Chamber thanks Stone for leadership at February luncheon

This month, the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce started its luncheon on a bittersweet note.

For Executive Director April Stone, the Feb. 1 community luncheon was her last one at the helm of the chamber. On Friday, Jan. 26, Stone was announced as the new director of the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce. She’ll start the new position on Feb. 19.

“We want to congratulate April Stone for her five years of service today, to the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce,” said 2018 board chair Jacqueline Gardner. Over the last five years, Gardner said, the chamber has seen growth in membership and outreach opportunities. “We absolutely appreciate all of her hard work and her commitment to our chamber.”

The chamber’s board is working on transition plans, Gardner said, and planned to meet following the luncheon.

“The board and I are confident that we are prepared to continue our chamber and move forward,” Gardner said.

As Stone came forward to receive a gift from Gardner, luncheon attendees stood to give her a standing ovation.

“This has been a fantastic five years, and this has been a wonderful journey with y’all,” Stone said. “I will treasure the moments and the people, and I thank you for everything.”

The Town of Harpersville also presented Stone with a proclamation, which recognized Stone for her “immeasurable contribution” to Harpersville and the surrounding area.

As part of the regularly scheduled programming for the luncheon, the chamber heard from Jeremy Arthur, the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama.

Arthur, who formerly ran the chamber in Prattville, now represents the state’s more than 100 chambers of commerce. At this month’s luncheon, he shared several stories of how chambers around the world influenced the world around them.

Individuals such as Charles Lindbergh, Al Capone and Napolean Bonaparte had ties to chamber of commerce, Arthur said. Lindbergh maintained funding for his nonstop flight between New York and Paris through the chamber. Capone ended up in jail after the efforts of a chamber of commerce. And Napolean is credited with establishing what became the Paris Chamber of Commerce in the 1800s.

“What I want to show you is chambers of commerce have a rich history, and are willing to step outside the box,” Arthur said.

He also shared stories of how chambers of commerce hosted George Washington on a trip to Charleston, South Carolina; helped establish what evolved into the Miss America Pageant; and partook in the restoration of the Hollywood sign.

“There’s countless other examples, those are just some of the fun fact ones,” Arthur said. “… You can see a common theme here, building partnerships and linkages and making those connections together. And I would argue that we’re doing that here in Alabama through our association.”

Local chambers, he said, are where things happen and where a difference gets made. While some of the stories might seem silly or outrageous, he added, they can be community changing, and at times, nation changing.