website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Watertown Chamber of Commerce
Established 1920
Old Watertown Advancement Association
and Watertown
Businessmen’s Association were forerunners of today’s Watertown Area
Chamber of Commerce
1914
04
09 FREE LECTURE
On
Tuesday evening, April 14, 1914, at Masonic Temple Hall, there will be a free
lecture given by W. J. Pilkington under the auspices of the Watertown Business
Men’s Association. Tickets may be had of
the secretary. Of Mr. Pilkington the
Marshall, Mich., Daily News says:
“I
would not take many times over what it cost me for the pleasure and profit I
received the last ten minutes of Mr. Pilkington’s address” is the remark made
by many when Mr. Pilkington had finished.
The speaker of the evening was introduced by Dr. Joy as the highest
authority on the science of business in the country. Mr. Pilkington had not spoken five minutes
before the truth of his assertion was apparent.
The business men of Marshall have never before listened to the truth
concerning this subject as it was expounded by this inspired evangelist of the
gospel of business and advertising. Such
an awakening of the senses of those present, interested in business, was never
known here before. Mr. Pilkington spoke
for nearly two and one-half hours and held the closest attention of everyone
during his discourse. He was overcome by
the intensity of his effort and sank into his seat at the close. He was overwhelmed by congratulations of business men who gathered around
and thanked him for the enlightenment he had given them. WG
04
16 CITY BUILDING BY W. J. PILKINGTON
The
Business Men’s Association and invited guests listened to a splendid address at
Masonic Temple Hall last Tuesday evening by W. J. Pilkington, his subject being
city and community building. Among other
good things he said:
“The
building of a town is as scientific as the practice of law or medicine or the
solution of intricate problems of nature’s laws by college professors. Towns don’t grow — they are made. And they are not made of buildings. The kind of buildings in a town has nothing
to do with the kind of a town it is.
Fine buildings don’t make fine towns.
The finest building I ever saw was a lunatic asylum. The town is made of the men and women in
it. And the reason why people do as they
do is based upon scientific facts, the workings of nature’s law’s.
Watertown
is just as good as you have made it. In
other words, it is just as good as you deserve it. If it is not what you want or would like, it
is your own fault. If you would get more
out of your city you must put more into it.
WG
Chamber of Commerce Notes
1920
Watertown Gazette, 08
12 1920
The
two hundred men and women members of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce who
attended the spirited meeting held Monday night at the city hall went home with
the realization that this organization is now a living, pulsing reality. It was gratifying to note the interest all
present manifested in the proceedings.
The
keenness with which the constitution and by-laws were discussed shows that the
copies which were mailed in advance to all members were thoroughly
studied. It is active interest such as
this which makes for a successful organization and without which no chamber can
properly function.
A
motion to incorporate the Watertown Chamber of Commerce under the laws of the
State of Wisconsin was unanimously carried.
On the whole the constitution and by-laws were approved at the meeting
and this document with the few minor changes suggested will be turned over to a
committee of five which was appointed at Monday night’s meeting. This committee is empowered to re-phrase the
document so that it will be in shape to be brought before the secretary of
state as articles of incorporation of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce.
It
was decided, in order to allow sufficient time for the articles of
incorporation to be returned from Madison, to hold the next meeting of the
members on the first Friday in September, 1920.
At this meeting officers shall be elected who shall hold their
respective offices until the first annual meeting and election of officers
which shall be held the second Friday in January, 1922.
That
Mr. Lehrkind and the temporary executive committee have the confidence of all
the members of the chamber and that the efforts put forth thus far by Mr.
Lehrkind and the committee are appreciated was shown at Monday night’s meeting
when a motion to have this committee continue in full authority until the next
meeting was put before the house and carried with more feeling than any
preceding or succeeding motion. This is
as it should be. This committee has
worked ceaselessly and tirelessly and deserves this mark of appreciation.
The
building housing the offices of the Chamber of Commerce is to be taken over at
once by one of Watertown’s industries and as a consequence the offices must be
moved.
