What has the Bamberg County Chamber of Commerce been up to lately?

The Chamber is working to bring tourists into our area by sponsoring and co-sponsoring events that are entertaining and appealing not only to our residents but also those living in surrounding counties. The Chamber’s 2009 Christmas Tour of Homes gave participants a chance to tour homes ranging from a 150-year-old plantation home to a rustic cabin. The 2010 edition of the Christmas Tour of Homes will be on December 11th. This year’s tour will hopefully bring even more visitors into Bamberg County. Please contact the Chamber if you are interested in having your home on this years tour.

In 2010 The Chamber has worked closely with Salkehatchie Stew: Bamberg County's Brew in the planning of their three events held in March and April. The Brew’s activities included a Low Country Boil in Bamberg followed by a whole day of storytelling in Denmark the next day. April brought a Yard and Porch Tour that carried participants to some of the most scenic yards and porches the county has to offer. The Chamber is involved in the planning of The Historic Society's Julius Daniels Memorial Blues Festival that will be held on October 23rd in Denmark. The Julius Daniels Blues Festival should bring in a number of tourists each year. The Chamber is interested in partnering with other groups to promote tourism in Bamberg County.

The Chamber sponsors The Citizen of the Year Banquet in October when we recognize a fellow Bamberg County citizen for what they have done to help make Bamberg County what it is today. This year will mark the first year of the Emma Ruth Dowling Unity Award which will recognize a Bamberg County resident who seeks to foster a more unified community and is committed to making Bamberg County a place where diverse people work together to solve community problems.

The Chamber has raised money for MAMAS Animal Shelter and plans to assist other charitable organizations in the future. The Chamber is looking at sponsoring a yard sale or auction to raise money for charitable groups serving the citizens of Bamberg County.

The Chamber provides an on-line business directory for member and non-member businesses. This free listing on the Chamber’s website will provide more exposure to potential customers and consumers will be able to find the goods and services they need right here in Bamberg County.

I am very proud of what the Chamber has accomplished in the last couple of years, but I know we can do more. And we will. Or I should say we will if we can continue to count on the support of businesses like the advertisers that sponsor this Back Page each month and the other businesses that make their annual investment in the Chamber each year. By joining the Chamber you’ll be supporting all the activities mention above. Increased membership will allow the Chamber to support and sponsor even more events each year.

Jerry Bell, Co-President, Bamberg County Chamber of Commerce

ABCTE's Teach & Inspire Scholarship

ABCTE will be in Bamberg on Wednesday, September 1 to share information and to answer questions about its Teach & Inspire Scholarship Program. The event is free and lasts about an hour.

These one hour sessions will be held at Bamberg County City Hall on 2340 main Highway beginning at 5.30 pm, 6.30 pm, and 7.30 pm. Anyone interested in attending can register here.

ABCTE's Teach & Inspire Scholarship Program is funded by a U.S. Department of Education Transition to Teaching grant and is designed to recruit and prepare highly-qualified individuals to teach in high-need South Carolina schools in the subjects of math, science and English. Teach & Inspire provides accepted participants with a full scholarship and materials needed to become certified teachers through the ABCTE program. Once ABCTE teaching certification is obtained, candidates are eligible for an additional $1,000 stipend for completing classroom observations.