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I have had the privilege of hosting Anne Fisher-Henson as a Chamber Administrative Intern over the last year. She is a student a Dickenson College, but due to COVID-19 and remote learning, was able to devote some time to the Chamber. I have invited her to take over the column today to share with you her experience working with the Chamber. -- Rhonda Kelley, executive director of Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce
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Lemonade and fudge. A sour combination, right?
Growing up in the Juniata River Valley, there was one summer day that my sister and I tirelessly anticipated -- the McVeytown Yard Sale. Standing behind our banner-adorned booth, we became businesswomen, insured by fresh squeezed lemonade and our grandmother's famous fudge. It may not have been a five-star menu, but we advertised with matching pink T-shirts and attracted a loving crowd of friends and family -- and we enjoyed every minute.
This memory is the first of my business experiences. Although no longer dressed in an oversized apron, I have continued to pursue my interest in business development through an administrative internship with the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce. Being a rising college sophomore, this internship has complimented my educational studies while providing an in-depth understanding of the local business community.
As an organization, the Chamber's mission is to "attain economic growth and prosperity for the communities of Mifflin and Juniata Counties, on behalf of its membership." In my role at the Chamber, I have been able to contribute to this goal through marketing and account management, in support of businesses, products, and community partnerships in the Juniata River Valley. I have learned that to showcase these fundamental parts of the local economy is to champion the businessmen and women who have poured their hearts into their craft -- who don their oversized pink aprons daily to serve not lemonade, but the community.
Over the course of this internship, I have had the opportunity to interact with business professionals in various fields regionwide, often creating marketing tools for events hosted by or in partnership with these members. Additionally, through fundraising campaigns, such as the Chamber's Independence Day Fireworks fundraiser, I have been able to work with local businesses and organizations in a large scale of impact. These opportunities have become to me occasions to engage with our membership and learn more about their operations, brands, and values. With each conversation, I have gained a greater appreciation for the paths they have traveled to their current success.
From my experiences with our membership, I have also witnessed the importance of supporting new and growing initiatives within our community. Through networking events, such as the Chamber-hosted meet-up "What's Brewing," the Chamber membership has shared with one another developments within their businesses and organizations, and also collaborated in community partnerships. These events have highlighted to me the ways in which local businesses are a source of socioeconomic empowerment to our community.
From lemonade stand veterans to managerial executives, our local businessmen and women have strengthened the Juniata River Valley. As an intern at the Chamber of Commerce, I have learned the importance of supporting these businesses and organizations as key members of our community.
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Anne Fisher-Henson, a sophomore at Dickenson College, has been serving as an intern at JRVCC over the past year.