|
Founded 1990 - The Dennis Township Chamber of Commerce was formed by eighty local businesses in November of 1990 at a meeting hosted by Belleplain Supply. The Chamber was incorporated by local Attorney Paul Baldini, to promote and support businesses in Dennis Township. The first officers and board members were elected December 1990 as follows:
Officers: Robert Greco - President, Robert Lacovara - Vice President, Marianne Vanaman - Secretary, Betty Mattiford - Treasurer.
Board Members: Eleanor Bohm, Stewart Campbell, Michael Peragine, Richard Caprioni, John Henderson, Membership Chair.
1991 - The first annual installation dinner was held in January 1991. In that first year, the Chamber conducted several Networking-Business After Hours-Meetings and instituted membership meetings in March, June and September. A quarterly newsletter called The Business Line was published. The Chamber donated funds to charitable causes such as collecting money for a child with cancer and to the county soccer league to enable our Dennis Township team to travel abroad. Other activities such as a St. Patrick's Dance and boat cruises were held to promote networking and socialization. Fees were set at $15 for initial membership plus annual dues of $35.
1992 - Improvements in 1992 included the start of regular monthly Board of Directors' meeting, hosted by Franklin Savings Bank. Guest speakers on business topics were added to the regular meetings. The new officers installed were Robert Greco, President; Marge Garagiola, Secretary, and Jane Heying, Treasurer. The Chamber's goal for 1992 was to increase the public's awareness of the businesses within Dennis Township. To achieve that goal the Chamber obtained a telephone, placed two large welcome signs on Rt. 47 and on Rt. 9, and 12 smaller "Welcome To Dennis Township" signs on county roads.
1993 - The major project in 1993 was to achieve better business visibility through the publication of our first Business Directory, which was mailed to every home and business in Dennis Township. Annual dues were increased to $45. In 1994 the Chamber goals were to put a sandblasted welcome sign at the border of Sea Isle and to give Business Beautification Awards. The sandblasted sign was postponed because a new retail discount mall was to be built on Richard Pedroni's property on Route 9 and he offered to pay for the sign when the mall was completed. Unfortunately, that project never came to completion. The sandblasted sign at the border of Dennis Township and Sea Isle City was, however, donated by Jeff Van Drew when he was mayor of Dennis Township. He also was a Chamber member.
Beautification Awards were instituted to encourage businesses to locate in Dennis Township and to improve their existing businesses. Each December Chamber members and the public contribute new unwrapped toys and gifts for needy children in Dennis Township. They are distributed by "Santa" on Christmas Eve day. Richard Caprioni, Harry Creamer and Larry Dickson have played "Santa" in past years.
1998 - The Chamber has had a long term goal of having a paid administrator and an office building. Part of that goal was achieved in 1998 when President Betty Mattiford approached Commerce Bank for the use of their building on Route 9 and Woodbine-Oceanview Road as pictured on the Chamber's homepage. They willingly agreed and even made major repairs to the building. Also in 1998, Betty was instrumental in bringing together many volunteers from the Chamber members, the Senior Center, the County Community Services workers, and the community at large to staff and maintain the Chamber office. Community volunteer Ruth Blessing was appointed Office Manager in 1998 to oversee more than 15 volunteer staff workers. The Chamber instituted the distribution of "New Resident Welcome" Bags. The bags are filled with maps, helpful information about Dennis Township and Cape May county as well as promotion items from member businesses. The Township Tax Assessors Department sends us a list each month of new residents and the Chamber staff sends the new residents a letter welcoming them to the community and inviting them to stop in the office and pick up their "Welcome Bag".
In January of 1998, Bob Blessing volunteered to create a web page for the Chamber. He completed it and maintained it until his death in April of 1999. His daughter, Lori, continued to update and maintain the page, although changes in Internet Service Providers has caused our page to be down throughout the year of 2000. For two years, 2001 & 2002, Paul Gentilini was named Web Chairman with David Pritchard assigned to updating. During 2003 Thomas H. Laughlin of Power Of Production Studio was appointed Web Chairman. Tom created a new and updated web site. The Chamber hopes visitors, residents, and business members will find useful information on our web site. We also instituted an e-mail address for members and the public could contact us. The e-mail address is info@dennistwpchamber.com.
The Chamber hopes to promote cooperation and communication with all who live and work in the Township. It is the Chamber's goal to promote responsible business in Dennis Township. Annual dues were increased to $60 for 1999 and $80 for 2000, and $90 in 2001.
2003 - For the year 2003, Kathleen Bresan from Consulmag Corporation takes the office of President to propel the organization forward. In addition, the Chamber has moved forward with a new "up-to-date" and current web site under the control of certified Web Master, Thomas H. Laughlin, from "Power Of Production Studio", a local Web Design company.
2004 - For the year 2004, Kathleen Bresan from Consulmag Corporation, for her second year term, as President to propel the organization forward. The Chamber web site remains under the control of certified Web Master, Thomas H. Laughlin, from "Power Of Production Studio", a local Web Design company.
"Good Neighbor Program" initiated by the chamber with Ruth Blessing as the chairperson and to kick off this program, the chamber recognized Fred McCray Jr. and Fred McCray III with Certificates of Appreciation and a $100.00 gift certificate to Karen and Rei's in Clermont. The McCray's helped to apprehend an alleged burglar who was breaking into an establishment owned by a chamber member.
This program's mission is to provide food and necessary items to the needy families in Dennis Township and to recognize the good deed's of the residents.To submit names of families please call the Chamber of Commerce office at 609-624-2276. Labored skills by Chamber members are encouraged.
2005 - For the year 2005, Kimberly Pedroni-Schiela, proprietor of Clermont Nine Real Estate takes the office of President to propel the organization forward. The Chamber web site remains under the control of certified Web Master, Thomas H. Laughlin, from "Power Of Production Studio", a local Web Design company. Our Office and Welcome Center was closed due to the sale of the property. Dennis Township Chamber of Commerce has joins The Cape May County Chamber of Commerce & Southern Shore Region Tourism Council.
2006 - For the year 2006, Kimberly Pedroni-Schiela, proprietor of Clermont Nine Real Estate serves her second year term in the office of President to propel the organization forward for yet another year. The Chamber web site remains under the control of certified Web Master, Thomas H. Laughlin, from "Power Of Production Studio", a local Web Design company. A "Social Membership" was created for non-business people at $25 per year. Our membership increased to over 100! We represented your business at the Business at the Beach Expo in Wildwood, our table was manned by William Repp and Michael Kelley from "Pathway To Well Being", a local Herbalife distributor along with Shannon from Title Alliance and Chamber President Kimberly Schiela. 5 Scholarships awarded this year! We sponsored the "Sensational Soul Cruisers" for Dennis Township National Night out.
|
