Rita Edwards, President of the Downtown Business Alliance, "passes the gavel" to Perry
Altenbaumer, newly elected President of the organization, following last night's elections.

 

Downtown Business Alliance Elects
New Officers at Annual Meeting

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

"It's certainly with mixed emotions that I step-down as president of the Downtown Business Alliance," expressed Rita Edwards, who has served in that capacity for the past four years and sees the improvements that have been made through the organization. "But, I'm tired and I need a rest!"

"I'm not saying that I quitting!" continued Edwards. "But, it will be nice to share the responsibility and to actually have some time for my family, my hobbies, and some of the things I've neglected while serving in the role!"

"And, I foresee very little changes in the operation of the organization," expressed newly elected president, Perry Altenbaumer. "We're going to continue on with the same basic platform that Rita has led with and hope to add new services, projects, and advantages to our members. I feel that it is a shame that some of the very businesses that we've worked very hard to bring to the downtown area, have not joined in our efforts to bring others to the area. Hopefully, we can extend a 'welcome' and get them 'on board' to helping our organization become even better!"

 

Downtown Business Alliance Officers for the next two years will be: left to right, Rita Edwards, Vice-President,
Julie Walters, Treasurer, Perry Altenbaumer, President, and Joy Wilson, Secretary.

 

 

Edwards will remain active in the organization, as she was elected vice-president for a two-year term, in elections held, Monday night. Joy Wilson was elected to the office of secretary and Julie Walters will serve the organization as treasurer.

"I feel it is a great slate of officers and hopefully we can encourage other business owners to join us in making the downtown area a place of both beauty and a shopping and cultural experience," continued Altenbaumer. "We're going to give it our best shot and invite everyone to join us in making it happen!"

In other action, members of the Downtown Business Alliance endorsed the "3/50 Project," that encourages local shoppers to choose three independently owned businesses that you'd miss most, if they were gone. Stop in those businesses, say hello, and spend a mere $50.00 a month with each of them, to help keep them in business. The program states that for every $100.00 spent in an independently owned business, in your community, $68.00 remains in the local community through taxes, payroll, and other local investments. Opposingly, when the same $100.00 spent in a national chain store, only returns $43.00 to the local economy, and those dollars spent "out-of-town" leaves nothing in the local community. "I don't think most people stop and realize just how important it is to buy locally, to keep our community going, providing the actual services, and hosting events such as the recent Concert and Fireworks Show," exclaimed DBA member, Billie Ruth Stanbridge. "I feel that if most people are reminded of this fact, they would support our local businesses more!"

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