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Vickie Blake, Benton-West City Area Chamber of Commerce events chair, reported additional interest in the Rend Lake Water Festival parade set for May 7.
During Thursday morning's Chamber meeting, Blake said she had received a call from the Williamson County Shriners.
"They have between 10 and 15 units that want to participate in the parade," she said.
Blake said a committee meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Chamber office, located in the Franklin County Garage Museum on North Main Street in Benton.
Chamber member Dennis Miller said a request to the Illinois Department of Transportation is needed in order to obtain a permit to redirect traffic during the parade.
Benton Police Chief Lance Charlson, who is also a Chamber member, said he would process and forward the request to the proper authorities.
"There won't be major projects on Interstate 57, but IDOT will be working north of the Benton exit," Charlson said. "We may have to direct traffic to Route 37 again this year."
Blake encouraged members and volunteers to get involved.
"It takes a lot of people to put this together," she said.
Blake received full support from directors to proceed with quarterly luncheons. She said executive secretary Chris Hagerman had polled members to determine interest.
The luncheons would begin in March, Blake said.
Chamber president Steve Browning reiterated comments made during the West City Village Board meeting, saying he had attended the meeting to thank members for previous support of Chamber events and activities.
"I attended the meeting to apologize to village board members because we have received money from them for the past several years but have not attended a meeting to thank them," Browning said. "That meant a lot to them."
He said West City's $5,000 contribution could increase to between $10,000 and $15,000 in the future.
Browning recalled former Benton fire chief Mickey Marshall's reaction to being named parade grand marshal during last year's parade. Marshall passed away last month after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
"I talked with him quite a bit," Browning said. "Mickey talked about the photo of him and me in the car when he served as parade marshal. That meant a lot to him."
Browning said he hopes the Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned BBQ cookoff would become self-sustaining. He said Kansas City officials would meet Friday to hopefully approve this year's cookoff.
Vickie Blake, Benton-West City Area Chamber of Commerce events chair, reported additional interest in the Rend Lake Water Festival parade set for May 7.
During Thursday morning's Chamber meeting, Blake said she had received a call from the Williamson County Shriners.
"They have between 10 and 15 units that want to participate in the parade," she said.
Blake said a committee meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Chamber office, located in the Franklin County Garage Museum on North Main Street in Benton.
Chamber member Dennis Miller said a request to the Illinois Department of Transportation is needed in order to obtain a permit to redirect traffic during the parade.
Benton Police Chief Lance Charlson, who is also a Chamber member, said he would process and forward the request to the proper authorities.
"There won't be major projects on Interstate 57, but IDOT will be working north of the Benton exit," Charlson said. "We may have to direct traffic to Route 37 again this year."
Blake encouraged members and volunteers to get involved.
"It takes a lot of people to put this together," she said.
Blake received full support from directors to proceed with quarterly luncheons. She said executive secretary Chris Hagerman had polled members to determine interest.
The luncheons would begin in March, Blake said.
Chamber president Steve Browning reiterated comments made during the West City Village Board meeting, saying he had attended the meeting to thank members for previous support of Chamber events and activities.
"I attended the meeting to apologize to village board members because we have received money from them for the past several years but have not attended a meeting to thank them," Browning said. "That meant a lot to them."
He said West City's $5,000 contribution could increase to between $10,000 and $15,000 in the future.
Browning recalled former Benton fire chief Mickey Marshall's reaction to being named parade grand marshal during last year's parade. Marshall passed away last month after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
"I talked with him quite a bit," Browning said. "Mickey talked about the photo of him and me in the car when he served as parade marshal. That meant a lot to him."
Browning said he hopes the Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned BBQ cookoff would become self-sustaining. He said Kansas City officials would meet Friday to hopefully approve this year's cookoff.
The number of entries in the BBQ cookoff is expected to increase this year, Browning said, meaning additional revenue for future events.
Chamber directors also discussed a different approach to honoring businesses.
Hagerman said one business had asked her what it had done to deserve recognition as "business of the month."
Browning suggested forming a committee to select the business. He said a lot of businesses' successes go unnoticed.
"I want a business to earn the recognition — not just because it is their turn on the list to be honored," Browning said.
Hagerman suggested changing the name to Spotlight on Business instead of Business of the Month.
In other matters, treasurer John D. Aiken thanked members for their assistance in removing the Christmas decorations.
"It was 12 degrees outside when we started at 8 a.m.," Aiken said.