As a
direct result of Monday night’s meeting several additional memberships were
received this morning at organization headquarters:
The Brandt-Dent Co. delegated each of its six memberships
to the following men: Messer. Gabriel B Levy, G. A. Richards, Alfred J. Price,
Hugo Koenig, Herbert Vorr, John Mueller.
The Watertown Table Slide Co. delegated five of
their memberships to the following men: Messrs. Wm. C. Schultz, Otto Fischer,
Wm. Draeger, Otto Draeger, Arthur Behling.
Wm. F. Brandt & Son Co. delegated six
memberships to the following men and women:
Mrs. Leona B. Thauer, W. E. Brandt, George Scheele, Albert Frattinger,
Edward Kuenzi, Harry Miller.
Watertown Chamber of Commerce Organizes
G. H. Lehrkind Elected President
1920
09 09 The
court room in the city hall last Friday evening was the scene of an
enthusiastic meeting of members of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce, at which
officers of the organization were elected and bylaws adopted. The meeting was a most enthusiastic one and
spoke well for the success of the organization.
The fair boosting committee of the chamber, headed by the Watertown band
marched to the hall and rendered some fine music before the regular program of
the meeting was opened.
Mayor
Wertheimer urged the members to cooperate in every way possible to make the
“Watertown Day Parade” on Wednesday, September 22, the biggest ever held in
Watertown. The meeting was presided over
by G. H. Lehrkind. Officers and directors chosen are as follows: President G.
H. Lehrkind vice president, W. H. Woodard ; treasurer, Max Tohr, chairman
mercantile bureau, W. E. Brandt; chairman industrial bureau. F. E. Woodard; chairman wholesale and
manufacturers bureau, W. O. Peterson; chairman agriculture and good roads
bureau, S. Molzahn; chairman publicity and conventions, John Clifford ,
chairman civic bureau, H. Wertheimer; directors
at large J. W. Moore, F. H. Kopp, Francis Darcey, W. G. Pritzlaff, E. E.
Fischer, E. L. Schempf, C. A. Skinner, Miss Minnie
Sproesser. WG
1921
What Constitutes a Good City
What Constitutes a Good City
Essay in the 1921 Orbit, the yearbook of Watertown High School
To become a good city does not necessarily mean that that particular city should merely add to its population, for there are many other conditions, which, only when united, can contribute to that end. A city should not merely be a group of dwellings and edifices, banks and office buildings, but it should be a large friendly family, which travelers will remember and to which people will be drawn. All things must remain in true proportion; a city's industries must not outweigh its other interests, for while they may increase its population and money value, they may not increase its worth.
The fundamental requirement of a good city is that it must be active and progressive. A community must do something to hold its inhabitants, for if it does not, they will naturally move to a more advantageous location. A city must keep its old industries, but it is more important that it should add new industries to those it already has. What city can exist for any length of time, when, for every new industry the community gains, two dissatisfied companies discontinue their plants in that city? There must also be harmony between the employer and employee, between capital and labor, and among the administrative forces, for no city can advance when its forces are pulling in opposite directions.
A good location is necessary to the growth of population in a city, but it is no obstacle in the formation of a good city. In a city which is not favorably located, every possible advantage and benefit should be pushed forward. A city does not necessarily have to be on a good water location, for in these days of railroad, interurban, and airplane transportation, these methods of transportation will be just as cheap and probably more convenient than shipping by water. Health is rather the watchword in regard to location for a healthy city of ten thousand inhabitants is far better than a degenerate, sickly city of fifty thousand or more!
There must necessarily be something to attract the people to a town and to cause them to stay. This something may be business advantages, its churches, its social life, its theaters, or its community spirit. Nothing need be said of the first four, but the fifth may need some explanation. Community spirit is evinced in several ways; by a city's harmony, by its municipal and fraternal organizations and societies, by its parks and bathing beaches, and by its public conveniences. Every city of ten thousand in habitants should have a Y.M.C.A. or a Y.W C.A. Such organizations tend to keep the young men and women interested in more healthful recreations.
The great war has brought the people together in a more cooperative spirit than ever before. It should remain so, for cooperation is an absolute necessity for success. A city should have its community hearth in the form of a building which is the center of all the different organizations and societies which are beneficial to the city. Community spirit is gauged by a city's progress.
