Local man hopes to revive Chamber

DAVENPORT—Retired accountant Dick Wandling wants to see the Chamber of Commerce here become an active organization instead of a stagnant group with a few dozen members that pay dues and do little else.

That’s why the former accountant for Leffel, Otis and Warwick is putting on a Chamber meeting at the Avista meeting room on Morgan Street this Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 7 a.m.

The Chamber currently has between 20-40 members, but hasn’t been active since late 2019.

In its heyday, it hosted the annual Chamber banquet, held monthly board meetings and weekly lunch meetings and disbursed the Lawrence Jayne Award for community service to a deserving local.

The Chamber presently has no president. Its most public impact may be the Pioneer Days parade float, for which the Chamber covers insurance costs.

Wandling said the purpose of Tuesday’s meeting is to decide the future of the Chamber and how it should proceed.

The event is especially for local business owners, but the public is welcome to come as well.