The 22nd Annual Gathering of Owen-Withee Area Businesspeople was held at IGYS on Monday, January 27 in conjunction with the Owen-Withee Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting.
There were 33 people in attendance and during roll call they all had a chance to introduce themselves and tell which business they represented. Chamber President Carey Hargot ran the meeting. Nancy Amacher said the dinner prayer.
Rory VanWinkle, current O-W Lions Club President and Denny Lulloff were invited to talk about the Lions Club. Rory gave a short history of the organization and some of the work they have done in the community. Their major fundraiser used to be Withee Days but it is now the Ice Fishing Contest.
As the official Chamber Annual Meeting began, the minutes from last year were approved. Treasurer Linda Susa didn’t have a financial report as she had technology issues. Subsequent to the meeting, she provided the balances listing a balance in the checking account at the end of the year of $18,729.28. Susa also reported that there was a balance of $2,963.53 in the Chamber Bucks account.
Nancy Amacher presented the Sid Borgeson Award to Denny Lulloff. He was recognized for his work with the O-W Lions, time spent on the Owen City Council, and his work on the Mill Pond Dredging Project.
Carey Hargot reminded everyone to pay their dues. She said the Business Expo is April 11 and the Early Bird deadline is February 13. Temporarily Chamber Bucks can be redeemed through her by stopping at RedDaisyGirl. The O-W Area Development Corporation still has money available to lend to businesses. There will be a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre this year. Everyone was encouraged to purchase tickets. Nancy Amacher said it will be fun. The Chamber also holds a summer picnic for people to get together with those who have similar interests. It was an old-fashioned cookout this past summer. She also reminded everyone that meetings are normally the first Wednesday of the month and open to all members.
Misty Standke gave an update on the progress toward a new Chamber website. The old website is still out there and hasn’t been updated since 2012. She has been trying, with no luck, to figure out who has access to the old site as the domain is still being paid for. So she is working on a new website. She is asking Chamber members to provide information. Links and contact information for member businesses will be put on the Chamber website.
Misty Standke was elected to another term on the board. In addition, Lindsay Wendt and Wesley Rissler were elected to three-year terms on the board. Travis Hargot was elected to a one-year term to fill an unexpired term.
Two tickets to the Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre were won by Rory VanWinkle.
No date has been set for the next Annual Business Gathering but it will be in early 2027.
The Chamber board held a short meeting after the Annual Meeting to elect officers for 2026. They are President Carey Hargot; Vice President Breanne Korenuk; Secretary Cindy Cardinal; and Treasurer Misty Standke. The president, vice president and treasurer will be signatories on the checking account.