The weekly Hope Rotary meeting last week was a little livelier because of its speaker, Mark Keith, executive director of the Hope/ Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce.
Keith spoke of what the Chamber of Commerce does and what a typical day is like at the office.
“We have so many inquiries at that office,” Keith said. “We have questions on everything from hotel room availability to historical questions. A lady called from England recently, inquiring about a clip on the website which featured Bob Parham, of the Hempstead County Melody Boys, playing and singing. She wanted to purchase a CD.”
Keith also said that folks call to ask about families who have been here for a long time and history on them.
“We sometimes refer them to the Southwest Arkansas Archives,” he said.
“The Chamber of Commerce is also a promotional outlet,” Keith said. “We provide a Chamber book that is updated yearly; Hope and Hempstead County maps, and Arkansas Great Southwest books. We make sure that visitors are informed about local attractions.”
Keith went on to say that the Chamber of Commerce also promotes local efforts.
“The Watermelon Festival concert was a joint effort of the Chamber of Commerce and the UACCH Foundation. The concert was well-attended, as was the festival itself this year. The crowds came early and stayed late, both for the festival and the concert,” he said.
Other events sponsored by the Chamber include Community Coffees, which are usually hosted weekly by area businesses and non-profit organizations in the city and Hempstead County.
Ribbon-cuttings are also an event which involves new businesses in town opening their doors, or businesses which have remodeled or reopened.
Keith has three ladies and two gentlemen who take care of the phones at the office when he has to be in “10 different places at once.”
“Novalene Slatton, June Downs, and Lavada Keith help hold down the fort,” Keith said. “My father-in-law, Gerald Hammock, and my father, Dickie Keith, also help out at the Chamber and for that, I am grateful. They know what to tell people who call with inquiries, and if they don’t, they know who to get them to.
“We’ve been very fortunate here in Hope,” Keith said. “Businesses are opening up in Hope and more businesses are looking at Hope to move into, despite the national economy.”
For more information about the Chamber or events coming in Hope, call 777-3640.
