What can the Marion Chamber of Commerce do for you?

• Members are listed in the Marion Visitor’s Guide/Chamber of Commerce Member Directory, 5000 copies of which are printed annually.
• This directory is also on the city’s website and on the Marion County Economic Development Council's website which lists all businesses in the county. If you consider your $200 dues as advertising expense, this brochure alone, in it’s printed form alone, figures out to just four cents per ad.
• Members may participate in the Chamber Gift Check Program, part of our “Shop at Home” program. There were $8,900 in Chamber Gift Checks in circulation this past holiday season.
• Members may participate in the Welcome Bag Program, for new residents, visitors & promotions. Welcome bags are stocked at area lakes, all spring and summer.  An average of 50 bags per week is distributed at Marion Reservoir, alone, throughout the camping season.

What do your dues help Marion Chamber of Commerce accomplish?

• We constantly promote Marion, to encourage visitors, new residents, and new businesses to come here.
• We help with cleanup & maintenance efforts around Luta Creek, Central Park, and the lakes.
• We work with the city to organize and update area billboard advertising.
• We attend promotional events throughout the year, to promote Marion to visitors and businesses.
• We promote the Marion City Library, located in our historic Santa Fe Depot.
• We promote the Marion Historical Museum, located in a historic church.
• We promote the CCC Statue, the historic tour, and the museum at our historic county lake.
• We continue membership with South Central Kansas Tourism Region (SCKTR).
• We continue membership with the Kansas Sampler Foundation.
• We network with the state and fellow communities, to promote tourism & economic development.
• We send information packets, when requested. We try to go above & beyond to help answer questions.  
• We stock brochures at points of interest in Marion, and at various locations around Kansas.
• We advertise and promote Marion in various periodicals, and on the radio.
• We help promote Chingawassa Days, Art in the Park, and Old Settler’s Day.
• We publish a monthly newsletter, and will gladly include your business information.        
• We host our Annual School Breakfast, to welcome returning and new USD 408 employees.
• We coordinate monthly luncheon business meetings for our members and guests.
• We update the Community Sign, as needed, and help fund repairs to the sign.
• We organize Santa’s visit downtown each December, and we replaced his house in 2003.
• We organize Retail Sales promotions and events, to attract shoppers and visitors.
• We host our Annual Dinner in January, for members and guests.
• We host our Annual Legislative Coffee in the spring, which is open to the public.
• We host our Annual Farm/City Banquet in November, to show appreciation for our farmers.
• We promote “Shop at Home,” at every opportunity possible.
• We provide Welcome Flags and American Flags for Main Street, and install as needed.
• We promote to tour groups, and host such groups and organizations, when visiting Marion.
• We work with the Corps of Engineers at Marion Reservoir to promote Marion to campers.
• We work with Marion County Park and Lake to promote Marion to campers & visitors.
• We present First Dollar Profit plaques and organize Ribbon Cuttings for new businesses.
• We work with Marion County Economic Development Council on various projects.
• We work with and partner with Communities in Schools on various projects.
• We help with funding, organizing and completing beautification projects in Marion.
• We help host and fund tours of our community, for Marion Elementary School classes.
• We act as the contact office for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner, the Community Christmas Program, Chingawassa Days, etc.

Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

President Don Noller

Vice President Melissa Parmley

Secretary Kevin Fruechting

Treasurer Gene Winkler

Margo Yates, Executive Secretary

Other Board Members: Woody Crawshaw Jr., Linda Carlson, Chris Costello, Laura Legg and Steve Wear.

For more information, contact
Margo Yates

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Ms. Yates has regular office hours at the Chamber of Commerce office at 203 N. Third Street in Marion, Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.  You can call the Chamber of Commerce office at 620-382-3425 to speak with her or to set up an appointment to visit with her.

You may also contact her by email at chinga@eaglecom.net