Chamber News – July 2025
Welcome —- Sillena Dixon – new to the Board from Tranquility of Rockford.
Financial Report: Available to help with financial needs for Rocktoberfest, We should finalize the sponsorship letter and mail sooner rather than later. Would someone be willing to help monitor the Chamber email — Lacey volunteered. Thanks ! Several donation requests – declined. Not Rockford Community organizations. Received Tranquility sponsorship for Car Show – thanks !
Join us — Sunday – July 20th for the Parkway Athletic Building Open house 1 pm. Ribbon cutting /
Grand opening.
All agree to purchase new tent — Kylie to check on Amazon — no tilt, with weighted bags, no need for logo, tall enough to walk under.
Will send out the Rocktoberfest sponsorship with updates — same as last year. Once we have the final copy we can get emailed. To be listed on the flyer minimum of $25 or sponsorship / Vendor Market – $25 fee.
Old Business updates:
Rocktoberfest– October 25th from noon – 4 pm – Main Street Trick or Treat 5 – 6:30 pm. Costume judging at 7 pm
Tranquility has signed up to be the Gold Sponsor for the Rocktoberfest Car show – they will organize, promote and check in cars and charge $10 per car. Will be located in front of Village Hall as in past, Sillena and Lisa will work together on flyer and dash plates. Perhaps some door prizes as well. Shelley said the FFA department could probably make the plates — Good info !
Food /Drink options – Ole 1820, Grains of Love, Tastee Twirl, Eagles, Wellness 365, RoadDog, SMILE Group, Methodist Meats – brisket / hot dogs. Fork in the Road, Wicked Wraps
Rockford Methodist — Bounce house and putt putt golf.
Vendor market — working for 40-50 vendors.
Petting zoo — a maybe. Lacey may have another contact.
Michael Myers of Decatur — Sillena will contact getting availability and pricing.
Mystery Machine — anyone know who to contact ?
Wabash Communitcations —- $250 sponsorship for Wheel game.
Washer game / something for Tweens — didn’t discuss at this meeting
Raffle/ Pie in the face – Lacey will coordinate
Face Painters — Parkway Teachers Association — will check.
Schoolhouse Farms Sponsorship —- Hay Wagon rides
Fremont Gold Sponsorship —- Rockford Catsup sales – – Lacey will coordinate pick up by Noon the day before event. (Doug Pond)
Possible —Halloween Parade route — Football field, to Main Street to Bridge street and end at Barrys’ Market / American Legion.
No Parking on Main Street – 7 am – 7 pm — need council approval.
Rockford United Methodist — has a church bus — if needed for anything – ideas ?
Chamber Cotton Candy sales —make on site.
Spooky Wheel — Deb and Ashley working on this.
Mercer Landmark parking lot — permission to use – need to ask again.
- Need some Chamber members to volunteer to help with events
More ideas and try to finalize by August 14th meeting.
Other news –
Bishop for United Methodist Church coming on Monday – July 28th -2:15 visit and prayer – all are welcome.
Chamber working on getting more new businesses? We do our best to support our businesses but since we are volunteers we don’t have someone to go out and drum up new businesses. Mayor Searight has been talking to some potentials on behalf of the Village.
Makers Market Holiday Bazaar-– November 23rd
- Grid/section park for decorations
- Live Nativity
- Light parade
- Carriage rides –
New Business –
Mercer County Leadership program — Ashley Stetler !
Nomination coming in for Citizen of the Year / Business of the Year – deadline July 31st — Will send list of nominations before the next meeting.
