ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 7, 1997 TAG: 9703070055
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON THE ROANOKE TIMES
MEMO: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.
The chamber of commerce and revitalization group failed to woo the merchants association to join them.
It's not the three-way union some wanted, but a consolidation of two Franklin County civic organizations is moving forward.
A merger agreement between the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and the county's Community Partnership for Revitalization was approved Wednesday by the revitalization group's members.
The Chamber of Commerce is expected to vote on the agreement this month, said Larry Heaton, a chamber member who leads a task force formed to tackle the consolidation issue.
It's been a long journey. The idea sprouted more than two years ago as a way to create a streamlined, cost-effective, one-stop-shop that would include the chamber, the revitalization group and the Franklin County Retail Merchants Association.
Members of the three organizations warmed to the proposal when it surfaced, but the merchants association changed its mind. Heaton said the group officially pulled out of the consolidation several weeks ago.
"Of course I would have liked to have had all three organizations. It would have sent a strong message," Heaton said. "But it's not a total negative. The Retail Merchants Association has expressed a desire to be housed in the same building as the other two."
Bob Jeans, president-elect of the Chamber of Commerce, said he also would have preferred a merger of three organizations.
"But things are moving along," he said. "The door is always open for the Retail Merchants Association in the future."
Dorothy Cundiff, the director of the merchants association, couldn't be reached for comment Thursday. In an earlier interview she said that her organization would participate in a merger with the Chamber of Commerce, but not under the proposal that included the revitalization partnership.
The chairman of the revitalization group's board, Dick Shoemaker, couldn't be reached for comment.
The board of the consolidated organization - which will continue to be called the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce - will search for a new location. Until then, the organization will use the chamber office on Franklin Street.
The agreement approved by the revitalization partnership Wednesday calls for the creation of a new board of 18 members. The current chamber board will elect nine of its members and the revitalization group's board will do the same.
The new board, which should be in place by May 1, will be responsible for ironing out a number of details, including dues and the hiring of a new executive director and other employees.
Until a new director is hired, the current directors of the two organizations and the chamber of commerce's administrative assistant will jointly perform the task, according to the agreement.
Chamber Director Brian Duvall said he supports the merger. The revitalization partnership - which is primarily responsible for administering Rocky Mount's state-approved Mainstreet program - is conducting a search for a new director.
"Current personnel will be encouraged to apply for any positions in the new organization for which they believe they are qualified," the agreement states.
The agreement also calls for the chamber to establish an endowment for community improvement, capital expenses and member services.
LENGTH: Medium: 70 linesby CNB