Published January 2002

Mukilteo group shares laughs, community focus

By Kimberly Hilden
Herald Business Journal Assistant Editor

At a recent membership meeting of the Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce, there was a report on a board meeting, an update on the holiday festival and a vote on new officers. But before the attendees sat down for breakfast, and while they introduced themselves with a roving microphone, there was laughter and good-natured ribbing.

And when it was announced that the chamber had donated $1,000 to the Mukilteo Food Bank and had given two $1,000 scholarships to Kamiak High School students, there was applause.

That’s because, according to new President Frank Foster, the 120 or so members of the Mukilteo chamber make up “a group of people who enjoy one another’s company but are willing to roll up their sleeves and help their community when needed or asked.”

The chamber’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is an example of the group’s commitment to community.

The tree lighting, which was held Dec. 1 at Rosehill Community Center, includes a visit from Santa Claus, entertainment from local schools and groups, and coffee, hot cider and cookies. The free event also collected food donations from the public for the local food bank.

“I think we’ve adopted the idea that this is our gift to the city,” said Gail Painter, Director of Special Projects for the chamber.

Four years ago, the chamber made another community gift of sorts by “adopting” USS Rodney M. Davis, a frigate docked in Everett.

The relationship has included sending care packages to sailors when the ship is out to sea, preparing homecoming parties when it arrives back and just trying to make the crew feel “welcome,” said Pam Glasco, Administrative Assistant. The chamber also selects a Sailor of the Year.

To help pay for such activities, the chamber runs the Beverage Garden at the Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival and sells limited-edition posters the chamber commissions every couple of years.

Along with community quality-of-life issues, the chamber is dedicated to Mukilteo’s economic development.

Its Government/Business Affairs Committee, led by Dennis Vrabek, has testified in favor of proposed waterfront development and has spoken out against increases in city business taxes — issues that directly affect the local business climate.

An economic development goal the chamber has for 2002 is to increase Mukilteo’s tourism.

With the help of Painter, owner of Global Travel, the chamber is working to bring members of the tourism industry to town, to “take a look at what we have to offer,” Foster said.

“The ripple effect of that will be to help the businesses in downtown and also let people that kind of pass through and say, ‘Oh, you’re the stop off to the ferry,’ see that we have more to offer than that,” Foster said.

The chamber meets at 7:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month at The Pointe Restaurant in Mukilteo. For more information, visit the chamber online at www.mukilteo.org.

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