Kells Chamber looks back with satisfaction on 10th anniversary

Kells and District Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and plans are afoot to mark the occasion with members past and present following the annual meeting on Friday 11th November.  "We want to mark the occasion and pay tribute to and congratulate all those who have been involved with the Chamber over the past decade," said current Chamber president, Geraldine Gaughran. "From its inception and launch under the stewardship of Aidan Wall, the Chamber has been involved in and instrumental in many great events in Kells, from lobbying with Navan and Dunshaughlin Chambers for the M3, to the introduction of Kells's own currency in the form of the Kells Gift Vouchers." The formal AGM business will take place at 7pm, with non-members being invited to join the meeting at 8pm to look back, and also to look forward and plan for the coming decade. A particular welcome will be extended to potential members, who might like to attend to learn more about the Chamber. They will also welcome people who are retired or who find themselves currently unemployed and who would like to be more involved in the local business community, as the Chamber's associate membership scheme might be something which is of interest to them. The night will also feature the launch of this year's 'Keep it Kells' campaign, which is devised to encourage people to shop in Kells and support local jobs during the forthcoming festive period.    "This year we plan to grow our campaign, holding a bonanza draw with all retailers in the town participating, and have a Facebook photographic competition with great prizes of Kells Gift Vouchers," added Ms Gaughran. Meath County Manager Tom Dowling will attend the meeting and among the topics for discussion will be the 2013-2019 Kells Development Plan, which is currently at the public consultation phase, and a proposed regeneration plan for the town of Kells, based on the RTE's 'Local Heroes' campaign. Last Wednesday, Kells Chamber was invited to attend an information session at the 'Local Heroes' hub at West Street, Drogheda, as the Chamber was one of the many groups from around the country which submitted a proposal to be the town subject of the RTE programme 'Local Heroes: A Town Fights Back', led by Senator Feargal Quinn. "We were disappointed that Kells wasn't chosen to be the town to be featured in the TV programme," said Ms Gaughran, "but we are delighted for Drogheda. We wish them huge sucess and we look forward to learning from their experience. I attended last week's meeting and found it most interesting and inspiring." She said that RTE hopes that the programme will formulate a template from which other towns can draw to help reinvigorate their economy, and this is something that the Chamber can look to roll out in Kells. Kells Chamber has said it also would like to clarify that a letter which was recently distributed by a Kells businessman in relation to a proposal to pedestrianise Farrell Street for the month of December. Ms Gaughran said the letter should have read: "Kells Chamber has been asked to gauge opinion" and not "Kells Chamber has agreed in principle". She added: "The Chamber had not agreed with the proposal and, having gauged opinion, we can report that the majority of businesspeople in the town are not in favour of the proposal."