Voting taking place for new chamber board members

Voting is now taking place for four new members of the Wharton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture board of directions.

The ballots have been sent to all chamber members. Voting ends noon Sept. 9.

Nominated are: Kari Lutringer, an attorney with Wader, Perches, Kerlick and Hundl; Miguel Santes, owner of the Cutting Edge Barbershop; Jacob Roberson, Roberson Air Conditioning; and Barbara Fortenberry, executive director of Just Do It Now.

 

Retiring from the board are Traci Knight, administrator of the OakBend Medical Center's Wharton Hospital Campus; and Laura Reyna, Wharton County 4-H and Youth Development Extension Agent with Texas A&M AgriLife. 

New directors will begin serving three-year terms on Oct. 1.

Santes was appointed to the board earlier this year to fulfill an unexpired term and is now eligible for a full, three-year spot.

Only chamber members can vote. If you are a chamber member but did not receive a ballot by mail, call us at 979-532-1862 or email admin@whartonchamber.com, and we will get you one.

Carry-over chamber directors are Richard Lockley of Wharton Feed & Supply, Debra Evans of the First State Bank, Lacy Border of Flowers It Is,  Debbie Folks of Wied Realty, Sandra Kachmar of Mid-Coast Title Co., Kristi Kocian of Custom Creations, and Steve Wisnieski of My Storehouse Mini Storage.

Board chair is Chad Faucett of Edward Jones investments; vice chair is David Tripulas DDS; and treasurer is Bill Wallace, editor and publisher of the Wharton Journal-Spectator.

These new directors will begin the chamber's 103rd year of existence. The chamber's mission statement says the chamber "is an advocate for the prosperity of Wharton, making it a better place in which to live, work, learn, visit and do business."

Inspire your business

A new program being offered here, called Co-Starters, might help small businesses ring their cash registers louder.

An information session is planned for 6 pm Thursday, Aug. 26. You can participate by remote access from your phone, tablet or computer. Wharton's small businesses are invited.

This program will inspire entrepreneurs with new ideas and opportunities to expand their markets, including  the changing demands of Covid-19.

You can RSVP on the Wharton Economic Development's Facebook page. You can access through your phone at (872) 240-3311, Access Code: 813-993-997. The direct on-line link is gotomeet.me/execdirector8/costarters-information-session.

Call Josh Owens at WEDCO for more information at 979-532-0999.

Sponsors are the Wharton Economic Development Corp., City Development Corp. of El Campo, Kapeesh Marketing, El Campo Chamber of Commerce, and the Wharton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.

Other stuff:

The Wharton chamber's membership committee went to OakBend Medical Center's Wharton Campus to lift the spirits of healthcare workers, having to dig even deeper to care for the growing number of Covid patients. The presentation on Wednesday consisted of cookies, lemonade, custom-made lollipops, and a very, very large "thank you" card. Hats of to chamber membership chair, Debbie Folks, for organizing.

And, we are busy planning all of the chamber's fall and winter events. If you would like to join as a volunteer, give us a call!

"Players win games, teams win championships."

Living life, in person

Ions ago, adolescent Baby Boomers roamed the earth. When they wanted to go to a friend's house, they walked there. Maybe rode a bike. When it was time for the pickup baseball or basketball game, everyone knew what time to show up. But no one needed a wrist watch. 

Let's not reminisce any longer. Perhaps, there is a point to this:

The great devices and things you use — l
ike Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon — they originated from these older people. They invented or created them with other people present in the same room.

One day, and I hope soon, Covid will be over. Will social engagement return? Will people do business with people they see, in person, or, heaven forbid, even know? Or, are we done with doing that? Is distant learning, distant shopping, and distant doing everything permanent? 

And if it weren't for Covid, would it have it have happened anyway?

When the youngsters of today are the current age of these boomers of today, their contributions to the globe will be just as immense, actually more so. Among them will be saving this planet. Along with tons of products and services that make life better for billions.

I do hope that these future older people enjoy the nuisances, fulfillment, synergy, collaboration, love, respect, teamwork, and admiration that have accomplished so much previously. 

I hope, after Covid, life will be lived to the fullest — not remotely. In person or at least not impersonally. 

I'm done. I feel better.

"Players win games, teams win championships."

Wharton ISD student achievement: it is up to us

Wharton school superintendent Michael O'Guin gave a sobering glimpse of the level of student learning here while speaking at the chamber's Lunch and Learn on Tuesday.

About 60 people were attendance as Dr. O'Guin, for more than one hour, reviewed in detail  the performance of students grade by grade. He also demonstrated the progress already made and the expectations he is setting to reach success in the future.

Dr. Michael O'Guin

He said students must master reading and writing by the second grade if they are going to advance through the school system as they should. He stressed that as a call to action.

And, he said, blaming the students themselves is self-defeating. It is up to adults, he said. That means the Wharton community, the principals and teachers — everyone.

Ultimately, it was not a message of despair, however. He left us with hope, that we can aspire to and expect and achieve excellence.

Other stuff:

It's tax -free weekend in Texas. You can get details at: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-490.

Also, if you need hand sanitizer, we have them to give away at the chamber office, 225 N. Richmond Road, during business hours.

Also, also we will be starting a survey soon on food trucks and food varieties you like. Look for it soon. We are making plans fast for our fall and winter events.

"Players win games, teams win championships."