Going strong
Nyssa Chamber of Commerce sets its sights on success in 2008
By Brielle Kennington
Argus Observer
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:22 PM PST
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| The Nyssa Chamber of Commerce is still getting settled into its new building, which was donated by Lyle and Lois Minor. The chamber has not had an official grand opening for the building. It has still been using the new building and making plans for a grand opening in the spring. |
Nyssa — The Nyssa Chamber of Commerce posted a good year in 2007, highlighted by the donation of a new building for its offices. Executive director Cleta deBoer said she hopes 2008 is just as productive for the local organization.
The new building for the chamber offices was donated by Lyle and Lois Minor and the organization moved into the building in September.
The chamber plans to sponsor an official grand opening in the spring, deBoer said.
“It’s all ours, and it’s clean and light,” deBoer said.
DeBoer said the new building will help the chamber start the year off on the right foot. This year the Nyssa Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to hosting its annual events, including an Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. March 22 in South Park.
The Easter Egg Hunt is geared toward children ages 1 to 8 and has always been held the Saturday before Easter.
The Chamber places 4,000 eggs the morning of the hunt and also invites the Easter bunny to attend. Since Easter is going to be early this year, deBoer said she is expecting the weather to be cooler than usual.
“It’s going to be a cold Easter egg hunt this year,” she said.
The Nyssa Chamber of Commerce already held its annual banquet, Jan. 26 in the Nyssa School Cafeteria. The banquet attracted more than 200 people and helped raise funds for the organization.
“It’s our one big push for the year,” deBoer said.
The money raised at the banquet will be used to host events for the community including the Easter Egg hunt, Thunderegg days and the Harvest Tea Luncheon. The Thunderegg Days Festival will be July 10 through July 12, and will, no doubt, be warmer than the Easter egg hunt. The Thunderegg Days Festival has shown steady growth during the past few years with about 500 residents attending the event each day.
Thunderegg Days also features a car and quilt show and guided tours where people can find rocks. More than 100 quilts are brought to the event through the Treasure Valley Quilters. Vendors also come to the festival, and this year the 25th Army Band will be performing on July 12, deBoer said.
“I’ve been trying to get them (25th Army Band) for the last four years,” deBoer said.
Thunderegg Days also presents the Lions Club, Nyssa High School senior class and the chamber of commerce an opportunity to raise money through dinners held at the Nyssa School Cafeteria.
DeBoer said her favorite part of Thunderegg Days is the fact anyone can come and enjoy the rocks and other activities.
The Nyssa Chamber of Commerce also sponsors events in the fall, and 2008 will showcase the Harvest Tea Luncheon, held on the third Saturday in October in the Nyssa School Cafeteria.
The event lasts three hours and features entertainment and door prizes. The 2007 luncheon included an Elvis impersonator and Tahitian dancers. Residents can read about the upcoming events in the Nyssa Chamber of Commerce’s monthly newsletter. This is the fourth year the chamber has distributed the newsletter to 2,500 residents and organization members. Chamber information can also be obtained from their new Web site www.nyssachamber.com.
The new Nyssa Chamber of Commerce officers seek to boost the number of organization members and also better serve local businesses, deBoer said.
The chamber is hoping to accomplish that goal through a committee organized to distribute surveys to businesses.
“They want to maintain what we’ve done and maybe add some new things,” deBoer said.
DeBoer said she has lived in the Nyssa area for 64 years and is a 1966 Nyssa High School graduate. De- Boer works four hours a day as the only paid employee for the chamber. This year will be her ninth year with the chamber.
She said she never thought she would be working for the chamber as long as she has.
“They had a hard time keeping somebody, and I said I’ll fill in until you find somebody. It’s been nine years,” she said.
