By Paula Scott

The May member meeting of the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) was held, as usual, at 7:00 a.m. on the second Friday of the month. Not an early bird? Here’s some of what you missed.

SPONSOR
Breakfast sponsor First National Bank of Pandora was thanked for a warm breakfast of quiche, baked goods and coffee by Twisted Whisk Cafe.

NEW MEMBERS
Executive director Jim Enneking introduced two new members:

Mike and Mary Burris of 1861 Wine Lounge, which is tantalizingly close to opening at 115 N. Main. The Burrises named a July 1 opening date as their target. They described the lounge as a modern speakeasy with dark walls and plenty of soft couches and chairs. The drinks menu will include beers, bourbon and Ohio and Michigan wines. Enneking has plans to make a chamber after hours event the community’s first opportunity to see the inside of the new business. For now, you can find 1961 Wine Lounge on Facebook.

Gideon Fisher of StandOut Creative Studio, who is celebrating the end of his first year in business full time, having previously freelanced on top of a full time job. Fisher provides visual services including ​​product photos, business and wedding videos, logos and other graphic design. Learn more about Fisher at https://standoutcreative.studio/ or email [email protected]/

CONTINUES

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chamber members who provided updates included the Swiss Community Historical Society, which is continuing work on repurposing a historic barn at the Schumacher Homestead. Ebenezer Mennonite Church announced that it expects 200 children for its Vacation Bible School. And Laura Voth introduced her replacement at the United Way of Greater Lima, Megan Pasion. Voth also noted that Bluffton will continue to be represented at the United Way with Stacy Stumbaugh of First National Bank serving on the fund allocation committee.

CHAMBER NEWS
Enneking announced that the June chamber meeting will be all about member benefits. He introduced a chamber member opportunity to purchase BACC-themed television commercials on Hometown Stations at several price points. He also introduced Lauren Beasley of Citizens National Bank as the chair of the new chamber golf outing, which will take place on September 15.

BACC members were also asked to look out for an email with by-laws updates that will be voted on in June.

PROGRAM
Eric Proctor, the new Chief People Officer at Blanchard Valley Health System, talked about ways that he is helping the healthcare organization deal with the talent crisis being felt by so many. 

He noted that not only was May 11 International Nurses Day, it was the formal end of the Covid pandemic emergency. “It is time to rebound,” he commented and proceeded to list ways he would approach finding the employees needed by his organization. Proctor talked about the ways career paths zig-zag, the need to upskill and reskill employees, modeling the behavior you want to see, and being a steward of an organization’s culture, which he said could be tested by “how you feel about Monday a.m. on on Sunday night.”

Proctor also shared his own career story, which has included work in sports and education. After his young son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder he decided that healthcare is where his heart is.

NEXT UP
The next meeting of the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce is at 7:00 a.m. on June 9.