Any city should have some definite, recognized body at the head of its social and industrial activities. A typical organization of this kind in Watertown is the Chamber of Commerce. Its purpose is to promote the city, its inhabitants, its products, and manufacturers, in fact, to promote anything that is worth promoting; also, to furnish attractions and wholesome sports for the people of Watertown. The purpose is a noble one, but cannot succeed without cooperation, and this cooperation must not be given in financial form only.
The Chamber of Commerce needs people to be interested in it, and it is for the welfare of every person in the city to give this organization as much publicity and support as possible. Then and only then can it achieve that success which is its goal — a bigger and better Watertown, always on top. Boost the Chamber of Commerce.
– Anthony C. Hahn
Cross References:
Anthony C. Hahn was a sophomore at the high school in 1921, son of Amandus and Martha, 200 Ninth St.
Dr.
Anthony C. Hahn Retirement, Watertown
Daily Times, 02 10 1965
Dr.
Anthony C. Hahn, 401 South Fifth Street, one of the Watertown community’s
widely known physicians, was honored at a reception and breakfast this morning
at Watertown Memorial Hospital by the medical staff of the hospital. The event was in recognition of his
retirement from the medical practice, a step he had announced some time
ago. At the breakfast gathering he was
presented with a plaque by the medical staff.
The presentation was made on behalf of the staff by the Rev. Thorlief
Harberg, pastor of the Watertown Moravian Church of which Dr. Hahn is a member.
c.1925
--
-- 116 SOUTH FIRST STREET LOCATION
1950
05 19 FRANK VANDER HOOGT, President, Junior Chamber of Commerce
Local manager of Foster & Foster,
roofers
05 23 U. S. BONDS -
INDEPENDENCE CAMPAIGN
A REPLICA OF THE LIBERTY BELL
Watertown
yesterday welcomed a replica of the Liberty Bell, one of 49 such bells now
touring the nation in connection with the U. S. bonds - Independence campaign.
The
above picture was taken shortly after the bell reached here, when it stopped in
front of the Hornburg Motors building.
Roy
Pfeiffer, president of the Watertown Association of
Commerce, is
shown standing atop the truck on which the bell is mounted, just before he
struck the bell.
During
the day its tones were heard many times as it made stops in the downtown
section of the city and at local schools and industrial plants. In the forefront are, left to right: Leonard G. Braunschweig of the local police
department, Capt. Joseph Checkai of the local fire inspection bureau, City
Manager Dean Van Ness and Mrs. John W. Keck, general chairman of the bond day
program.
Newell
Parker of the Hornburg Motor organization was the chairman of the day.
The Ford
Motor Co. is providing all of the transportation for the 49 bells now on tour.
10 27 DINNER WITH MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION
Members of the
Milwaukee Association of Commerce, on a state goodwill tour, enjoyed a dinner
at the Elks club, with members of the Watertown Association of Commerce, and
other businessmen, as guests.
I. R. Witthuhn, Milwaukee manager of
the Standard Distributing corporation, and a director of the Milwaukee
Association of Commerce; August F. Mack, Jr., vice president of the
Schroeder hotels and also a director of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce; Gerald
B. Athey, Milwaukee, resident manager Of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Beane, and vice chairman of the trade promotion committee of the
Milwaukee Association of Commerce; Roy Pfeiffer, president of the
Watertown Association of Commerce; Ernest Gruner, this city,
toastmaster.
08
25 ASSN. (CHAMBER) OF COMMERCE SUMMER PICNIC
12
05 VOICE OF DEMOCRACY CONTEST
Sponsored by Watertown Junior Chamber
of Commerce
Melvin
Damrow, committee chair, Lois Kaercher (1st place winner), Beverly
Baker(2nd), Ann Higgins (3rd), Carl Kolata, president
Watertown Jaycees.
1964
03 11 Alderman
George Shephard who led the fight in the city council against the move to
appropriate the sum of $4,000 from the city contingency fund and make it
available for use by the Watertown Association of Commerce when and if it
establishes a fulltime office of secretary, said today that he has received a
large number of telephone calls and is still receiving them relative to the
issue. The move to appropriate the money
was defeated by a 7 to 5 vote at the council meeting on March 3, but later a
resolution was adopted whereby the council kept the issue alive when it decided
to invite officials of the association of commerce to meet with the council at
its next meeting to discuss the question and determine what position the
association takes on the proposal. Mr.
