Chamber approves budget, work plan and directors

Meeting last Friday, the board of directors of the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce approved its 2012 budget, its 2012 plan of work, ratified its election of directors and was advised to look for “more good news” on the economic development front.

The $533,850 spending plan budget envisions income falling $40,394 from the current budget, while expenditures are projected to fall by $29,263. It is a balanced budget.

President Shane Short went over the budget highlights — significant deviations from this year’s document, many of which were due to cutting or adding events or programs.

The directors voted to ratify the election of a slate of new directors following a election in which 97 percent of voters endorsed the slate.

The new directors are Marshall Acree, Georgia Insurance Associates; Jennifer Dees, Town of Braselton; Theresa Kenerly, Moonlight Realty; Dallas Longworth, Gwinnett Federal Credit Union; Jonathan Milford, Allstate Insurance; Steve Perry, Beef O’Brady’s; and Dylan Wilbanks, Wilbanks Law Firm.

Directors rotating off the board at the end of 2012 include Keith Ariail, Jerry Baker, Bo Braswell, John Buchanan, Shawn Childers, Buzzie Hardy, John Jackson, David Lathem, Sam McDuffie and Cindy Phillips. Keith Johnson is the incoming chairman, succeeding Shade Storey.