challenges in coming year

By

JOAN GANDY

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ &045; A need arises? They fill it. A problem emerges? They solve it. An opportunity knocks? They answer.

Anyone who has watched closely the work of the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce in the past year might apply the words above to the group of professionals taking care of Chamber business.

As a new year and change of the guard approaches, the outgoing chairman of the board, Fred Middleton, and the incoming chairman, Andrew Calvit, sat down with Laura Godfrey, Chamber president, and reflected on accomplishments made and challenges ahead.

&uot;I wanted to accomplish things in three areas when I became chairman,&uot; Middleton said. &uot;Those areas are education, economic development and diversity of membership.&uot;

A board of directors that had not reflected the community’s racial makeup now includes six African-Americans, he said.

Godfrey said strides have been made toward a unification of races into a cohesive working group in the Chamber, with the leadership of both Middleton and Calvit.

&uot;Andrew has been very involved in the unification committee, and I think he will further the work of racial healing,&uot; she said.

Calvit said his hope is to unify the entire community, not just bringing the races together but to get all of Natchez and Adams County united in a common goal to make the area a better place to live. With that accomplished, businesses can thrive and Natchez can attract new businesses.

Middleton, outlining some of the projects of the past year, said the raising of $10,000 through United Mississippi Bank to present the Natchez-Adams school system with a recruiting tool is one of the most significant and far-reaching projects.

&uot;When our school system goes out to recruit, they compete not only within our state but with school systems from outside our state to get the best teachers,&uot; he said. &uot;Having money to provide incentives for new teachers gives the Natchez system an advantage. They can offer a moving bonus, free cable, free checking. Teachers coming right out of college are looking for any funding that can help them.&uot;

The Chamber also founded a scholarship to provide full tuition to Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Natchez for a student committed to becoming a teacher. &uot;That helps us to grow our own teachers,&uot; Middleton said.

One challenge in the education arena during the past year has been working to get a 1989 desegregation court order lifted from the system. &uot;We can’t build new buildings and get new classrooms,&uot; Middleton said. &uot;Because of something that happened in 1989, the children of 2003 are paying for it. Everybody we’ve met with says the same thing, that we have to have smaller classes and new schools.&uot;

Calvit will continue the push. &uot;I hope another year won’t pass before we can see the court order lifted,&uot; he said, emphasizing that if the court order cannot be lifted, he wants to know the reasons why.

As for economic development issues, the Chamber has taken a role not always set aside for that body. Middleton makes no apologies, however, saying the Chamber exists &uot;to serve existing businesses and to give them a good quality of life. Some of the best economic development opportunities comes from within those existing businesses who know other businesses.&uot;

An example of that rises in the move of Coastal Timber & Tie to the Natchez area. &uot;They’re from Tylertown, a business I call on. Here, their yard is a procurement site for logs and lumber so our locals don’t have to drive all the way to Tylertown or some place like Gloster,&uot; Middleton said.

Once Middleton made the call, a representative of Coastal Timber responded immediately to the idea. &uot;It’s a success story for us,&uot; Middleton said.

Another project still under way and not yet resolved is the work with a group trying to buy the former International Paper mill site at Natchez. &uot;We’ve taken the leadership role to keep it going,&uot; Middleton said. &uot;The Chamber raised $40,000 to help with that just by picking up the phone and calling members and contributors.&uot;

The Chamber also provided office space, staff assistance and computer and phone use, &uot;all at our own expense,&uot; Godfrey said. &uot;We went the extra mile. I’m proud of our staff and how they’ve been willing to work late, take extra calls and even give up their computers when called on.&uot;

Calvit said that project is a good example of how the Chamber views its responsibilities. &uot;You can sit back idly and let things happen or you can get involved and make things happen.&uot;

A representative of PACE International workers union, testifying before Congress about employee buy outs, singled out the Natchez Chamber as being &uot;the first chamber of commerce ever to have come together with union workers to try to create the opportunity to save jobs,&uot; Middleton said. &uot;I think that says a lot for our Chamber and our people.&uot;

Other recent projects include creating an electronic business card, a CD that can be mailed to businesses or individuals interested in learning more about Natchez.

The Chamber has been the catalyst to get a $20,000 grant from the Mississippi Department of Transportation for tree-planting along the highway coming into Natchez from the north; and the remaining $8,000 needed to complete a city park for young children on Madison Street.

Chamber board members have toured schools and colleges, businesses, hospitals and government agencies in an effort to become more intimate with their city. And the Chamber took along other key boards for the tour, including Economic Development Authority, Natchez-Adams schools and city aldermen.

Two key elements helped him to lead the Chamber through numerous and diverse projects, Middleton said. &uot;Having Laura as president and Shannon Gatlin on staff has been one of the best parts of being chairman,&uot; he said. &uot;And the board has allowed me to color outside the lines and change the roadmap for the Chamber.&uot;

Calvit likes the foundation that Middleton has laid. &uot;Fred has done a great job. He has laid a good foundation. I want to take the Chamber to another level and add another dimension to it.&uot;

Realizing he comes aboard when the city is reeling from the loss of its major industry, International Paper, Calvit said he and other members of the Chamber board must stay focused on the mission.

&uot;We have to provide a positive atmosphere for our members. And I want our members to take ownership of the Chamber and to be proud to be members,&uot; Calvit said.

Godfrey, who will complete her second year as president in November, said the Chamber has seen a 14 percent growth in membership in the past year.

Calvit hopes that trend continues. Meanwhile, though, he will take time to visit member businesses, &uot;to make personal contact with each member and see what concerns they have. I’m definitely going to push myself to do that,&uot; he said.

Education is a concern he shares with the outgoing chairman, Calvit said. &uot;Education is the only way out of poverty.&uot;

As for economic development, Calvit said creating jobs is the bottom line. &uot;I hear people telling us they want jobs, and they don’t care who brings the jobs to Natchez.&uot;

All projects undertaken by the Chamber follow one path, and that is to make Natchez a better place to live and work. &uot;I don’t want to reinvent the wheel,&uot; Calvit said. &uot;I want to build on this strong foundation. I’m proud to follow someone like Fred. Now we have to stay focused and work together.&uot;

Godfrey has no vote when the board sits down at the table. &uot;But I do get to discuss the issues,&uot; she said.

To her, one of the most thrilling things about working for the Chamber has been the outpouring of interest from throughout the community. &uot;We have people to come and say, ‘I want to be involved.’ This past year, more and more people wanted to get involved in what we’re doing. I’m proud to work at the Natchez-Adams Chamber. I think we have one of the best in the state.&uot;

Godfrey traces success at the Chamber to many factors, not the least of which is that the board listens. &uot;We’ve listened to what our community is saying to us.&uot;

The Chamber has listened; and they have reacted. Education, economic development, tourism, information, racial unification &045; the list is long and impressive. &uot;Our accomplishments have been large,&uot; Godfrey said.

&uot;This is a different world since 9/11, and you have to try new things and change with the times to keep your community on the front burner,&uot; she said.