Chamber Of Commerce Recognizes Past Leaders

Sonora, Ca — 13 past chairs of the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors were saluted at the organization´s Quarterly Business Luncheon at the Peppery Bar and Grill this afternoon.

The business leaders spoke briefly about the issues facing the chamber during their tenure. Topics included changes to the cell phone ordinance a few years back, Caltrans eliminating crosswalks in the late nineties, and whether the Chamber should put its primary focus on tourism or industry during the seventies.

The eldest Chairperson recognized was former Columbia College President Dr. Harvey Rhodes, who led the Board in 1972.

?It was a smaller and more formal group,? says Rhodes of the Chamber back in the early seventies. ?We were more problem oriented. If we had a problem, we would get together as a group and try to do something about it.?

Rhodes says the major issue of his period was whether the chamber should focus on promoting traditional industry, or put its efforts towards bringing in more tourism.

The Chamber leaders were invited back as part of the organization´s 100th anniversary.

Those on hand included: Jim Costello (2008), Ty Wivell (2007), Dave Butler (2006), Margie Lang (2005), Pat Greenwell (2004), Roger Stevens (2001), Fred Esch (2000), Dan Buckman (1997), George Segarini (1994), H. Randolph Holder (1992), David Sweitzer (1991), Pete Kleinert (1979) and Harvey Rhodes (1972).

Written by BJ Hansen