SALINA, OK — The Salina Chamber of Commerce met Thursday night in the back room of the Salina Chamber Office, the old Boys & Girls Club on Ferry Street.

The room smelled of new paint and carpet.

The Salina sign on the west end of town has been repaired. Vandals had spray-painted the sign early this summer.

The treasurer’s report was approved. There was some discussion about the phone and e-mail list for chamber members. Gail Fox, the Chamber Treasurer, said the chamber has received a number of calls about the upcoming Chouteau Days.

Stephanie Cox reported on the website and Facebook page. The website: www.salinaoklahoma.com had 1,041 unique visitors in August. The home page is the most visited, followed by information about the car show on Sept.1 and then the page about town celebrations and information.

The chamber Facebook page had nine new likes in the past month and reached 517 people. Cox said she needs help updating the website.

There was some talk about lighting for the chamber offices.

The chamber is raffling a shot gun called the Circuit Judge by Rossi firearms. In August, the chamber sold $340 worth of tickets. Total sales to that date are $2,215.00. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10. The drawing is Sept. 22.

A new plaque for the flag pole at The Paradise Tree park is ready, as well as the new sign for the Paradise Tree. The Paradise Tree was the first tree planted in what is now the state of Oklahoma. The Chamber is getting some new poles from a company in Mazie for the fence around the tree.

There was no report on Trader Days in the park by the library.

There was a report on the car show/burnout and Carl Belew Day Tribute. Expenses for the one-day event were $2,200. Receipts for the event were $4,430. This year’s car show was a success with over 100 cars participating. Acting President Morice Farr said there is a group of hot rod enthusiasts in Oklahoma City who guarantee 300 or more cars at next year’s show if they know about it in advance.  Cox said she will post notices with the OKC group next year and on TravelOK.com.

The Scarecrow contest is set for Sept. 28 and will be displayed until Oct. 6 for Chouteau Days. Set up for the scarecrows is to be no later than 9 a.m. Sept. 26. No obscene scarecrows will be allowed so no misuse of pumpkins. The winner of the contest will be given a one-year membership in the Salina Chamber. There will be a chance for people to vote for their favorite scarecrow on the Salina Chamber website.

The Coon Hunt set for Sept. 22 is expected to have 60 dogs. Concessions for the Coon Hunt will be available at the Middle School Cafeteria.

A lot of discussion at the meeting was taken up over Chouteau Day, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 6. Events that day include a parade, an archery shoot, a shotgun shoot, a costume contest, a hay bale toss, a horse shoe tournament, a hog calling contest, and a firemen’s muster contest where area firefighters compete in drills. The chamber approved $100 prizes for the winners of the archery contest, shotgun shoot and horseshoe tournament.

The chamber approved spending $100 for a crown and $100 for a head band for the winner of the Chouteau Days pageant.

The chamber may have a hot air balloon for Chouteau Days. They are awaiting word from the owner. The chamber has received $2,900 in donations for Chouteau Days and will receive a check on Sept. 10 from the Grand River Dam Authority for $1,000.

The chamber decided to have the Christmas parade Dec. 8 at 6 p.m.

Chamber member  Roger Johnson brought up the nominating committee for officers of the Chamber for 2013. The Chamber recommended nominating Roger Johnson for president, Morice Farr for vice president, Tena Pritchett for correspondence secretary, Debbie Matlock for Director 1, Diane Burns for Director 2, Gail Fox for Treasurer and Stepanie Cox for parliamentarian. These are only nominations, others can seek an officer position for next year if they are a chamber member.

Johnson requested a special meeting to go over chamber bylaws. That meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 11.

Under new business, the chamber approved a payment to Tack Designs for 12 months to maintain the chamber website. The chamber approved earmarking revenues from the car show to the general fund. The was no action on getting a new vacuum cleaner for the chamber office as one is to be donated from one of the members.