Nokomis Chamber prepares for Halloween event

October 15, 2024 95

NOKOMIS — The Greater Nokomis Chamber of Commerce met on October 8 inside the city council chambers at city hall.

Minutes from the September 17 meeting, as well as the most recent treasurer’s report, were approved. The most recent treasurer’s report reflects an available balance of $1,860.45 in checking and CD balances of $45,045.27 with both CD terms coming up in November.

In committee reports, the fall city-wide rummage sales were recently held on October 4-5, and everything was reported to have gone well.

Regarding the October 26 Trunk or Treat, the Chamber will show Hocus Pocus as the movie selection for the Movie in the Park at two showings: from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and again from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Jack Tosetti and Bernadine Tosetti Hines have sponsored the Movie in the Park and covered the license cost to show the film. The Chamber has approved graphics from the licensing company, Swank Motion Pictures, to use on fliers and on Facebook to advertise.

Downtown Nokomis Association will be selling popcorn and drinks under the pavilion. Attendees will need to bring their chairs and blankets for seating. Tom Spears will be getting a copy of the DVD to use at the event, so the Chamber was just awaiting confirmation of a screen to show the film.

Regarding Snowkomis, which will be on December 13-14, the Chamber is once again hosting the vendor show. They are at capacity for The Vault with 12 vendors, and there are currently ten spots that could be filled if other facilities were secured. There was a previous discussion of using a tent outside with some heaters, but the major issue that came across was making sure the space was secure overnight between 10 p.m. Friday and the start of Saturday’s festivities at 8 a.m. There was a discussion of a few other options indoors, and Chamber President Dr. Scott Doerr will be reaching out to them to see if they are an option.

In addition, the carriage rides have been confirmed, pending the signing of the contract.

The Chamber, Downtown Nokomis Association, and the City of Nokomis Planning Commission are undergoing ongoing plans for a merger to become NewKomis. That process will kick off on October 14 with a meet-and-greet at The Tractor Factory, 498 W. Front. That will be the kickoff meeting before the five three-hour sessions start beginning later this month.

The dates (with locations) for these meetings will be Monday, October 28 (Aumann Auctions Vintage Showroom), Wednesday, November 6 (The Vault), Wednesday, November 13 (St. Louis Parish Center), Monday, November 18 (Nokomis High School Cafeteria), and Monday, December 2 (Aumann Auctions Vintage Showroom).

These three-hour sessions will begin at 6 p.m. on each date with different themes and food will be available at each meeting.

These five meetings will allow the groups to know how the NewKomis organization will need to be structured. In the meantime, Treasurer Ed Chausse mentioned that until this is official, the Chamber will need to get its 501(c)3 status current.

In open discussion, Chausse mentioned for the 2025 Homecoming celebration that the Chamber (or NewKomis) could look at bringing back the Sunday breakfast that had previously been done by the Rotary and then the Lions, but there has not been one done for several years. No action was taken on the matter, but it will be revisited as Homecoming gets closer.

Secretary Michele Orsborn reported that The Vault would have a ribbon cutting at 4:45 p.m. on Friday, October 11. Dr. Doerr also mentioned that he would reach out to Pattern Energy about a ribbon cutting.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 12, 5 p.m. at Aumann Auctions.

In attendance were President Dr. Scott Doerr, Secretary Michele Orsborn, Treasurer Ed Chausse, Jake Leonard, Tom Spears, Trever Loafman, Becki Stolte, and Lance Lehnen.

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Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.