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Perry Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Report, Jan. 28, 1997
The Perry Area Chamber of Commerce
is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(6) cor
poration recognized by the Internal Rev
enue Service and the State of Georgia.
Volunteer leaders organized it for its
membership to promote business and en
hance the quality of life for the Perry area,
primarily south Houston County.
It is a strong, viable organization,
which will begin its 42nd year of service
in January 1997. Leaders chartered the
Chamber of Commerce in July 1955, with
eighty-nine members, and it is now the
strongest volunteer organization in Perry
with more than 100 active volunteers.
Membership has increased each year
and now totals over 350 members. The
chamber of commerce currently has an an
nual budget of over $155,000. Approxi
mately 54% of the annual budget is fund
ed by membership dues. The remaining
budget revenues are generated by non
dues income sources such as fund raisers,
contracts for service, and sponsorships.
Membership in the Perry Area Cham
ber of Commerce is open to any business
or service which is otherwise legal under
the laws of the State of Georgia and the
City of Perry. Membership is limited to
businesses which are located or have ser
vice within South Houston County.
The Perry Area Chamber of Commerce
is one of two chambers in Houston Coun
ty. Warner Robins serves the north section
of the county and Perry serves the south
section. The south section of the county
has a population of more than 25,000 and
includes Perry, Kathleen, Henderson,
Elko, Clinchfield, Grovania, Klondike,
and Hayneville. The chambers have be
gun cosponsoring events and working as a
team.
A seven-member executive board and an
eighteen-member board of directors govern
the Chamber. There are eleven committee
areas each staffed with a chairperson and
volunteers: Annual Meeting, Economic De
velopment, Education, Government Af
fairs, Leadership Perry, Membership, Mili
tary Affairs, Public Relations, Small Busi
ness, Past Chairpersons, and Festivals. The
full-time staff consists of a president/ceo
and two administrative assistants.
Leaders schedule the Chamber’s bud
get and program of work on a calendar
year January through December. The
board of directors, elected officials, com
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munity leaders and other interested per
sons develop the program of work annu
ally.
The Chamber of Commerce fulfills
two contracts for service:
The Chamber performs the fol
lowing duties for the Citv: Conducts
an annual leadership development
program, disseminates demographic
data, handles newcomer requests,
handles business requests, handles
all student and general information
requests, seeks out forms of free
publicity for the community, repre
sents the City at various organiza
tions and events, strategically plans
and implements ways to improve the
quality of life, acts as a voice for lo
cal business in the City and County.
The Chamber performs the fol
lowing duties for the CVB: Conducts
the annual Dogwood Festival, pro
motes Christmas at the Crossroads
and the Illumination Celebration,
handles tourism requests, helps bring
additional business and industry to
the community-particularly hospital
ity related, acts as a voice for local
business in the City and County.
Once the central office for all econom
ic development, tourism, and community
development projects, community devel
opment is now the Chamber of Com
merce’s main focus. The Chamber was a
leading force in spawning spin-off organi
zations like the Houston County Develop
ment Authority and the Perry Area Con
vention & Visitors Bureau when growth
dictated division of duties. The Chamber
is a key team player in the efforts of both
these organizations.
The key issues facing the internal oper
ations of the Chamber of Commerce are
keeping pace with community growth and
continuing to develop programs and val
ue-added benefits for members to retain
their memberships. The Chamber of
Commerce has overcome major obstacles
in 1996, such as relocating to more mod
em, professional offices within the Perry
Welcome Center, and updating its tech
nology.
The nominating committee has filled
all of the 1997 leadership positions with
capable, energetic members. The 1997
program of work is in place. The year
ahead should continue our success.
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144 Watson Boulevard • Warner Robins .. (912) 929-1004
593 Russell Parkway • Warner Robins (912) 929-7012
315 South Houston Lake Road • Warner Robins (912) 953-5698
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The Perry Welcome Center, opened during 1990, and operated by the Perry
Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, become the new home of the Perry Area
Chamber of Commerce during July 1996. A large office area was remodeled to
provide a suitable location for the chamber offices. The chamber shares a large
conference room with the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Anew sign indicates
the presence of the chamber offices in the building located at 105 Gen. Courtney
Hodges Blvd. in Perry.
Chamber gets new home
at Perry Welcome Center
The Perry Area Chamber of Com
merce moved into their new offices
within the Perry Welcome Center at 101
Courtney Hodges Boulevard in July.
Chamber President Hayley Godbee said
the location has better access and added
that, “it helps to have the Convention &
Visitors Bureau and the Chamber of
Commerce in one place.”
Several years ago when the Welcome
Center was constructed, plans were
made for the Chamber to locate to that
facility but plans changed prior to con
struction.
Three unused offices and a hallway
were converted into a reception area and
offices for the Chamber of Commerce.
They will share meeting room and stor
age space with the CVB. “This is a facil
ity that can now better serve Perry,”
Godbee said.
The building that previously housed
Chamber President Hayley
Godbee said the location has
better access and added that,
“it helps to have the Conven
tion & Visitors Bureau and the
Chamber of Commerce in one
place.”
the Chamber has been purchased by El
wood Waites Insurance Agency. The
Washington Street site has adequate
space for their needs.
The following businesses were instru
mental in assisting the Chamber during
their move: Nationsßank, W.D. Sulli
van’s, Stanley Discount Furniture, Alltel,
Holcomb Construction, Creative Signs,
and Conner Paint and Decorating.