CHAMBER TO BLITZ CITY FOR NEW MEMBERS

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce is on a hunt for members.

"You Make a Difference" is the theme of a one-day chamber membership blitz being held today.

Sixty new members is the goal as the chamber kicks off its annual campaign with a breakfast at the Drury Lodge at 7:30 a.m. The goal is set each year based on membership, said John Mehner, chamber president and chief executive officer.

"Our goal is to sign at least 5 percent of the current membership," he said. "Sixty members will put us over the 1,200 mark.

The chamber's current membership stands at more than 1,150, first in its population category of 50,000 and fourth overall in the state. Only the Greater Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield chambers have more members.

Chairman for the 1999 campaign is Allen Phillips of Prudential Insurance and Financial Services. This is Phillips' second year to chair the membership drive. A year ago he co-chaired the event, which resulted in the signing of more than 75 new members.

Phillips said the membership drive is a great activity to get involved in. "You help our organization and you get to meet new chamber members," he said.

Membership teams will receive recruiting packets following the breakfast today. Teams call on prospective members during the day.

The campaign will end about 4 p.m. with volunteer recruiting teams reporting in at Drury Lodge.

Over the past decade the local chamber has ranged in membership from 1,022 in 1987 to a high of 1,234 last year. Those figures are more than double the chamber membership of 571 in 1972.

The overall goal of the chamber is to keep the membership between 1,100 and 1,200.