Ambassadors - Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce

Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors

…we communicate and promote the mission, goals, and programs of the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce to area businesses and professional people and to help in the planning and hosting of Chamber events.

Chamber Ambassadors

Who We Are

2019 Officers

Donna Spude

President, Board Rep

Fish Window Cleaning

Graham Wilson

Incoming President

Hampton Inn

Theresa Thompson

Treasurer

Advia

Ellen Wiegand

Secretary

Beloit Meals on Wheels

Chuck Wilson

Outgoing President

Retired

Angela Taillet

Member at Large

Home2 Suites by Hilton

Kristi Amenda

Member at Large

Blackhawk Bank

What’s Involved

To become an Ambassador a candidate must be affiliated with a Chamber member organization. Prospective members must fill out the Membership Application Form, which can be found on the Join tab above. The prospective member will be voted on at the Club’s monthly meeting.

There are two levels of membership, active and sustaining. All new members begin in the active category and must remain in the active category for three consecutive years.

Active
An “Active” member shall regularly attend monthly meetings and serve on committees as requested and attend 50% of designatedAmbassador Club and Chamber sponsored events such as Business After Hours and Legislative Breakfasts. As a requirement for continued Active status, members must participate in ribbon cutting and ground breaking events as their schedule permits.

Membership in the “Active” category may be terminated when an Ambassador misses three (3) consecutive meetings, or an aggregate of five(5) monthly meetings in a year; fails to serve on at least one (1) committee, or fails to attend 50% of designated Ambassador Club and Chamber sponsored events such as Business After Hours and Legislative Breakfasts. Reasons for a member missing meetings shall be evaluated by the officers,who are to notify any member whose “Active” status is terminated. Such member may make a direct appeal for reinstatement to the Ambassador Executive committee, with reinstatement requiring a majority vote of the membership.

Sustaining
A “Sustaining” member shall have served three (3) years as an “Active” Ambassador Club member, but no longer chooses to be in the “Active” category and commits to less than 50% activity and/or participation.

Dues

Membership dues are set annually and payable by January 31st. The membership dues are $35.

Attire

Ambassadors are required to wear the Club’s jacket, polo shirt or other red attire as deemed appropriate by the club when attending Ambassador or Chamber events or when representing either organization. These events are referred to as “red coat” events.

Monthly Meetings

Monthly lunch meetings are held at various locations in the area. Active members are expected to attend all monthly meetings. Sustaining members are encouraged to attend but have no attendance requirement.

Committees

Scholarship Committee
The Ambassador Scholarship Committee determines the recipients of the Chamber Scholarship Award given to area High School Seniors. Requirements include participation in any committee meetings scheduled by the Chamber and selection of the recipient.

Chamber Membership
This committee works directly with the Chamber staff to help retain existing Chamber members and recruit new members for the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce.

Executive Committee:
This committee consists of all officers and two “Active” members-at-large. Members-at-large are appointed by the Chair of the Ambassador Club

Grant Information

CRITERIA & INSTRUCTIONS

The Ambassador Club of the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for grants from Greater Beloit area organizations. Interested groups must parallel the purposes of both the club and Chamber.

CRITERIA

Has 501c/3 status
Be a Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce Member
Helps promote a prosperous business environment in the Stateline area.
Supports activities that enhance the quality of life in the Greater Beloit community.

ABOUT

The Ambassador Club will award four, $500.00 grants.
Completed forms must be submitted to the Chamber by Monday, November 30th, 2020 , 5pm
Applicants will be notified of the results the week of December 7th, 2020

The purpose of the Ambassador Club is to communicate and promote the mission, goals, and programs of the Greater Beloit chamber of Commerce to area business and professional people.

The organization is part of the structure of the Greater Beloit chamber of Commerce, securing its authority for operation from the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Any questions please contact Aimee at aimeet@greaterbeloitchamber.org

APPLICATION

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2019

Beloit Meals on Wheels Alzheimers & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin Stateline Boys & Girls Club Nature At The Confluence

2018

Beloit Meals on Wheels YWCA Rock County Stateline Boys & Girls Club Community Action

2017

Beloit Meals on Wheels Alzheimers & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin YWCA Rock County Project 16:49

2016

Beloit Meals on Wheels Alzheimers & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin Family Respite Care

Join Today

Ambassador Committees

Descriptions

Chamber Membership:
This committee works directly with the Chamber staff to help retain existing Chamber members and recruit new members for the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce.

