Leadership group redoes Chamber

Members of the Chamber of Commerce, the 2012 Leadership Bedford Class and many other community leaders came out Wednesday to see the result of several months of hard work to revamp the Chamber's meeting area and lobby.
(T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Order this photo]

But the public seemed pleased with the results of the hard work done by the 2012 class of Leadership Bedford in the remodeling of the Chamber of Commerce meeting room and lobby.

The renovation was completed by this year's Leadership class, made up of Jason Arnold, Jon Baker, Vickie Haskins, Matt Ledbetter, David Simpson, Terry Vinson, Denise Dickens and Jo Ann Fann.

Local artist Jerry Ward was on hand Thursday morning to celebrate the Chamber renovations. Ward provided several pieces including this drawing for the meeting place's makeover -- made possible by Leadership Bedford's class of 2012.
(T-G Photo by Hugh Jones)

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Haskins, who is also the recorder for the city of Shelbyville, said the class wanted to thank everyone, but the list of people, organizations and businesses who contributed was so long, she couldn't read them all.

She said that raising the necessary funds in this economy was a challenge, but the eight members of the 2012 class began to contact everyone they knew, going to the people that "give over and over to the community."

Haskins said there was "a little bit more to do," but they wanted to go ahead and let the public see the results of their work.

Planning began in September, with much of the elbow grease being applied to the lobby and meeting room during December and January.

Special helpers

Funds to buy the collection of new tables and chairs for the meeting room were donated by First Bank, Charles McDonald and Rita Huffman in memory of Scott McDonald, who was CEO of the Chamber for many years.

Also, all of the artwork in the refurbished meeting room and the lobby were painted and donated to the Chamber by local artist Jerry Ward, who helped with the design and color coordination.

The meeting room contains 10 prints of scenes from around Shelbyville's square by Ward, while an original painting entitled "Bedford County Line" graces the lobby, along with a stone taken from the bottom of the Duck River.