Shephard had pointed out to the council that not a single request had come from
the association asking for money and that no one had appeared before the
council from the association even though there were numerous opportunities for
the organization to do so.
1965
02 26 FULLTIME SECRETARY’S OFFICE
Mayor
R. P. White and Council President William Wiegand last night joined in a
request that the members of the common council give approval to a resolution
first proposed by the mayor in December that would set aside the sum of $4,000
from city funds to enable the Watertown Association of Commerce to establish a
fulltime secretary’s office as a means of stimulating an industrial growth
program for Watertown.
03 10 SECRETARY-TREASURER POSITION
William
R. Neis, general agent for the Indianapolis Life Insurance Co., with offices at
105 West Main Street, has accepted the position as secretary-treasurer of the
Watertown Association of Commerce, according to announcement made today by
Gerald Mallach, association president.
Mr. Neis will begin his assignment, a part time position as of April 1,
and his office will serve as the association of commerce downtown
headquarters. Mr. Neis has been a
general agent of the Indianapolis Life Insurance Co. for the past nine years,
and prior to that served as personnel director of Aunt Nellie’s Foods Company
for 11 years. He has been a resident of
Watertown for over six years, and has a wide knowledge of the Watertown area and
its residents.
1966
08 30 NEW OFFICERS ELECTED
Allen H. Frater, vice-president of the G. B. Lewis Company, was elected president of the
Watertown Association of Commerce at a special meeting called last evening by
the board of directors for the purpose of electing new officers. Dr. George E. Samquist was elected vice-president. The meeting was held at the Association of
Commerce office in the Municipal Building and was conducted by the out-going
vice-president, Ira Kritz in the absence of Gerald Mallach, retiring president. WDT
10 06 FIRST
FULLTIME SECRETARY APPOINTED
William
W. Carroll, manager of the Wisconsin Telephone Co., has been appointed the
first fulltime secretary of the Watertown Association of Commerce, a position
that was recently created. Mr. Carroll
has accepted the position and will retire from his telephone company position
as of Nov. 1. He was the unanimous
choice of the association of commerce board which met at a special meeting
Monday night at the municipal building, called by President Allen H. Frater to
review applications and act on recommendations of the nominating committee.
1967
05 26 OFFICERS ELECTED
New officers for the Watertown Area
Chamber of Commerce were elected at a meeting of the board of directors of the
organization here on Thursday. William
Kraemer, purchasing agent with the Brandt Automatic Cashier Company, was elected
president, succeeding Allen Frater, vice president of the G. B. Lewis Company.
Kenneth E. Beyer, manager of Keck's Furniture Store, was elected vice
president: Ed Kaul was elected treasurer; and William Carroll was returned as
executive secretary.
06 05 ILLEGAL LOTTERY
Watertown city officials, including Mayor A. E.
Bentzin, Chief of Police M. K. Mann and City Attorney David Fries have been
advised that the weekly merchandise prizes which are being awarded here by the
retail division of the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce, constitutes a
lottery and under Wisconsin statutes is illegal and is to be halted. Each week, since the Main Street
reconstruction program has been under way, a prize has been awarded in order to
stimulate business while the street is torn up, the winner’s name being drawn
from individuals who “sign up” when they make a purchase at local stores and
shops and complete a most simple sentence which is printed on each entry
coupon. WDT
09 01 MAIN STREET RECONSTRUCTION CONTEST SPONSOR
09 09 MAIN STREET PLANTERS
The fund for the Main Street planters went over
the $7,000 mark today with a generous contribution from the personnel of the
Watertown Unified School District. The
contribution was from the teachers, administrators and office personnel and was
a real shot in the arm to the fund. The
goal is now within sight and the chamber hopes other civic minded groups and
citizens will help achieve the goal of $7,500, it was emphasized. The planters are being constructed at this
time but will not be available for the street opening on Sept. 23. It is hoped
that they will be placed in service during October or early November. WDT
1968
07 27 OPPOSITION
TO THE PROPOSED RAMP
The Board of Directors of
the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce has expressed opposition to the proposed
ramp, and recommends that the newly acquired properties on North First Street
be utilized for street level parking, and suggests proposal No. 3 as outlined
in a recent bulletin of the chamber.
