Changing of the Gavel

June 21, 2012 North Myrtle Beach, SC – Bubba Collins, the 2012 Chair, recognized Norton Geddie as the as the 2013 Chair of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber.  Geddie grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi and received his law degree from Emory University. He joined McCutchen, Mumford and Vaught in 1999 as the resident attorney and manager of the North Myrtle Beach office. He is a member of the North Strand Optimist Club, an Assistant Scoutmaster, affiliate member of the North Myrtle Beach Board of Realtors and teaches courses on real estate matters.

Norton Geddie, 2011-2012 Chirman, NMB Chamber of Commerce In addition to thanking the Executive Committee members and saying farewell to outgoing directors, Collins presented highlights of the past year including reaching 1002 members, partnership effort with the city of North Myrtle Beach to bring Sports Tourism to the area, introduction of a sports ambassador program and the recognition of the wind team being way head of the curve and the formation of the “Building North Myrtle Beach “campaign.
 
Rick Elliott, Chair of the Campaign, along with Mark Jordan, Chamber President had great praise for the program.  The goal of the Campaign is to raise $2.5 million over 5 years to grow the visitor and destination market, diversify the local economy and employment base and equip the Chamber to function as the focal point for growth and development and as a state-of-the-art business resource and Visitors Center.
 
They announced that as of this month the campaign had raised $2.45 in pledges from over 50 companies. Jordan emphasized that this level of commitment had been accomplished through a private outreach program that focused on large donors and a Marketing Co-op program.   Participants in the Marketing Co-op program commit to charge an additional $1 per room night or a 1% additional charge on restaurant bills.  Eighteen businesses are currently enrolled in the Marketing Co-op program.

At this point the Chamber is now prepared to go to what they described as a public phase – an open invitation to the community to participate.