The BAk Mountain Business Bo(? y a eg TS — 503 May 22, 1996 3&.- BMBPA grew from desire to help local businesses and communities A small group of business owners gathered in the spring of 1992 to discuss the idea of forming a local organization of business and professional people. Just a few months after the initial meetings, the new Back Mountain Business & Professional Association had 85 members, a calendar of events and even bigger plans. The original goals were: * To provide a directory of members and distribute it throughout the Back Mountain. * To provide a voice on issues that alfect businesses in the region. * To sponsor events at which members can become acquainted with one another and their products and services. * To encourage members to do business with one another. * To coordinate special events and sales. * To inform students at College Misericordia and Penn State Wilkes-Barre and their families of the range of products and services that are available in the Back Mountain. The BMBPA took on its official form as a registered non-profit corporation in Septem- ber, 1992 just a few months after a steering committee began to plot its course. This year the membership is nearly 100, and BMBPA has sponsored community events and supported local institutions. The steering committee that helped form the Back Mountain Business & Professional Association in 1992 met at Valentine's to plan the first member- ship drive. From left, Monty Evans, Elva Valentine, Bartt Slocum, Nancy Eckert and Joe Mooney. Other members were: Fran Ochman, John Lloyd, Tom and Melissa Quinn, Ann Parkhurst, Jim Richardson, Ron Bartizek, Cathy Mugford and JoAnn Campbell. Kaiser seemed to mimic the Easter bunny before the BMBPA Easter Egg Hunt, held at the campus for the first time in 1996. The organization made the original donation that began the CD-ROM collection at the Back Mountain Memorial Library, and plans to aid the construction of a new children’s wing, BMBPA also will take over beautification and maintenance of the triangle at the intersection of Routes 309 and 415, perhaps the most visible patch of land in the Back Mountain. Anyone who operates a business in the Back Mountain, or who does substantial and regular business in the region may join BMBPA. A slate of officers and 12-member board of directors oversees. operation, while seven committees work on specific projects and as liason with groups of similar businesses. Annual membership dues are $75. For more information, call John Alaimo, president, at 696-3766, or Fran Ochman, secretary, at 675- 5872. Interested in membership? See page 30 of the Back Mountain Business Book for more about BMBPA, and a membership coupon.
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