Scholarship:
The Ambassador Scholarship Committee determines the recipients of the Chamber Scholarship Award given to area High School Seniors. Requirements include participation in any committee meetings scheduled by the Chamber and selection of the recipient.

A Brief History

The Ambassadors Action Club was started in 1967 and was the brainchild of chamber executive Art Swindell. Art felt that a way was needed to show business people that their presence was appreciated. Larry Raymer was handed the task of organizing the club and recruiting like-minded friends to wear the red blazer and be cheerleaders for the good happenings in the business community. The Ambassadors Action Club was an all male, informal affiliate of the Chamber. The club held monthly meetings at the former Rocco’s Supper Club on Gardner Street in South Beloit. Meetings were held at this location for 31 years. Faithful and long-time Ambassador Roy Barraco named the meeting place the Ambassador Room which included assorted club memorabilia.

In 1972 three energetic women decided that the men should not have all of the fun and glory of being a red coat. Marge Van Galder, Marie Babler and Christie Thomsen formed the Diplomats which was the all-female counterpart to the Ambassadors Action Club. The Diplomats worked on beautification projects, organized Rural Urban Days, cooperated with Rock County Homemakers and conducted orientation festivities for new teachers in the community in cooperation with Beloit College.

The Chamber affiliation of both groups was informal. It was felt the groups should be an “arm” of the Chamber and to effectively accomplish this a merger of the two groups was necessary. After “gentle persuasion” failed, the Chamber leadership decided that the merger was not optional. A joint committee rewrote bylaws and set a time table for the merger.

The new club was formed in 1999 and took the name the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Club as it is known today. The purpose of the new Ambassador Club is to communicate and promote the mission, goals and programs of the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce to area businesses and professional people and to help in the planning and hosting of Chamber events.

(Historical information in this booklet was made possible from BDN archives and several Ambassador members. Thanks to all.)

Date	Ambassador of the Year	Chair	Vice Chair	Secretary	Treasurer
2018	Jim and Donna Spude
2017	Chuck Wilson	Nikkie Chadwick
2016	Jeff Vohs	Jim Spude
2015	Shannon Ahrens	Jeff Vohs	Erin Patch	Trisha Rose	Michelle Matthys
2014	Marcy Berner Reedy	Jeff Vohs	Erin Patch	Linda Lock	Sara Burns
2013	Shannon Ahrens	Shannon Ahrens	Jeff Vohs	Linda Lock	Sara Burns
2012	Nicole Morgan	Aileen Maeltzer	Cheri Adair	Nicole Morgan	Will Parker
2011	Lois Howe	Dave Peltier	Aileen Maeltzer	Nicole Morgan	Will Parker
2010	Cheri Adair	Terry Meyers	Dave Peltier	Aileen Maeltzer	Paulette Christensen
2009	Aileen Maettzer	Nancy Heidt	Terry Meyers	Aileen Maeltzer	Paulette Christensen
2008	Steve Kinkade	Michelle Matthys	Nancy Heidt	P. Christensen	Terry Meyers
2007	Paulette Christensen	Steve Mitchell	Michelle Matthys	Marilyn Showen	Terry Meyers
2006	Terry Meyers	P. Christensen	Steve Mitchell	Beth Grabowski	Dave Peltier
2005	Marilyn Showmen	Linda Lock	P. Christensen	Nancy Heidt	Dave Peltier
2004	Dave Peltier	Mike Duffy	Linda Lock	Joe Kobylka	Marilyn Showen
2003	Joe Kobylka	Steve Kinkade	Mike Duffy	Joe Kobylka	Marilyn Showen
2002	Jere Crouse	Jan Ruster	Steve Kinkade	Joe Kobylka	Jere Crouse
2001	Sue Drevdahl	Sue Drevdahl	Jan Ruster	Joe Kobylka	Jere Crouse
2000	Glenda Baker	Glenda Baker	Sue Drevdahl	Joe Kobylka	Jere Crouse
1999	Rick Nelson & Dee Nyre	Rick Nelson & Dee Nyre	Glenda Baker	Joe Kobylka	Jere Crouse
1998
1997	Jerry Elliott
1996	Dick Gerhard
1995	Dr. Daniel Green
1994	Jere Crouse
1987	Walter Knight