Oak Ridge Chamber launches membership campaign

Under the leadership of two long-time community leaders, Keys Fillauer and Darrel Kohlhorst, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce kicked off a new member recruitment campaign on Thursday, September 10. The campaign is focused on identifying new members to bring into the Chamber between now and October 15, a press release said.

“Nearly 100 committed volunteers are working to grow the Oak Ridge Chamber’s collective influence and financial resources,” said Melinda Hillman, vice president of Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge Campus and chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. “That represents almost a quarter of the Chamber’s current membership working to expand their organization. Personally, I am appreciative and excited that so many are involved in this effort.”

There are five captains serving as coaches and cheerleaders for the campaign. The five captains are:

• Rhoni Badsen of Girls Inc.;
• Bruce Borchers of Oak Ridge Schools;
• Katy Brown of Comcast Spotlight;
• Jim Normand of Joyce, Meredith, Flitcroft, and Normand; and
• Steve Whitson of H-S Whitson Construction.

The press release said the campaign is very different than campaigns conducted by the Chamber in recent years. Team members identify potential new members and have several weeks to communicate the benefits of membership and being part of the Oak Ridge Chamber.

In addition, the campaign has several sponsors who are helping to keep the campaign cost low by contributing products and services. In the press release, the Chamber gave special thanks to Riverside Grille, host of the Kickoff Breakfast for volunteers; Minuteman Press for campaign material;  and to Centennial Golf Course, Kroger, and Fulin’s Asian Cuisine for hosting campaign reporting sessions.

For more information on how to be a part of the campaign as a team member, sponsor, or for information on how to join during the campaign, contact Lauren Fritts or Greta Ownby at the Chamber. They may also be reached by calling the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at (865) 483-1321.

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is Four-Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce and the winner of the ACCE 2010 Chamber of the Year designation.

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