Chamber elects new officers, board members
By Lori Mellinger

The Bullard Chamber of Commerce is taking on a new face - or faces - after last week's meeting.

Three new board members were voted in to replace outgoing board members. And the few contested officer seats were decided.

Larry Morgan, Darline McKay and Joe Gentry replaced Jay Abercrombie, Martha Langford and Bryan Capps - whose terms were expired.

Board members who retained their seats are: Joe Moody, chair, Jackie Kiergan, Craig Gardner, A.W. Hines, James Williams and Tom McCall.

Board nominees David Feagin, Jerry Ward and Sib Siblia were not chosen.

New officers for the upcoming year are: President Danny Ray who beat out B.J. Langford; First Vice-President, Bryan Capps; Second Vice President Sue Hornbuckle who beat out Susan Gardner, Secretary Carolyn McCall, and Treasurer Sherri Glover

"A growing chamber is vital to a growing community,"

to a growing community,” Ray said. “I’m honored the members chose to keep me as president for another year.

“And I will continue to do my best to bring the chamber to a new era.”

Ray and the board aren’t wasting time.

They have asked to be heard at Thursday’s council meeting - where Board Chairman Joe Moody is expected to get input from council members and formally request and establish a working partnership with the city.

“I believe all entities should and can work together for the betterment of the community,” Bullard City Manager Larry Morgan said. “The council has successfully formed a partnership with the school district - which is unprecedented in most cities.

Mayor Pro Tem A.W. Hines agreed.

“Being a businessperson and serving both the council and chamber, I know it’s imperative we all work toward the same goal,” Hines said. “There’s so much more we can and should be doing to promote our members and benefit our citizens.

“I commend Mr. Moody and Mr. Ray for their foresight and willingness to allow progress not to get in the way of personalities -- as so happens in a small town. I look forward to us all working together.” Moody also addressed chamber members on the establishment of a grievance committee.

“We have approved temporary guidelines,” he said. “But we are still working out the details.”

Also mentioned were guidelines for awards and criteria for nominations.

Moody also plans to reinstate some languishing programs.

“We have a benevolent fund that’s not been used, we are bringing back the yard of the month, and we are also thinking about things like a business of the month and ‘Business After Hours’ events.”

A big project for the group has been deciding on a visitor’s map for the area.

Map committee chair Jerry Ward said after a lot of research, his recommendation is AID Associates in Dallas. The map would cost about $7,900 for the initial 5,000 maps. And the maps would not only include Bullard proper but the entire Bullard School District and 75757 area code.

Cost of the maps could be defrayed and the chamber could even see a profit from ad sales.

The Jacksonville Chamber - who used the same firm - said they make money off the maps. The group works with both the city and the county on the map itself. Chamber representatives suggested to find someone to do ad sales for the chamber, but the group has its own salesman - who gets a commission.

“We just don’t want to burden business owners - who are usually overburdened anyway - to be responsible for selling the ads,” said Mandy Johnston. “We use Bea Johnson - a marketing director - who works on commission - because it allows us to make more money.

“And making money means we don’t have to charge for them,” she said. “Although it reads $1 on the map, we don’t charge. We believe it’s a service to the tourists and an asset to our retailers.”

The chamber has closed its nominations for Bullard’s Man, Woman and Business of the Year awards to be handed out at the annual banquet in January.

Chamber members nominated for the categories, but the final selection, will be by a small committee.

Added this year will be the Cecil B. Harper Humanitarian award - in honor of Harper who died earlier this year.

The banquet, set for Jan.22, at Eagle’s Bluff Country Club, will feature a jazz band, more entertainment and a silent auction. No word yet on who will serve as keynote speaker.

Tickets to the banquet are $25 and may be reserved by calling the chamber office at 903- 894-4238.
Annual Chamber of Commerce banquet
                        Entertainment includes:
            Scheduled for Jan. 22 at Eagle’s Bluff
                A jazz band and a silent auction
  Awards will be presented to the Business Man and
Woman of the Year, as well as a new award -- the Cecil
                  B. Harper Humanitarian Award.
      Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance.
              For more information call 903-894-4238.