Proposal No. 3 calls for fixing up the area to accommodate 40 cars, at
an estimated cost of $57,500. the two
street level options, proposal No .3 calls for the smallest outlay of
money. WDT
1969
01 27 HARTMANN
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
04 16 WAUKESHA
MOTORS OPPORTUNITY LOST
Watertown, as well as a number of
other communities, has lost out in the expansion program of Waukesha
Motors. A branch plant of the Waukesha
firm will be located in the Town of Summit, south of Oconomowoc, according to
an announcement made by the firm. It
will be located on I-94, just south of the road. The Watertown Association of Commerce
Promotive Corporation has been dealing with Waukesha Motors for approximately a
year.
06 06 OFFICERS ELECTED
Don Malcolm, proprietor of Riverview Grocery, has been
elected president of the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds Ray Rose. He was elected at a meeting of the board of
directors of the chamber. Ken Beyer,
manager of Keck Furniture Company, was elected vice president; Gerald Flynn,
president of the Bank of Watertown, treasurer, and Clarence E. Hartmann was
again named executive secretary. WDT
06 13 ANNUAL
CHAMBER MEETING IS HELD
Outgoing President of the Watertown Area Chamber of
Commerce, Ray Rose, at Thursday evening's dinner meeting of the organization,
urged members to have common objective and a oneness of purpose when working on
chamber projects.
The dinner gathering which was a "Ladies'
Night" affair, was held at the Legion Green Bowl. A large number were in attendance.
Rose also said that good communication between the
various organizations and committees of the chamber is necessary. He said better communication could help to
complete many of the chamber projects quicker and more efficiently.
He also urged members to have a plan of action before
beginning a project. He said it should be firmly fixed and spelled out. Time,
he said, is wasted when a plan is not made and followed.
Kenneth Pattow, a former director, was honored with an
award for his outstanding contributions to the chamber. The award was presented to him by Reno
Sukow. Pattow recently resigned as
employee relations manager with Hevi Duty to accept a position at Whitewater.
Mrs. William Carroll, widow of the first full-time
executive secretary of the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce, was presented
with a memento award by Rose.
Don Malcolm, newly installed president of the chamber,
presented an award for service to Rose, retiring as president. He also presented awards of appreciation to
the past directors, William Kraemer, William Rathert and Ken Pattow.
In addition to Malcolm, all other officers were
installed at the meeting. They are: Ken Beyer, vice-president, Gerald Flynn,
treasurer, and Clarence Hartman, executive secretary. Also installed were the new members of the
board of directors. They are: Robert Franz, Jerald Theder and William
O'Herrin.
Entertainment was provided by the Wisconsin Idea
Theater. The group presented Mark
Twain's "Eden" including hit songs from the Broadway show "The
Apple Tree".
Hartmann was master of ceremonies.
07 19 MAXWELL
STREET DAY SALES EVENT
More
merchandise is being gathered for the Hobo Auction to be held in conjunction
with the event.
11 24 DOWNTOWN
(MAIN STREET) CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Watertown
Park Department employees begin to dress the city with Christmas
decorations. Trees were placed in the
downtown planters and the task of stringing lights on the 72 trees was begun. The lights and trees were purchased by the
Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce.
11 29 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SANTA
1970
06 12 CHAMBER PLAQUE IN HONOR OF DONALD MALCOLM
Mrs. Donald Malcolm receives a plaque in respect for
and in honor of her late husband, Donald, who was president of the chamber from
May of 1969 until his death in December.
Gerald Flynn, president-elect of the Watertown Area
Chamber of Commerce, and Clarence Hartmann, executive secretary, Ray Rose, a
member of the board of directors, Ken Beyer, outgoing president.
08 28 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
The membership committee of the Watertown Area Chamber
of Commerce met to discuss the upcoming membership drive. Theme of the drive is (E.M.G.A.M.), Every
Member Get A Member.
