Chamber to host membership event
By Sandy Morris
The Albany Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual Membership Drive Crawfish Boil at the Albany Golf Course on Thursday, April 15 starting at 6:00 p.m., and Chamber members, along with those who want to join the organization, are encouraged to attend.
“All Chamber members are invited,” said Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones. “And if you’re not a member, you can come and join at the party. We’ll have special membership prices that night only including families for $50, seniors for $40, and businesses based on the number of employees.”
The Chamber will provide crawfish, chicken, fish, deer steak, all the fixings for the meal, and water to drink.
“You can BYOB if you want something else,” said Jones. “We’ll have live music provided by volunteers, and a bounce house available for the kids.”
Jones said that the turnout for the first event in 2019 was great, and she is hoping for even more people this year.
“This is an appreciation dinner for current Chamber members,” said Jones. “If you’ve not paid your annual membership yet, you can pay there; we’ll be set up to take cash, cards, or checks. Come out and join us, and feel free to bring a friend who might want to join.”
The Chamber is open to everyone who wants to help keep Albany stay alive prospering, according to Jones.
“Our job as Chamber members is to bring people into Albany to shop, eat, tour, hunt, and possibly live or open a business,” said Jones. “We host events throughout the year and have drawings to give money to people to spend in our stores and restaurants. The money spent in those places puts tax dollars into our town.”
Jones said the tax dollars collected are used for Albany’s infrastructure and are used to keep the town beautiful and desirable.
“The additional commerce also shifts the tax burden from homeowners to commercial enterprises,” said Jones. “If more businesses open as a result, the burden is less on each individual business, and a sales tax revenue increase can offset the city’s need for funds from property taxes.”
Jones also extended a thank you to all the new businesses and homeowners who are remodeling and fixing up their yards and properties.
“If you drive around town, you can see the pride people have here,” said Jones. “People are always stopping in and complimenting the way Albany is maintained by its citizens.”
She stressed that Chamber memberships are not just for businesses, and she encouraged citizens to become members and volunteer when the Chamber hosts events.
Membership applications can be found on the website at albanytexas chamberofcommerce.wordpress.com or by signing up at the Chamber office.
