By Becky Manley / Staff Writer
Williamsburg hosted its first Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce luncheon Tuesday.
About 35 people attended the luncheon at the Williamsburg Tourism Office.
The meeting comes about four months after the merger of the Corbin and Williamsburg chambers of commerce.
Since its formation in 2008, the Williamsburg Chamber has had eight members, according to Harvey Alder, one of the original Williamsburg chamber members.
Now president of the board of the merged chamber, Alder said membership from the Williamsburg area has increased by about four.
“This is by far the largest crowd we’ve had here in Williamsburg,” Alder said about the luncheon turnout.
After it formed, Williamsburg chamber membership lagged because it was difficult to find a meeting time that would accommodate the schedules of potential members, Alder said. Now, Alder is optimistic those scheduling issues will be resolved with meetings held earlier in the month.
Alder said the chamber can also tout the benefits of expanded business contact opportunities to potential members.
“We just need to get the word out,” Alder said.
Bruce Carpenter, chamber director, said membership renewals are still being paid for 2010 though he believed a total of about eight new members may have joined since the merger.
Tuesday’s speaker was Larry Cockrum, vice president of academic affairs for University of the Cumberlands.
The next chamber luncheon on March 10 will be held in Corbin since the 17-member chamber board has decided to alternate meetings between the two cities.
