Happy New Year from the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber will meet at the Front Porch Restaurant on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at noon. Eddie Madden, Elizabethtown town manager, will be our guest speaker. Don’t miss hearing about the downtown revitalization project and other exciting things going on in Bladen County! We will also recognize our new chamber members: Vanessa G. Photography and Till & Butler CPA’s, PLLC.

Kidsville News is our January “Chamber Member of the Month.” Scott Godbey is the publisher of the family fun newspaper and represents the newspaper frequently by attending the monthly Chamber meetings and events held in Bladen County. He brings along a familiar face known as Truman, the publication’s mascot. Truman’s job is to send a message to the kids about the importance of literacy. Congratulations, Kidsville News!

The Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for a busy spring.

— The annual Collegiate Golf Tournament is scheduled for April 1 through April 3 at Carolina Sands. Sponsors are needed to support this event.

— The annual “Spring & Grow” Business Expo is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, at Lu Mil Vineyard. This event is growing each year by adding more entertainment and booth spaces for the family fun the event offers each spring. The event is designed to promote businesses in the community. Applications to participate in the event are available at the Chamber office.

— The 32nd White Lake Water Festival is scheduled for May 21 through May 23. The committee will meet Thursday, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m. at the White Lake Town Hall. Volunteers are needed to help the committee plan the events for the 2010 festival.

Get involved with the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Join today and let us help your business grow! For more information, visit our Web site at www.elizabethtownwhitelake.com.

— Dawn Maynard is the tourism specialist for the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.