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Letter from the President
What do the completions
of the following projects have in common? The securing of the Dime Bank Building, the Strategic Plan, the grant for $650,000.00 and $40,000.00 Renovations to the Dime Bank Building, and last but not least the Grand Opening of the Chamber. TEAMWORK.

Recently the Chamber had an informal work session of its Board Members with the intention to create a slate of scheduled events for the remainder of this year and 2009. Each member had a suggestion which had value for the communities and businesses we serve...and we had a good time planning. Again, TEAMWORK.

I really get the value of TEAMWORK. I may not always agree with the ideas partly because its not mine, and mostly because I’m right about how it will go. What I’ve discovered... it’s all about me and what I want. I’ve always felt it was to much work having others involved, what I’ve learned, its even more work doing it all myself. When it’s all about me, it doesn’t serve the masses.

I challenge each of you, if you want to make a difference in your family, your organization, your business...give up being right about how it should go, listen to the need, and take action. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. (Some symptoms of being right...you’ll be stuck, frustrated, complaining, struggling, poor me, etc.) Can you imagine what would be available for our communities if we gave up being right.

One of the best gifts of being President...I don’t have to do it alone, and it’s so rewarding to share the fruits of our labor. I’m forever grateful to the Chamber’s staff, Lori Pfahl, (my right hand woman), who manages the membership, Melissa Petrini, who manages the events, big and small, and Lorraine Parise, who keeps all of us accountable. The Chamber has a dynamic team in place to serve the members, the businesses and the communities...we’re here for you.


Cindy Klenk

Business Spotlight :Ruddy Realty

Welcome to 27 North Main!

An Open House and Grand Opening Ceremony to mark the complete renovation of the 1903 Dime Bank Building was held on February 19th. As home to the Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, this celebration gave us a chance to welcome the public and provide a grand tour.

It was seven years ago when the building was purchased. Hundreds of people have contributed to the success of the project-and over the course of the day, a steady stream of well-wishers and instrumental partners were able to see the results of these many years of hard work.

As the first completed project of the strategic plan, this success is just the beginning. And, by design, the building provides space to learn from the past and create new opportunities.

Guests attending the reception filled the grand hall, which is home to the General Jerome O’Malley Honor Room. The ornate details of this turn-of-the-century building are a fitting backdrop to commemorate his life and leadership.

Always open to the public, the Chamber Offices on the same floor were a constant buzz. The Board Room on the mezzanine was set with display boards for several development projects that will soon break ground.

Additional refreshments available in the well-appointed third floor suite, home to Attorney Jeffrey Levine (Herlands, Rothenberg & Levine) and Brian Kelly (Brian Kelly, CPA), gave people a perfect excuse to ride the elevator and navigated the stairs. The two had eagerly awaited completion of renovations and are pleased to welcome clients to their new location. (Since the Open House, the second floor has become home to Inkwell Business Writing.)

Visitors were able to see that the character of the building was carefully maintained with the original floor plan and architectural details, while at the same time, modern systems make the building efficient and fully code compliant.

If you weren’t able to join us, please drop by the Chamber Offices so we can show you around.

History

2001 -  Pennstar sells Dime Bank building to the Chamber

2002 - The Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce moves operations from City Hall to the Dime Bank building

2003 -  Ms. Weaver Cooper wrote a grant for renovations of this building. Simultaneously, the Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce stimulated an interest, raised the money and secured the necessary partnerships for the development of a Strategic Plan for Carbondale.

2004 - Governor Rendell makes a visit to Carbondale to deliver a check for $650.000 for the Carbondale Initiative. The first project of the Strategic Plan…renovations to the Dime Bank Building.

2005 -  Renovation plans completed and put out to bid.

2006 -  Renovation begins

2007 -  Building renovations complete

 
Why would you want to be a chamber member?...
  • Bi-monthly Newsletter
  • Networking Opportunities
  • Business Seminars
  • Marketing Opportunities
  • Employee Benefits
  • ChamberChoice Insurances
  • Competitive Membership Pricing

...by working together as a community/region, we can be successful.

 
Carbondale Chamber of Commerce • 27 N Main St.• Carbondale, PA 18407
Phone (570)282-1690 • Fax (570)282-1206 Email: info@carbondale-pa-coc.com

 
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