Members of the committee: Carol Emerson, Bob Adams, Clarence Hartman,
Jerold Theder, chairman, Ken Clausen, Ira Kritz, and Gerald Flynn, Chamber
president.
10
22 KASTENMEIER SPEAKER
Members
of the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce held a dinner meeting with
Congressman Robert W. Kastenmeier.
Speaking with Kastenmeler, Gerald Flynn, president of the chamber,
Hilmer Groth, a member of the legislative committee of the chamber,
Kastenmeier, and William Millarch, president of Allard Express and a member of
the chamber.
12 18 CHAMBER WILL MOVE TO THE NEW MERCHANTS BANK FACILITY
Merchants National building is sold to
Watertown Radio, Inc.
Watertown Radio Inc. (WTTN) has purchased Merchants National Bank building. The announcement was made by Carl V. Kolata, general manager of the station. WTTN will move its studios and offices to the new location immediately. Office space in the building will continue to be available in the building for small concerns and private individuals. The Watertown Chamber of Commerce will move to the new Merchants Bank facility.
1986
JACK
ERDMANN APPOINTED
Jack
Erdmann appointed executive director of the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce.
1990
09 21 SUPPORT FOR CENTRAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
The board of directors for the Watertown Chamber of
Commerce went on record Wednesday night in support of a Central Business
Association. The directors also agreed
it would welcome the president of the organization to its board of
directors. It is a big step for the
yet-to-be formed group, according to Todd Fischer, of Fischer’s Department
Store, who is heading the preorganization plans for the Central Business
Association. “It gives us more
legitimacy,” he added. Fischer said the
formation of the group is also backed by Mayor David Lenz. WDT
1991
08
23 MOVE TO 519 E. MAIN ST
When Jack Erdmann was hired as executive director of
the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce five years ago, one of his directives
from the chamber was to find a place where the office would be more
visible. The goal became a reality in
June when the chamber office was moved from the basement of Bank One to new
quarters at 519 E. Main St. The new
downtown corner location gives the office the visibility it needs to serve a
growing community. The chamber purchased
the office building last April from Dr. Richard Stolsmark for $61,500. The building has undergone extensive
renovation at a cost of approximately $28,000.
Money for the project was obtained through fund-raisers over the years
such as RiverFest and calendar sales as well as numerous donations.
1992
05
02 A CHAMBER OF ACTION
The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce will be a
chamber of action, according to the new president Duane Floyd who took over as
president of the organization at the annual banquet Thursday night. Approximately 144 members and spouses
attended the meeting which was held at the Watertown Country Club. Outgoing president Karen Melcher noted the
positive changes she has seen in the chamber since Jack Erdmann became
executive director. “It used to be hard
to get board members to serve. Now we
have an active membership and our own building.
It took the selection of the right executive director. Jack Erdmann is enthusiastic and motivates
the people around him, but it is a team effort to keep the chamber moving on to
the next highest level,” she said.
1994
05
07 LLOYD AND DAPHNE HOLTERMAN
The
Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce presented a special award to Lloyd and
Daphne Holterman of Watertown at the 28th annual meeting of the chamber on
Thursday night at the Watertown Country Club.
The Holtermans were named Outstanding Young Farmers in the nation last
February in national competition in Baltimore, Md. They became eligible to compete in national
competition after winning the local title and also the state title. Daphne Holterman said the competition gave
farmers needed recognition and noted that farming ranks second only to tourism
in the state.
1999
10 17 JACK
ERDMANN RETIREMENT
Jack
Erdmann, executive director of the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce, will be
retiring early next year. Erdmann, 63,
told the chamber board of directors this morning that his retirement date would
be Feb. 29. John Ebert, this year's
chamber president, said, “We're surely going to miss Jack. He has done an
outstanding job as our executive director.
