New chamber exec speaks to Kiwanis

Tim Burchill, Kiwanis member and chairman of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Board, introduced Felicia Sargeant, the new executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, to speak to Kiwanis members.

Sargeant had previously served as the executive director of the National Buffalo Museum for the past 10 years. She was also the executive director of the North Dakota Buffalo Association.

Sargeant is a native of Indiana and a graduate of Purdue University. She is married and has two children. She said it was a major decision for her but felt that everyone needs a change now and then. She begins her duties with the the chamber banquet on Jan. 31 at the Quality Inn, the Home and Garden Show on March 8-9 and some business training seminars. Since she has only been in this position for a week, she said Lisa Hicks has been “wonderful,” doing everything the past three months. She also gave accolades to Lisa Hoffman in the motor vehicle department. The chamber has a 12-member board and will be replacing three board members this year. The board also has a vacancy at this time. In the past the executive board has made most of the decisions and related that to the regular board. One of the new things that will be happening soon is that the regular board will have an expanded role in decision-making and the executive board will be diminished in that area, Sargeant said. The chamber has 370 members and a goal is to work on membership growth.

Sandy Franke led the meeting with 21 members attending. Lt. Mitch Brecto led the group singing accompanied by Burchill. “Happy Dollars” this month will go to the Safe Shelter’s Bully Buster Program.

Franke will introduce Marge Lange at the Jan. 28 noon luncheon meeting at the Lantern Room. Lange will speak about her trip to Washington, D.C., to see her daughter-in-law, Heidi Heitkamp, be sworn in as the state’s new U.S. senator. She will also have pictures to show.

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Tags: community, clubs