Chamber Ambassadors
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 Wednesday, November 6th, 2024, 5pm.
- Applicants will be notified of the results the week of November 11th, 2024.
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
The deadline for application has passed. We look forward to receiving your 2023 application.
PAST AWARD WINNERS
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
Ambassador Committees
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 |