Monongahela chamber hosts successful in-person meeting

By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com

The Monongahela Area Chamber of Commerce held its first in-person meeting in over a year Wednesday, and its staff is hopeful future meetings will only get bigger.
According to the chamber’s Executive Director Dorothea Pemberton, 35 members attended Wednesday’s networking meeting at Rippel’s on the Creek. She said about a third of those in attendance were new members.
She said with 17 new members who have joined in recent months, the chamber’s membership is at an all-time high with 173 members.
“It was a great mix,” Pemberton said after the meeting. “We’re super excited to have some normalcy again. It was great to network with our membership.
“Our meeting Wednesday was strictly a networking meeting. Everyone got to meet each other. It was just nice to get reconnected with people.”
Pemberton said the chamber hasn’t met in person since March of last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the chamber met virtually and scaled down its meetings.
“We were responsible and wore masks and sanitized our conference room,” she said. “We’ve kept our doors open this whole time. I think COVID gave people more insight about what’s important to them.”
Wednesday’s meeting was another sign the chamber is returning to normal.
Pemberton said the chamber is looking forward to holding its popular Fleatique on the Mon event June 5 as well as its July 4 EQT fireworks display.
She also anticipates more people attending future meetings.
“I’m hoping that as each month goes along and the state lifts limitations, we’ll be back to full capacity and that will be wonderful,” she said.
She’s also not surprised at the success of the chamber.
“Everybody knows our chamber works with not only our businesses but also with our community,” she said. “They all know we have to work together. Our town is shining. We’re getting along with the city leaders and for the most part we work together for the common goal. Our doors are always open.”
The chamber’s next meeting is June 10 at Ripepi Winery and Vineyard. For more information, contact the chamber at 724-258-5919 or visit www.monongahelaareachamber.org.