By Nick Schneider Brad Crites is the executive director of the new Eastern Greene Chamber of Commerce. [Click to enlarge]

The Eastern Greene Chamber of Commerce has been organized on a low-key basis since last November, when the first meeting was held.

Now, the organization is ready to become a visible and vital part of the eastern Greene business community, says Brad Crites, who is serving as the organization's executive director during the organizational stage.

The organization has a small group of charter members and will soon have an office and a Web site.

The group has employed a part-time staff person -- Monica James -- who will serve as an administrative assistant for the new organization.

The Eastern Greene Chamber is putting together a marketing plan to get its name out in the public.

It is also seeking members.

Yearly memberships are $35 for businesses and $25 for individual "friends of the Chamber."

"For now, the Chamber consists of myself, Mary Fields, Marcy Cook, and Garry Heshelman. Several other local residents and business owners have offered their support as well. We have not finalized a Board of Directors," Crites said.

"We are keeping things pretty low-key until we get some of the logistics worked out, but we hope to launch a membership drive/awareness campaign within the next month or two."

The group's mission statement outlines its goals.

The Eastern Greene Chamber of Commerce, drawing upon the needs and concerns of local residents, local government, schools, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, and other businesses, facilitates building relationships and fosters growth leading to a higher quality of life and the preservation of local heritage in eastern Greene County, Indiana -- particularly Beech Creek, Center, and Jackson townships.

"We are hoping to partner with the schools (Eastern) and possibly the Community Learning Center and other existing groups," Crites told the Greene County Daily World.

Crites noted that the new chamber is a sister organization to the Eastern Greene Development Committee, which was responsible for starting the E-911 re-addressing process in the county.

"Their focus is on infrastructure issues and providing for a more unified approach to government in our unincorporated areas," Crites said. "The Chamber's purpose is to promote business, economic, and community development and to build networks. We want to build a stronger sense of community and give people something to feel connected to, so that our rural communities can be active participants just as those in Bloomfield or Linton can be."

Crites said the number of "store front" businesses in the eastern part of the county, but there are a large number of other kinds of businesses operating.

He continued, "With so many initiatives taking place across the county, we want to keep people informed and give them opportunities to participate."

Crites, who is a teacher at Bedford North Lawrence High School and a native of the Hendricksville area, says he looks forward to working with member business and individuals for the betterment of the eastern Greene community.

The 1998 Eastern Greene High School graduate also wants to work closely with the Greene County Chamber Coalition that has been organized in the last year by the Greene County Economic Development Corporation. It includes representation from the Linton-Stockton, Shakamak and Bloomfield chamber of commerce groups.

"I have been active as co-chair of the Chamber Coalition almost since its inception, and the other chambers have been very supportive. My hope is that by forming this new organization, we can expand Eastern Greene's active participation across the county," he said. "We're doing what we can to move along."

The organization meets at 7 p.m. the third Monday monthly at the Eastern Greene Fire Station at Solsberry.

Crites can be contacted through the Eastern Greene Chamber of Commerce's address at P.O. Box 304, Solsberry, Ind., 47459 or by calling 876-8000 or 322-1413.

He can also be reached by e-mail at chamber@easterngreene.org