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The group had convened noon meetings for many years but several members, including restaurants, has said that the noon start time made it impossible for them to attend the meetings. With that in mind the Chamber decided to try an 8:30 am starting time. The experiment was successful, as several members attended who normally had not been able to, including Kim's Salon, IHS Pizza and Sandwiches, the Warrior Lounge, Stull's Flowers and KC101.
Mr. Schoonover thanked the members for coming to the morning meeting and said it was nice to see so many new faces.
The Secretary and Treasurer reports were approved.
The attendees introduced themselves and some gave updates on happenings with their businesses.
Sweet Tooth Bakery had "a great Valentine's Day - our highest grossing day ever." They are preparing for Easter and Mother's Day.
IHS also had a "really good start to the quarter."
Kim's Salon is preparing for prom season.
"Thursdays at the Rialto" will return March 26 with Kilrush and Joe Cavallaro's Dixieland Jazz Band in April.
The Winter Film Festival at the Rialto will have The Imitation Game and the only Bradford County showing of Selma. Both films were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture .
The Missoula Children's Theatre presentation of The Jungle Book in Canton was very successful, with combined audiences of 410 for the two shows. She thanked the local donors for their support.
The Whiskey Tango Sideshow will be at the Keystone Theatre.
Oscar's Flooring "always has some thing special going on."
The Independent-Sentinel's new website "myweeklysentinel.com" is up and running.
Mr. Schoonover said that Passion Life Wellness was not able to attend today's meeting but was going to observe its first anniversary soon. Martial Arts will not be offered after April 1, but Yoga Classes will be starting.
Schoonover's is "anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring" and will be at the Williamsport Home Show March 13-14-15.
So far seventy-seven members have enrolled in the Chamber for 2015, and members are being encouraged to urge other businesses to join the Chamber.
Members are being urged to provide information for the Chamber to promote on email and Facebook.
Sylvia Adams reported that the Bridal Expo went very well, despite the poor weather. "The only complaint was about the weather," she said. "We are looking for new ideas for next year, including a Runway Show" for wedding dresses. The vendors all were very happy. The site of the Bridal Expo, the CHS gymnasium, was a good location. President Schoonover thanked her "for a great event, It brought people to our area and many visitors to the Expo said that they didn't realize there are that many local vendors."
The Chamber website is up and running, and will include a "store" page so people can purchase Chamber crocks or jugs or other items. The website is "a work in progress" and there will be a directory on the website. He has worked with BTG on the website.
Breanna Allen of Landon's Car Wash & Laundry has been assisting with the chamber's brochure and website.
The new Bradford County Tourism and Promotion Agency board has one representative from each of the Chambers of Commerce in the county. Mr. Schoonover is Canton's representative. He said the first meeting was in February and the board plans to hire an executive director. The agency is working with a marketing firm from New York City that specializes in this type of promotion. Mr. Schoonover told today's attendees that this "sounds exciting. We hope to get people to recognize Bradford County as a destination for tourism and business." He noted that with one member from each Chamber, "Canton and Troy have the same voice as the Valley or Towanda." He said that regardless of one's opinion on the change from the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau to Bradford County's own agency, he said, "Everybody's heart's in the right place and working together." He said that Impact Fees are providing a large share of the financing for the agency. "Now we have the resources to go at this like an A+ student. Now we can afford the best of the best."
The members voted to have a 30 oz. pitcher as the next item in the Chamber's promotional stoneware line. It will include a picture of the south side of Main Street from the early 20th century.
The Chamber's annual Car Show will be August 7. The Block Dance will be June 13 and the Wine & Cheese Festival will be June 27.
Jenn Malehorn is arranging a "mixer" for several Chambers of Commerce in the area. It will be held at 1110 W. Main Street in Troy on May 12.
The members voted to make a $50 donation to the Canton Bowling Association, which is planning to hold a tournament at Canton Lanes.
Present were representatives from these Chamber members: Schoonover Plumbing & Heating, Kim's Salon, IHS Pizza and Sandwiches, Warrior Lounge, Stull's Flowers, KC101, Chemung Canal Trust Co., First Citizens Community Bank, Canton Borough, Frontier Communications of Canton, Rialto Theatre/BCRAC, Principle Enterprises, Sweet Tooth Bakery, Oscar's Flooring, Canton Independent-Sentinel.