The March 10 meeting of the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce demonstrated the opportunity to network not just with the folks sitting at your table, but to also hear from and reach out to all forty or fifty people in attendance.

Director Jim Enneking began with chamber announcements including updates on the March 24 ribbon cutting ceremony at Jazzercize Bluffton, April 1 trivia competition and chamber fundraiser at Southgate Lanes, The June 3 Arts & Craft festival–which already has some 55 vendors signed up and two new memberships: Family Candle on Jefferson St. and “new” member Faith Investment Services which has moved to Elm St. and has two new owners.

Announcements from members included an overview of roadwork in the village, the introduction of Sunday wine classes at Greenhorn restaurant, a pitch for promotional business items for Ride to Remember cinch sacks and the introduction of new owners at Superior Energy Solutions.

The main program was a presentation by Erin Walsh Hardesty, President & CEO of The United Way of Greater Lima. A 30-year volunteer for the United Way, Hardesty was retired when opportunity knocked at the nonprofit. Perhaps more accurately, the organization knocked on her door and kept knocking.

Hardesty presented a promotional video with the theme “Come Together-Right Now” for the 2023 giving campaign. September 8 will be the United Day of Caring. She emphasized that every United Way makes its own policy decisions with the national United Way umbrella organization providing operational resources.

Laura Voth, the organization’s communications coordinator, provided a history of the United Way including its founding in Colorado in 1884 and the Lima and Bluffton area predecessors that joined the United Way.

All Bluffton organizations that currently receive United Way funding were given an opportunity to address the audience.

For more information about the United Way of Greater Lima, visit https://www.unitedwaylima.org/

For more information about the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce, visit www.explorebluffton.com/