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            The Kodiak Chamber of Commerce hosted its first Member Monday luncheon yesterday (Monday) afternoon at the Best Western Kodiak Inn. Chamber officials say the new member luncheons will provide the community another way to be involved with the chamber’s future projects. Mary Donaldson was there and has this report.

The goal of Member Mondays is to provide another outlet for chamber members to get their voices, thoughts, and ideas heard. Chamber President John Whiddon says he hopes these new luncheons will provide an opportunity for everyone to communicate ideas and goals for the Chamber of Commerce to focus on over the next few years.

            (Whiddon 1                 :45s     “…want and need.”)

            About 20 people attended the first luncheon, and many ideas were discussed, with Kodiak’s economic future and strategic planning being the highlights. Members spoke up about the revitalization of downtown, and more importantly how welcoming, or unwelcoming Kodiak is to new residents and visitors.

            (Whiddon 2                 :28s     “…to get those in.”)

            Another issue with the image of Kodiak was the discussion of including more signage and crosswalks in downtown Kodiak to help direct new and visiting people around downtown Kodiak.

            Chamber member Ellen Simeonoff says that strategic planning needs to deal with making Kodiak an affordable place to live, which will attract more residents and business in the future.

            (Ellen 1                       :40s     “…has to be affordable.”)

Whiddon says topics for the luncheons will change as the needs and interests of the local businesses change, but that the overall goal will continue to be building Kodiak economically, from both the business perspective, and from the chamber perspective.

            (Whiddon 3                 :40s     “…to chamber members.”)  

            The Kodiak Chamber of Commerce plans to host member luncheons on the first Monday of every month at the KI, from noon to 1 p.m. Specific topics for future meetings will take shape over luncheon conversations. The first luncheon was merely to scratch the surface of what members want to focus on in the future. All chamber members are invited to the luncheons.

            I’m Mary Donaldson.

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