The Stuart Chamber of Commerce held their monthly meeting yesterday.

The first item discussed was the Chamber’s budget for the 2014 calendar year.  Three of the Chamber’s four main committees–beautification, special events and marketing–will all see an increase in their budgets for next year.  The Good Egg Days budget will remain at $4,000.

Plans for Light the Park were then discussed, with beautification committee member Audrey Wells saying new bulbs will be purchased to replace ones that were vandalized last season.  Wells says there has not been a date set for setting up Light the Park, but she now would like to have it completed before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Also, the Chamber will purchase a christmas tree again this year, but rather than putting in the gazebo in Lawbaugh Park, it will be placed somewhere in the downtown area.

Next, the Chamber’s annual dinner was discussed, as President Cheryl Marks would like to try and move it back to February of next year to draw in more participation from local businesses.

Lynsi Pasutti then addressed the Chamber to discuss her progress with plans for Small Business Saturday, a city-wide event currently planned for Saturday, November 30th.  Pasutti says many businesses in Stuart have been receptive and even excited about the possibility for such an event.

Finally, the Chamber voted to keep officers the same for 2014.

The Chamber’s next meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 4th at AmericInn.