2005 Year in Review

Chamber of Commerce 52nd Annual Dinner

New Board Members (l-r) Dean Zuidema, Leslie May and Dr. Robert Hahn.

Retiring Chamber President Bob Vaughn

2005 President Terry Amstutz presents retiring board member Norma Nelson with an appreciation gift.

Jason Wheat explains the "It's All Here" campaign.

Nancy Collistro, owner of The Cake Shop tempted tastebuds with her assortment of desserts for the Chamber dinner.

The “City of Friendly Enterprise,” was emphasized Monday evening, January 24, 2005 as the Morrison Chamber of Commerce held their 52nd annual dinner meeting at the Forest Inn Restaurant.

Bob Vaughn, retiring Chamber president welcomed everyone. Following the meal the presentation and election of the new board members and officers was held. New members for the 2005 year are Leslie May with State Farm Insurance; Dr. Robert Hahn, Morrison Veterinary Clinic and Dean Zuidema, Community State Bank.

Retiring board members include Bob Vaughn, Alice Senior, Kathy Polson and Norma Nelson. Each retiring member received a gift and was thanked for all of their efforts and leadership by the new Chamber president Terry Amstutz.

Jason Wheat explained the “It’s All Here,” campaign which is a combined regional project involving area chambers from Clinton, DeWitt, Fulton and Morrison, in a campaign program encouraging consumers and governments to use area merchants and businesses when making the purchase of a product or service. “Live Here, Shop Here, Save Here,” is the concept of the project which highlights local shopping and the benefit to the community in doing so. A website is in the early development to aid consumers in searching for a specific item that may be found in their community. Newspapers and radio will also be used in helping shoppers and informing them about area businesses.

Bob Vaughn informed the 107 Chamber members and guests on the progress of the Sesquicentennial events planned throughout the year. “This is the year,” Vaughn stated. “This is a once in a lifetime event. We want to make it a memorable experience. Something people will be talking about in years to come.”

He explained about the importance of the steam engine in culturing this area. Three by four foot replicas of the Pioneer steam engine are being sold in celebration of the 150th Anniversary also of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad coming to Whiteside County. The committee is waiting for a response from Union Pacific Railroad on a request it submitted to have one of the railroad’s antique steam engines establish trips from Fulton to Sterling.

The weekend of July 8th-10th has many events scheduled. A Civil War re-enactment will be in place at the Whiteside County Fairgrounds with cannons going off every 60 minutes. Native Indians will also have a display. A large parade is being planned for Saturday, which will wind through the south side of town ending in front of the grandstands at the fairgrounds. The finale for the weekend will be the fireworks display which J & M Fireworks guarantees, “will be a fireworks display to remember.”

Rev. Dan Swinson and Stephanie Vavra, portraying Mr. and Mrs. Charles Morrison gave an informative explanation of the founding and background of the City of Morrison.

Terry Amstutz, 2005 Chamber of Commerce president concluded the meeting by stating that he will try to continue the things that retiring president Bob Vaughn has been involved in and try to give each chamber member a purpose. “People involved in making things happen and events running smoothly make it seem so effortless. I have been really impressed with the things this town does and the pride that is shown by everyone. I really want to thank members of the board, those going off and those coming on and I look forward to serving you.”

by Dawn Zuidema, theCity1.com
January 25, 2005