whitfield of Monell Designs suggested incorporating Wears
Valleys rich history into any potential marketing.
Mr. Peter Bush, Valley resident and Contractor, called for a vote for
officers, seemingly before a consensus on whether or not to even form a
chamber had been raised.
Alvin McGill, Outspoken Community advocate and Business owner,
pointed out that without a proper representation of the Business in Wears
Valley such a hasty decision would be met with skepticism and
disapproval. The majority of those in attendance agreed and another
meeting was planned for the following two weeks. No election was held.
As the meeting drew to a close several volunteered to form a “community
awareness” committee to make sure all business had a chance to attend
the next meeting before any decisions were made. This first committee of
the proposed chamber consisted of:
Alvin McGill Jr., Scottie Thompson, Al Wilson, Steve Bieritz, and Mona
Whitfield. According to Bieritz in 2007, Wears Valley Rd had a traffic
count of 5,580 vehicles per day. There were 125 business’ located along
wears Valley Rd.
The next Chamber meeting will be held at 7pm on October 29th at Wears
Valley ranch.