Courtesy/LACC

LACC News:

The Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its 50th Anniversary Nov. 30 with a Gala Banquet and awards ceremony in Fuller Lodge.

The Chamber will honor those founding member businesses who have been a part of the Chamber for 50 years – the Los Alamos Family YMCA, Los Alamos National Bank, Los Alamos Monitor, KRSN Radio, CB FOX and Metzger’s Do-It-Best. The Business Recycler of the Year will be recognized as well.

The Los Alamos Business Assistance Services Success Client for 2013 is the Los Alamos Daily Post, and publisher Carol A. Clark will be recognized for that achievement. The 2014 Success Client will also be announced at the Banquet.

The public is invited to attend. Cost is $50 per person, which includes a fabulous catered meal. To register, go to losalamoschamber.com/events, then scroll down to the banquet listing. You can also call Chamber Manager Katy Korkos at 505.661.4816, or Angeline Martinez at 505.661.4802.

The Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1963, with the motto “service to all.” The founding board included President William Strickfaden, from Western States Telephone; First Vice President Mark McMahon, publisher of the Los Alamos Monitor; second Vice President George Cowan, who at the time represented Los Alamos National Science, Treasurer Reed Chittim from Los Alamos National Bank and Secretary Darrel K. Burns from KRSN Radio.

The Los Alamos Monitor dated Sept. 12, 1963, stated “The infant chamber was slapped into life at a meeting spotted by flaring tempers in a debate over organizational details.” Annual dues were set at $12, payable in four monthly installments. The very first member of the Chamber was Ray Phillips of the Family YMCA.

1963 was an auspicious year for the business community in Los Alamos – Los Alamos National Bank and the Los Alamos Monitor also got their starts that year.

In the intervening 50 years, the Chamber has grown to include more than 300 members, who represent businesses from all sectors of the business community, non-profits and individuals. Dues are a bit higher now, too.

The original mimeographed brochure stated “With all of us working together, the future of Los Alamos is brilliant. We repeat our invitation to join in this endeavor.”