With the annual Mayville Winter Festival underway this weekend it’s important that we take a moment to say thank you to all the volunteers who have worked for months to bring this enormous event to life.

What visitors to the festival see is a lot of activity in Lakeside Park, some of it outdoors, some in tents, some in the Carlson Center. They see food trucks and vendors and games, and a massive fireworks display on Saturday night. What they don’t see is all the work that happened before the wooden castle was illuminated and the tents were erected, and the concessions rolled in. A group of community volunteers in the Mayville area has been meeting for months to organize all of this. They solicited sponsors and vendors, decided how and where things would be managed, and put all the pieces in place to provide a fun and safe event for all. This weekend, volunteers are overseeing parking and activities at the festival. It is a true community effort, and we hope all will turn out to enjoy what is a long-standing tradition and one of the largest winter festivals in the region.

Special thanks go to Brian Pender, Chair of the Winter Festival Committee, and the Chamber’s Mayville-Chautauqua Community Committee working alongside our Community Coordinator Shannon Biekarck. He has not only been the quarterback for this big game, but also the media specialist, color commentator, and coach of the whole team. Brian has overseen details, managed logistics, and been the boots on the ground when a windstorm swept through the park after the tents were already up. Thankfully there was no damage. We are grateful to Brian for his leadership and the example he sets for community volunteerism.

But the Winter Festival is just one place where volunteers can play a role in the Chamber of Commerce. Our Board of Directors is made up of volunteers who are passionate about making a difference for businesses in Chautauqua County. They set policy and provide high-level oversight for the Chamber as we meet our mission to build vital connections, provide professional resources, and champion our local businesses in Chautauqua County.

We mentioned the Chamber’s Mayville-Chautauqua Committee, and we also have volunteer-led committees throughout Chautauqua County in Dunkirk, Fredonia, Hanover, Jamestown, and Westfield-Barcelona. These dedicated individuals organize projects and events that help to promote small businesses, tailored to fit each community in a meaningful way. These volunteers are community-minded and committed to making a difference.

As a non-profit business association, the Chamber of Commerce relies on volunteer support year-round. Many other community organizations also depend upon volunteers including civic groups like Rotary and Lions Club, and other organizations such as United Way and Community Foundations. Please reach out to any community group or non-profit if you’re interested in volunteering. Your assistance will be appreciated.

BUSINESS BUILDER WORKSHOP: LAST CALL FOR ECLIPSE OPPORTUNITIES

Back by popular demand, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is doing a second Business Builder Workshop on the upcoming total solar eclipse. This session will focus on information your business needs to know to be prepared for this once-in-a-lifetime event coming up April 8.

The Workshop will be held Friday, March 8 at the Marvin Community House, 2 West 5th Street, Jamestown from 9-10:30am. Our guests will be Tom Traub, Chair of the Martz-Kohl Observatory Solar Eclipse Committee and NASA Eclipse Ambassador member; Noel Guttman, Chautauqua County Director of Emergency Services; and Andrew Nixon, President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau.

With an estimated 100,000 extra people expected to visit Chautauqua County for the eclipse we want to be sure local businesses know what to expect and how to plan for the day and the weekend prior. This workshop is free for all local businesspeople. You do not need to be a member of the Chamber to attend. We appreciate advance registration for planning purposes. You can sign up online now through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT THE REG LENNA CENTER FOR THE ARTS MARCH 21

Join us for the first Business After Hours of 2024 as we visit the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown. This networking opportunity will be held upstairs in the Media Arts room above the theater – a great space you will want to see!

Business After hours is a chance for local businesspeople to come together in a casual and inviting way. It runs from 5-6:30pm, featuring appetizers, a cash bar, and a brief program that lets you know who’s who in the room. Remember to bring business cards for networking and our door prize drawing.

The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts is at 116 East Third Street, Jamestown. Use the elevator to the right of the lobby entrance to head up to the Media Arts room.

Chamber member businesses can send two people at no charge. For non-members or anyone above the two-person limit, the price is $10. Advance registration is not required but is appreciated for our planning purposes and will get your name and business included in our Who’s Who in the Room list. Sign up online now through our web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

This Business After Hours is sponsored by the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, Jamestown Community College, Media One Radio Group, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal.