EIGHTEEN CHAMBER PAST CHAIRMEN ATTEND ANNUAL MEETING
Prior to atending The Chamber's 97th Annual Meeting on January 30th, eighteen past chairmen of the Rocky Mount-Nash-Edgecombe business organization convened at a gala reception at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Laughery (Mr. Laughery was chairman in 1985.)
The reception and gathering before the Annual Meeting has become a traditional segment of the general membership event that, this year, attracted nearly 550 Chamber member, guests, and business leaders.
The 97th Annual Meeting highlighted the recent accomplishments of The Chamber, set the stage for the coming year, and of course was the occasion for Mrs. Jean Kitchin (Almand's Drug Stores) to pass the chairman's gavel to 2001 chairman, Keith Ballentine (Daughtridge Gas & Oil). Ballentine became The Chamber's 88th chairman.
Both the reception and the dinner-meeting mark the one time during the year that past chairman gather to rekindle acquaintanceships, exchange experiences, and evaluate the progress of The Chamber since their terms of service. A showcase of the meeting this year and in the past is the attendance of Mr. Frank Spruill, chairman from 1938-39, the oldest living past chairman.
"It's important", said Chamber President and CEO Charlie Glazener, "that our past chairmen maintain a link and a relationship to The Chamber. Their presence and participation are strong indications that once their terms are over, they do not discontinue their association with The Chamber or their community."
