President Kristin Keller welcomed all to the meeting at Palmera Inn and Suites
Kevin Courtney offer the prayer and led the pledge to the flag
 
Announcements:
Run with Bernie is under way - contact Suzi Oliver to be on the team
 
Past President Lynn King recognized Dave Pierce by presenting him with a pin celebrating 52 years of 100% attendance (btw, Dave has already achieved 53).  Congratulations Dave!!
 
Lynn King, filling in for SAA Suzi Oliver, collected Happy $$ 
 
Speaker:
Charlie Clark from the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce was the speaker and updated us on what is happening on the Island and with the Chamber.
Our Chamber has 1,350+ members and has been name the National Chamber of the Year three times and is in the running again this year.  It is a 5 Star Accredited Chamber and is Accredited by Destinations International. We are safely getting back after Covid with many people coming to the island and then not leaving. Working remotely and schooling remotely has made that possible. Rates at hotels are up, with post pandemic 2021 rates up 19% over pre-pandemic rates (up 14% over 2020 rates). The Chamber is often asked who funds the island's marketing - it is not funded by property tax so residents are not doing the funding, but it is funded by tourists through the charging of the hospitality tax.  Data is tracked which tells where the visitor has been, how they got here and where they are going.  Visitors are comprised of 67.4% women, 32.6% men, 76.7% are married with income of $150K+, 59% have an undergraduate or higher degree, stay for an average of 7 nights and make 2 - 4 trips per year.  The Chamber gets 3.4 million visitors to their website per year. They make use of paid media partnerships as well as keep our town in front of travelers using various media like msn, Forbes, Today, Garden & Gun, Mens Journal, the knot, Travel & Leisure, etc. Charlie showed a video of  a segment of the 3rd hour of Today show which featured Hilton Head.  The awards that the Chamber receives, which are many are people - generated.  Visit hiltonheadisland.org for more info about our paradise island.