Chamber of Commerce Facts

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Chamber of Commerce

You should know that the board of directors for the Port Mansfield Chamber of Commerce consists of all volunteers, which is something of a rarity these days. All Chamber events, including the annual fishing tournament, are also put on with volunteer labor. Volunteers are needed year-round to help with Chamber functions and we encourage anyone with the time or inclination to become actively involved in supporting Port Mansfield by becoming a Chamber volunteer. Chamber memberships for individuals are only $25 and businesses are $45.

Chamber membership dues support these and other worthwhile activities. The Chamber also seeks the active participation of local citizens in these projects. The Chamber helps local citizens to better work together to achieve goals that might otherwise not be undertaken. In 1997 there were over 140 business and individual members of the Port Mansfield Chamber of Commerce.

Do you know how much the the Port Mansfield community
benefits from the Chamber of Commerce?

Pamphlets about Port Mansfield are mailed out or faxed to persons who inquire about the town. Hundreds of potential visitors mail letters to the Chamber or call on the Chamber phone and each is provided with information about Port Mansfield.

Advertising of the community and local business members is done in various fishing magazines, tourist bureaus, and at the Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce. Hundreds of Chamber brochures are also distributed through local businesses.

III

Holiday events include providing buffet-style Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for up to 300 people, open to locals and all the out-of-town visitors. Holiday parties include New Year's Eve celebration, an Easter egg hunt, and a Halloween costume contest and children's party. These dinners and parties are free and the Chamber only requests a cash donation from those attending. Holiday bake sales, rummage and craft sales are other fundraisers that are held.

The Port Mansfield Fishing Tournament is the primary Chamber fundraiser for the year. The tournament brings many fishermen and spectators to town and receives Valley-wide television coverage which promotes Port Mansfield. Local businesses benefit from the tournament when so many people come to town. Hopefully these fishermen will return often to Port Mansfield to do their fishing. The 24th annual Port Mansfield Fishing Tournament will be in late July of 1998.

Activities for Winter Texans and locals include weekly covered dish dinners, Bingo, and exercise classes

A basketball court and lights were recently added to the Chamber-maintained Port Mansfield playground/park. The park also has a tennis court. In 1997 the park equipment was refurbished and painted.

VII

Each year the Chamber donates a $500 college scholorship to a Port Mansfield student graduating from San Perlita who excelled academically and was recommended by the school. In 1997 the Chamber also sponsored Miss Port Mansfield

VIII

Chamber funds are used to benefit the community in many ways and in 1995 included a $1,000 donation which helped allow the Port Mansfield pool to reopen after the pool had been closed for many years.

The Chamber building also serves as a Community Center and the building is available for use or rental by individuals or groups including community health fairs. It is used as the local site for voting in local, state and national elections.

In years past the Chamber paid to set up the Post Office and Library buildings and still pays the utility bills for the Library and park. The Library is open part time and is staffed by volunteers. Also, the Chamber was able to provide the street name signs in Port Mansfield with proceeds from the annual fishing tournament.

The Chamber paid for and operates the current events/notice sign outside the post office. Contact the Library or the Post Office if you wish to use the sign to publicize an event of interest to the people of Port Mansfield.

XII

The Chamber provides the 944-2222 phone number for the Port Mansfield Volunteers. This allows local volunteers to respond much faster to medical and other emergencies. The community is also part of the 911 network. In 1997 the Chamber donated almost $600 in Bingo proceeds to the Port Mansfield Volunteers.

XIII

In 1995 the Chamber helped organize a volunteer fire department and over $10,000 was raised for new fire equipment. This money came from some generous donations and the proceeds of bake sales, dinners, and rummage sales.

XIV

In 1996 a public restroom was built, in partnership with the W.C.N.D., near the Chamber-maintained playground and tennis courts.

In the funding and planning stages is a pavilion to house the fishing tournament and an internet website to promote Port Mansfield.

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