Zelie-Harmony Chamber honors pair for efforts
JACKSON TWP — The Zelienople-Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce has changed its constitution to allow for the expansion of the chamber into new municipalities.
The chamber did that at its annual meeting Thursday when several dozen chamber members at Hartmann's Deep Valley Golf Course voted to modify a clause in the constitution.
The members removed a statement that said prospective members must be a "reasonable distance" from Main Street in Zelienople to qualify.
The chamber is exploring the possibility of adding new members from Evans City, which is one reason the change was made.
The chamber also honored two members who have exemplified service to their community.
Meg Kessler, the new executive director of the chamber, presented the Business Person of the Year Award to Ron Carter, president and executive director of the Strand Theater Initiative.
Carter spent almost 10 years raising money and awareness to open a new Strand Theater on Main Street in Zelienople. The theater, which first opened in 1914, closed in the 1980s and lay dormant until Carter spearheaded the effort to reopen the facility, which occurred last year.
Carter said he took two jobs to help raise money for the project and that his wife also returned to work during that time. While it's an honor to be recognized for his work, Carter said, it wasn't a one-person effort to bring the theater back to life in Zelienople.
"This certainly is a wonderful achievement," Carter said. "But even though I'm the president and executive director of the Strand Theater Initiative, there is no Strand Theater Initiative without the countless volunteers and board members who put their time and passion into the project."
County Commissioner James Kennedy, who attended the luncheon, also thanked Carter for his hard work. He said the Strand is an added amenity to Zelienople and that the community has embraced the new theater."I wanted to recognize all you've done for the community and congratulate you for that," Kennedy said. "The community has definitely wrapped its arms around what you've done."Kessler also presented Mary Lou Barud with the chamber's Volunteer of the Year Award.Barud is president of the Zelienople-Harmony Business Association and is on committees that organize the annual Horse Trading Days and Country Fall Festival celebrations, among others.In recognizing Barud's service, Kessler called her "part of the lifeblood of this chamber.""It's a great feeling to give back to the community," Barud said. "I know that sounds cliché but it feels good in your soul that you're making a difference."The annual luncheon was the first one for Kessler, who took over as the new executive director after Marnie Repasky retired in 2009 after 17 years.Since taking over in November, Kessler has revamped the chamber's website and changed the format of its newsletter.Kessler boasted about bringing a new flavor to the organization and said the chamber has already welcomed 16 new members to its ranks this year. She also said the chamber last year had a 96 percent retention rate of the businesses involved with the group, another reason to celebrate."I hope today that you experience some newness," Kessler told the members. "I'm glad you could all be here to celebrate the progress this chamber is making as well as to recognize its leaders."