It's going to be a big hole to fill when he leaves.” The chamber of commerce has made great
strides in the nearly 13 years he has been in the leadership position. When he took over the position in September
of 1986, the chamber was having financial difficulties and membership was
lagging. WDT
2005
11 30 ORNAMENTS
The
Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce is offering a new series of collector
ornaments to begin this year. The series
of ornaments will include scenes depicting winter in Watertown with vintage
images of skaters, ice harvesting, ski jump, Main Street and a blizzard
scene. There are five ornaments in the
collection and they are priced for gift giving or for resale. The 2005 ornament, the first in the series,
features skaters on the Rock River in downtown Watertown in 1895. WDT
2006
12 24 GALLUP
RETIRES
Bonnie
Gallup, the project coordinator for the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce,
will retire after almost 13 years of service to the community. Gallup was given a retirement ceremony
Thursday by the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors where she received gift
certificates and presents thanking her for all the work she has done. Gallup’s last day with the chamber will be
Wednesday. The former project
coordinator first started working with the chamber in 1994 when it took over
the annual farmer’s market from the city.
WDT
2009
06
29 THREE ELECTED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Three local business
members were recently elected to the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce board
of directors. New members of the board
are Jeff Tate, owner of Piggly Wiggly; Jaime Jaeger, manager for Windwood of Watertown;
and Brad Kuenzi, owner of Platinum Realtors.
The ballots to determine membership are based on the categories of
service/professional, retail and industrial work in the community. Tate is in the retail category and Jaeger and
Kuenzi are in the service/professional category. There were no industrial positions available
this year.
08
26 GIFT CERTIFICATES PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL
Watertown Area Chamber
of Commerce’s first-ever reward stimulus program was deemed a success as the
last of the gift certificates were issued this morning. The program was based on the reinvestment of
$5,000 into the local economy through the chamber gift certificate program and
rewarded approximately $35,000 of local purchases of goods and services. In order to qualify for the program, shoppers
needed to make a purchase on or after this past Friday at any chamber member
location. Customers were then asked to
bring their receipts to the chamber office to receive reward gift certificates.
10
15 RANDY ROESELER RESIGNATION
Randy Roeseler, executive director of the Watertown
Area Chamber of Commerce, submitted his resignation; accepted position as vice
president at the State Bank of Reeseville; 9 1/2 years of service. As vice president of the bank, Roeseler will
be expected to serve the community's needs in several ways, including
management support, business development and lending and deposit relationship
management. Before being hired by the
chamber, Roeseler was employed as a manager of Commonwealth Credit Union in
Watertown. Before that was a financial
consultant at Associated Bank of Watertown.
Executive Director Sought
Watertown
Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking an experienced manager for the position of
Executive Director. The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of
Directors. Duties include, but are not limited to, operational and financial
accountability for the total operations of the Chamber of Commerce, developing
and implementing long range planning as well as playing an active role in all
areas of promoting the Watertown area.
Requirements
Include: No less than 5 years in a leadership/managerial role with strong
written & oral communication skills. Must possess the ability to work well
with local and state officials, business executives as well as small
organizations in a professional and productive manner. Past experience in
Economic Development Projects a plus.
We’re
looking for a talented individual who is self motivated and enjoys coming to
work every day, welcomes challenge and change and is excited about leading a
highly motivated and productive staff of 2 plus a volunteer staff of boards and
committees.
Computer
skills are a must with proven ability in Microsoft Office Software (especially
Word, Excel and Access) as well as QuickBooks.
2011
--
-- SUSAN DASCENZO, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, OCTOBER 2011 – MAY 2019
07 15 LEADERSHIP WATERTOWN INSTALLS THREE
INTERPRETIVE PANELS
The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership
Watertown Program installed three interpretive panels on the Octagon House
grounds.
07
22 BONNIE HERTEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Watertown
resident, Bonnie Hertel has been hired by the Watertown Area Chamber of
Commerce board of directors to serve as their executive director. Hertel began her professional career in
Watertown as a manager of Kline’s Department Store. She then served as the director of operations
for Midwest Hospitality Management Company.
Most recently, she was the general manager of the Johnson Creek Premium
Outlets. During this time,
2021
06 26 100th ANNIVERSARY COMMUNITY
CELEBRATION & VENDOR FAIR
10 21 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHAMBER
1920s-themed
evening of celebration, information and entertainment.
History of Watertown, Wisconsin