Traditions continue at Oak Harbor Area Chamber
By VALERIE WINTERFIELD
Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce
The Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based organization that exists to enhance the business climate in Oak Harbor and the surrounding area. All benefits, programs and events of the Chamber are designed to give businesses the opportunity to make or save money, acquire knowledge and skills and/or make those all-important business connections.
We would like to especially thank our members, associates and friends for their support in 2018 and look forward to continued partnerships in 2019. Our members can be proud that they are part of an organization that works diligently to serve our members needs and support the community. We encourage our members to support fellow chamber members and to proudly display their chamber member plaque to let people know that you are contributing to our community’s betterment through your membership.
In January we held our annual member dinner. This event is where we elect our board members for the year, reflect on the previous year, and allow our members the opportunity to connect and network in a casual atmosphere. We had over 100 members in attendance, who enjoyed a buffet dinner, Chinese auction, and entertainment from a corporate comedian. The first quarter of the year also holds our first Business Over Breakfast, as well as our Annual Easter Egg Hunt which has been a community tradition for over 65 years.
The second quarter of the year is always busy here at the chamber. We worked with the Ottawa County Improvement Corp. to hold a Teen Job Fair at Oak Harbor High School in early April. We had 15 employers in attendance and we hope to grow this event each year. In May, we held our third annual Reverse Raffle to raise funds for the Independence Day Celebration. Tickets are available now, we would love your support. We also held our second Quarter Business Over Breakfast & Annual Village Wide Garage Sale Days. We had over 45 households participate in the sales, which brought hundreds of people into Oak Harbor throughout the weekend. We then moved right into the third quarter where we held our Annual Independence Day Celebration along the Portage River, as well as our third quarter Business Over Breakfast.
The last quarter holds our biggest event of the year, which is our Annual Apple Festival. The festival is a fundraiser for the chamber and brings thousands of visitors to our town during the second full weekend of October. In 2018 we are celebrated our 40th year! We also have our Downtown Trick or Treat event which is on Oct. 31. We will round out the year with our final Business over Breakfast and our Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration which takes place on the first Saturday in December in downtown Oak Harbor.
The Chamber will still continue to offer all of our money saving member benefits, as well as networking and education opportunities. Our quarterly Business Over Breakfast Series will continue with our next event on Feb. 14, 2019. Cost is just $5 per person and it includes a hot breakfast.
As always the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to continuing to bring you quality family events throughout the year and promoting this great village in which we live. All of these events bring people into downtown Oak Harbor and enhance the quality of life for those who reside here by giving them free family friendly activities to enjoy amongst their neighbors and friends.
Below is our schedule of events for 2019:
- Friday, Jan. 25, 2019 – Annual Chamber Dinner-6pm-Ottawa County Fairgrounds
- Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019 – Business Over Breakfast – 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. – Ottawa Co. Resource Center
- Wednesday, April 10, 2019-Teen Summer Job Fair-1:15pm-4:15pm—Oak Harbor High School
- Saturday, April 13, 2019 – Annual Easter Egg Hunt-2pm-Downtown Oak Harbor
- Saturday, May 11, 2019-Fireworks Fund Reverse Raffle-6pm-VFW Memorial Hall
- Thursday, May 23, 2019 – Business Over Breakfast- 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. – Ottawa Co. Resource Center
- Friday & Saturday, June 7 & 8, 2019 – Annual Village Wide Garage Sale Days
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 – Independence Day Celebration – Mill Street Riverfront-5pm-11pm - Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019 – Business Over Breakfast- 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. – Ottawa Co. Resource Center
- Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 12 & 13, 2019 – Annual Apple Festival – Downtown Oak Harbor
- Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019 -Downtown Business Trick or Treat-5:30-6:30pm-Downtown Oak Harbor
- Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019 – Business Over Breakfast- 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. – Ottawa Co. Resource Center
- Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 – Olde Fashioned Christmas Celebration – 4p-7p-Portage Fire Station
Our Annual Dinner will be held on January 25, 2019 at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds in Oak Harbor. This is where we elect our board members for the year, reflect on the previous year, and allow our members the opportunity to connect and network in a casual atmosphere.
For a complete listing of membership benefits and to view our member directory, please visit our website at: www.oakharborohio.net or visit us at 161 West Water Street in downtown Oak Harbor.
As we look forward to 2019 we thank all of our members and community for their continued support. We are proud of all of our chamber members and appreciate the vital role they play in our community’s economy. As always, it is important for us to remember to support our local businesses. Supporting them keeps our local economy strong. The staff and board of directors of the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce wish everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year!
Valerie Winterfield is executive director of Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, 161 W. Water St. Suite A, Oak Harbor, 419-898-0479, chamber@oakharborohio.net.
