Happy 50th - January 28th 2008!
On January 28, 1958, the West Allis Chamber Bylaws were adopted! The Chamber is officially 50 years old!  We are working on compiling written and pictorial data to share with you.  If you have information or a story to share, please let us know.  I would like to start doing features throughout the year in the Newsletters on the history of the Chamber Staff, Directors, Volunteers and Businesses.  We would like to expand our awards to honor more businesses and to recognize those that have given of their time and resources to the Chamber for many, many years.  If you have an idea on how we can make the celebration at the Gala even more special, please call me.

Chamber Staffing
We will be sorry to see Molly Collins leave to pursue a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management and Leadership at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, but we are very excited to have two new staff members to replace her.

Michael Wogoman has been working on recruiting new Chamber members for the past several months, and will continue in these duties but will increase his time in the office and will be our Associate Director of Membership and Marketing.  Please feel free to call him with any questions about your membership or newsletter or email blast ideas.

Diane Kempen will be joining our office as the Associate Director of Finance and Events.  Diane and her husband Joe and have lived in West Allis for the past 28 years.  They have three sons: Scott, 29; Paul, 25; and Andy, 22.

Diane’s previous work experience includes being the Activities Director for West Park Place, where she designed and produced their newsletter and organized numerous parties, gatherings and activities for the residents.   She also worked for Staff One Ltd. doing invoicing and billing.  Both of these experiences should help me with this new position at the Chamber.

For the past 3 1/2 years Diane has been an active member of the West Allis Rotary Club which has allowed her to get to know many people in West Allis area.  She says, “I hope my involvement with the Chamber will allow me to get to know many more people.”

Business After Five
A great year of Business After Five Events is beginning on February 6, 2008 at 5pm at Paul's Jewelers.  Mark your calendars for: March 20, 2008 at Weathertight; June 17, 2008 at Painted Parrot; August at the Landmark; October 16, 2008 at the Ambassador Hotel; November at Tomasina Italia;  and December 4, 2008 will be our Holiday Charity Benefit at Antigua Latin Restaurant.  We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Everybody’s Business
We are thinking about again hosting a TV show through channel 14, the West Allis Community Media Center.  The show would spotlight Chamber Members and Businesses.  We used to have a show called, "Everybody's Business".  If you have any desire to work on this committee, please call me.

It should be a very exciting anniversary for the Chamber, and we are looking forward to helping you make the most of 2008!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We've got a great line-up of events in 2008 beginning with our 50th Annual Membership Business Meeting sponsored by West Allis Memorial Hospital. 

May 3rd, we will host a beautiful celebration of our first fifty years during our black-tie event.  You won't want to miss this event.  Not only do we have a fun evening planned for you and your guests, but you will also be able to explore the historic and beautifully restored Tripoli Shrine Temple. 

Our Golf Classic and Cruise on July 16th will once again be lots of fun and networking at Western Lakes Golf Club -- watch for details on the fun theme and new add-ons this year! 

Forks & Corks is growing in popularity and promises to be a great showcase for our restaurants once again. 

Of course, we also have our ABLE West and ABLE South networking events, and regular Business After Five evening events at Paul's Jewelers, Weathertight, Painted Parrot, Landmark, Ambassador Hotel, and Tomasina Italia. 

2008 will conclude with our annual Holiday Charity Benefit at Antigua Latin Restaurant.