WEBSTER COUNTY, KY (1/18/12) – At the Providence Chamber of Commerce’s regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 12, members approved the appointment of long-time member Sue Loux to the office of president for the chapter following the unexpected resignation of Shannon Layton, who served as the Chamber’s president last year.
 
Providence Chamber of Commerce Vice-President Elizabeth Holloman told the group that Layton had recently accepted a new job that would preclude her from being able to attend many of the meetings or from being able to give the position the attention it needed, and that as a result she had submitted her resignation. Holloman went on to explain that while traditionally the vice-president takes over the role of president in such circumstances, she wouldn’t be able to commit the time to that due to other responsibilities, and asked for nominations to fill the position.
 
It had already been noted that Loux had offered to accept the position, and she was nominated and elected by acclimation. Loux had been serving as the chapter’s secretary, and she and Holloman said they had asked Dennis Beard to fill that position, and that he had accepted.
 
Following approval of her appointment, Loux addressed the Chamber. She said she wanted to work on making the organization more “business oriented,” and reviewed a list of items she said had been discussed during the Chamber’s board of directors meeting earlier this month.
 
“We need to develop a booklet on who to contact to get things done,” Loux said, referring to discussion she’d had with the rest of the board about ways to help and encourage new businesses in Providence.”We need to be more driven about helping businesses. We need to get help with writing grants.”
 
Joining the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is something Loux said she hopes the Providence Chamber will do soon.
 
Loux said she wanted to see the Chamber take a more pro-active stance on business that in turn could help the Chamber grow as well.
 
“We just assume people know we care. They don’t,” she said.
 
Loux also went over the tentative calendar of events scheduled for this year, ranging from a “Taste of Providence” barbeque cookoff set for April 21 to the Educator’s Breakfast in August to events at Christmas. This year’s Providence Christmas parade will be held on the first Saturday of December at 11 a.m.
 
Chamber members also discussed the Gobbler Classic, and Shorty Prow said local residents Kelly Cullen and Brooke Cullen would be working to set up the run.
 
Loux said she would be recruiting people to help work in committees on the various events planned for this year, and added that she hopes to see other organizations and the Chamber collaborate better in order to build on the successes of past events. She also said she hopes more people will get involved directly with the Chamber.
 
The Providence Chamber of Commerce meets on the second Thursday of each month at the Providence Community Center at noon. Lunch is provided.

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