Mardi Gras At The Chamber Mixer

If fun, fellowship, and great food is something you enjoy then this past Chamber networking event was something you would not have wanted to miss.

Sponsored by the Bryant Conference Center and Hotel Capstone the November 'Chamber Connects' networking event was one of the best Mardi Gras parties this year.

Just take a look at the fun some of our board members had at the picture booth. Join us for our next event at IO Metro on December 8.

The Women in Business Council hosts the 4th Annual Sweet Escape

The Women in Business Council will present the 4th Annual Sweet Escape on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Jemison Van de Graaff Mansion. We invite you to join us again for a night of pampering, shopping, chocolate and more--all in one place!

Guests will find many special treats as well as Christmas gift giving or getting ideas from local vendors.

Admission charge will be $10 at the door, plus a new toy or cash donation for the U.S. Marines 'Toys for Tots' campaign overseen by our local Salvation Army. You will receive one raffle ticket with admission and additional raffle tickets will be sold at the door for $5 each or 3 for $10.

City Seeks Input From Business Community

The City of Tuscaloosa is studying the possibility of restructuring the current Department of Planning and Economic Development.

The concept includes the creation of a new Development Services Center which will focus on a "one stop" permitting approach. The plan also calls for the centralization of City departments to help with key business development issues and opportunities.

Mayor Maddox and City staff are asking for your comments and suggestions. Please CLICK HERE to view the presentation on the proposed changes and email your suggestions to the address indicated on the last slide.

Civic Hall of Fame Inducted 2009 Honorees

Five exceptional citizens were inducted as 2009 honorees for the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame on November 12th at the Hotel Capstone. Join us in recognizing the following for their great accomplishments:

Star Kilstein Bloom (1939 – present). One of Tuscaloosa County’s most active civic, educational and volunteer leaders, Star Bloom has dedicated most of her adult life working to build quality education and meet social needs within the community. She has made a significant contribution through a broad array of civic, educational and community roles and organizations, including Tuscaloosa County High School Foundation, Challenge 21, The University of Alabama’s Integrated Science Program and the Co-Director of The University’s Center For Communications and Educational Technology, Baby Talk, as a founding member of Tuscaloosa’s One Place, and a host of other meaningful leadership roles.

Albert Dawson Christian, Sr. (1917 – present). One of Northport’s leading citizens and for many years, Dawson Christian has engraved his name on the quality and development of Tuscaloosa County in many ways. Since the early 1950’s, he has contributed tirelessly to the community through a variety of civic organizations and community endeavors, including the Northport Lions Club, serving as their first president; the Alabama Lions Sight Conservation, Easter Seals of West Alabama, member of the Northport City Council and the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education, St. Mark United Methodist Church, and many others. Recognized for his civic and community service, he is a recipient of the
Northport Citizen of the Year honor.

Joseph A. Duckworth (1880 – 1976). If you look back in the history of Tuscaloosa, you will see the handprints of Joe Duckworth on many significant economic, civic and community initiatives and lasting successes. Founder of the Duckworth-Morris Insurance Agency, Mr. Duckworth was a visionary business leader, later forming the Tuscaloosa Building & Loan Association, forerunner to First Federal Savings and Loan, serving as President and Chairman. In addition, he made a lasting impact through many other leadership roles including: serving as Chairman and a member of the Druid City Hospital Board and is recognized as one of the developers of the hospital; President of the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa, and the Alabama Association of Insurance Agents; a leader in the First United Methodist Church, and a variety of other important leadership roles. He was the Tuscaloosa Citizen of the Year in 1953 and played a key role in securing a hotel for Downtown Tuscaloosa.

Benjamin Belton Fields (1925 – 2009). Long-time county extension service leader, Ben Fields touched the lives of many citizens through his professional, civic, community and religious life in Tuscaloosa County. Involved in a myriad of service roles during his lifetime, he was an active leader the Boy Scouts Board of Directors, Benjamin Barnes Branch and the Metropolitan Board of Directors, the Tuscaloosa Opportunity Board, later to become Community Services of West Alabama, United Way, Kiwanis Club, Family Counseling Services, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, First African Baptist Church, and a variety of other initiatives designed to improve the lives of people in the community. Recipient of many honors and awards, he received the Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents’ highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award in 1984.

Johnnie R. Aycock (1945 – present). One of Alabama’s most respected and effective chamber of commerce executives, Johnnie Aycock has served the community as President & CEO of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama for almost 27 years, contributing in significant ways to economic and business development, education, cultural development, leadership development, racial harmony, livability, and other aspects of Tuscaloosa County that have far exceeded the traditional role of a Chamber executive. He has been an active, creative leader working to build a quality community through a diverse menu of organizations and initiatives, some of which he provided leadership to establish, including: Leadership Tuscaloosa, Adopt A School, Literacy Council of West Alabama, Center For Workforce Development, West Alabama Leadership Prayer Breakfast, Challenge 21, Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa, Chamber of Commerce of Alabama, for which he was named Alabama’s Chamber Executive of the Year in 2003, Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, Alabama Citizens For Constitutional Reform, Calvary Baptist Church, and many others.