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Chairman's Message
 Dear Members,
2010 will be the second year that I will be serving as Chair of the Board of Directors. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve you in 2009 and I look forward to another successful year for the River Region Chamber of Commerce!
We have accomplished a multitude of goals this year and I will mention a few of them. We continue to be the Voice of the River Region. The River Region Chamber of Commerce continues to represent our region legislatively on the local, state and federal levels. We are there when it counts and have taken positions on numerous issues this year that would have an impact on business growth. We will continue to serve as your voice on issues that affect economic development of our region.
Our committees continue to be the lifeline of the organization. This year we re-vamped the Ambassador program. You may have received a phone call or personal visit from one of our ambassadors. The individuals in this group represent a vast majority of our membership and they are the committee that ensures the connection between our members and the value they receive from being a part of the Chamber.
In 2009, our Education committee partnered with River Parishes Education Initiative, Inc. on issues affecting workforce development and the school systems in our region. Together we are participating in the “Work It Louisiana” program and continue to promote opportunities for skill development in the River Region. We realize the importance of educating our children and preparing a skilled workforce for this region.
The membership committee continues to provide resources for our members. They work on retention of existing members and recruiting new businesses. They have provided valuable lunch and learn seminars this year that have focused on enhancing the business climate in our region. The calendar is planned for 2010, and we have a very exciting line-up that will be second to none.
Our business development committee is newly formed and will be creating opportunities for small businesses to network. You have asked for more networking opportunities, and we have listened. We had two very successful networking events this year and our members are asking for MORE! Stay tuned to hear more about what is planned for 2010. Come out and be a part of these events because not only will they provide you with contacts to improve your business, they are lots of fun!
We realize the diversity of our membership and have created a council to ensure that our Chamber is focusing on ways to create more diversity in our businesses and educate our members about the benefits of inclusiveness. We have plans for educational topics as well as networking events that will enlighten our membership and provide for a positive environment for business opportunities for minorities, women and ALL business in the River Region.
I thank you for your support of the River Region Chamber of Commerce and I pledge to do everything possible to ensure that our Chamber remains relevant to ALL business in the River Region!
Rhonda Hotard
2009 Chair
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