The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is planning a banquet, hiding an elf and getting ready for Real Life.
Chamber education chair Roger Graves said the chamber will hold its Real Life event for high school students Feb. 22 and 23 at the Pike County Multipurpose Complex on Quinlivan Road.
Four area schools will take part in the event, learning what it’s like to hold a job, earn a paycheck and pay bills.
Chamber executive director Catherine Sanders said volunteers are needed.
“We couldn’t do with without the business owners and community leaders manning the booths and being team leaders,” she said.
“To see the light bulbs pop on in their (students’) heads when they see how much a car note, rent, light bill, water bill cost is interesting,” incoming chamber president Clifton Van Cleave said.
In another matter, the chamber is making a few changes to its Pike the Chamber Elf contest.
Pike, is the toy elf that the chamber stashes at area businesses. Customers who spot him take their picture with the elf, upload it to social media and tag the store and the chamber in their post. Those who find the elf will be entered into a drawing for a gift basket.
“Before, it was a secret where Pike was and customers had to find him,” chamber retail chair Barbara Simmons said. “This year we’re going to advertise the business where Pike will be located and customers will have to come into the business and take a picture with themselves and Pike.”
Sanders said the winner of the grand prize drawing will receive $500.
Simmons said businesses will pay $25 to have Pike for one day.
“It will go on from now until Dec. 20,” she said.
Simmons said if any business wants to donate anything to the gift basket to contact Sanders.
The board also heard from J. Johnson, community development chair, who discussed the chamber’s upcoming annual banquet.
“We want to make it nicer. It will possibly be at Fernwood Country Club and we possibly won’t have a speaker. There will be light business because that’s when the board will be announced, but we want it to be more entertainment,” Johnson said.
The banquet is tentatively set for Jan. 12.
In other business, the chamber:
• Accepted the resignation of program coordinator Taylor Armstreet.
• Named Retriever, a business credit card processor, as Business of the Month for December.
