Chamber accepts board nominations for October election

Ramona Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the its board of Directors.

As an organization of more than 350 businesses, the chamber is a key community organization that requires the participation of local business members. In addition to the obvious promotion of business in Ramona, the chamber annually puts on the Ramona Country Fair, the Christmas Tree Lighting, Halloween on Main Street, Oktoberfest celebration, Business Expo and monthly mixers as well as other community oriented events and activities.

These events are only made possible by the incredible volunteer efforts of local people wanting to help their community, said Craig Jung, the chamber’s executive director.

All of the activities that the chamber sponsors are in addition to all the individual efforts that each individual chamber member business does in support of the community. For example, when residents and visitors go to any of the Ramona Pony Baseball games, soccer leagues or other community programs, they see sponsorship signs from local businesses.

To give additional power to this effort from local businesses, the chamber works hard to bring sponsorship dollars from large corporations that are non-competitive to local businesses from down the hill. It is the organization of the chamber, and the tremendous effort of chamber staff that brings this additional benefit to the community, said the board.

To make this all happen, the chamber requires the incredible commitment of a team of volunteers to head this up, chamber leaders agreed. This team of volunteers is the chamber Board of Directors.

The board has 15 members. Each director serves for three years, and every year five director seats are up for election.

The legal purpose of the board is to exercise oversight and attend to the property and business affairs of the chamber.

The day-to-day purpose of the board is to provide leadership in pursuit of the objectives of the chamber, which is to advance, foster and encourage the commercial, industrial, agricultural and civic welfare of the community of Ramona.

For the directors, this means using their knowledge and skills to run and/or participate on committees that develop and run events and initiatives.

There are two ways to get onto the ballot. The first is to be placed onto the ballot by the nominating committee. The second is to submit, in writing, a candidate name to the chamber on or before Sept. 15 of 2009.

To be added to the ballot using the second method, the candidate name must be accompanied by 10 signatures of chamber members in good standing. The form may be obtained at the chamber office, 960 Main St.

All nominees, whether nominated by committee or by submission with member signatures, must be Business and Professional members in good standing. In addition, all nominees to the Board of Directors shall sign a “letter of commitment” in order to have their name included on the ballot.

The election will be held in October and the top five vote getters will be placed as directors and will begin their three-year term in January of 2010.

Persons interested in running for or knowing someone they think should run for the chamber board may contact the chamber for more information at 760-789-1311.