J. P. Moran Design, Inc.

FC Chamber celebrates 100th Anniversary

Kim Egan
Communications Coordinator
225 S. Meldrum
Ft. Collins, CO 80521

The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce officially turns 100 on Sept. 28, 2004. But, the celebration begins on Feb. 5 at the Chamber’s 99th Annual Dinner banquet (5 to 9 p.m. at the Fort Collins Marriott hotel).

More than 400 members and guests will attend the special event, making it one of the organization’s biggest events of the year.

“Video footage, music, stories and costumes are just a few of the elements that will make guests feel like they are walking through 100 years of business in Fort Collins,” said Events Manager Shasti Bagley, “The event will have a nostalgic ambiance that will take guests back to the ‘olden days of Fort Collins’.”

VESTIGE PRESS, a local company that specializes in restoring and preserving historical photography, will display turn of the century photography and video for members and guests. The Poudre River Irregulars, sponsored by the Northern Colorado Traditional Jazz Society, will add to the setting by playing music from the early 1900’s.

The event is not just to celebrate the Chamber’s 100 years of service to Fort Collins businesses, it will also recognize the dozens of volunteers who support the organization’s many programs and who work hard to make them successful.

In addition, a summary of 2003 accomplishments and a preview of what’s to come in 2004 are also planned. Finally, the prestigious Collins Award, an honor recognizing one local citizen for their long-term contributions and accomplishments in Fort Collins, will be unveiled.

While the Annual Dinner banquet will kick off the year’s festivities, the Chamber’s 100th Year Anniversary Committee has been busy planning events, communications and other surprises for the year.

Committee members, Tad Osborn (Infinet Consulting) and J. Patrick Moran (J.P. Moran Design, Inc.) created a Web site at www.fcchamberanniversary.org that provides a Decade at a Glance timeline of business in Fort Collins, special 2004 Chamber events, opportunities to submit historical information to the Committee and links to purchase a special commemorative book.

In 2004 only, the very popular monthly Business After Hours events will each celebrate a decade with costumes and other historical elements unique to the period.

A Gala event will be held in September that will officially celebrate the Chamber’s 100th anniversary. Date, location and time details have yet to be announced.

VESTIGE PRESS and the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to offer Fort Collins community members a commemorative publication that will highlight Fort Collins over the past 100 years through historical photography.

“I am very excited to be a part of this project and be able to give Fort Collins residents a look into the past with a beautiful, collector-style publication,” said Bill Schneider, VESTIGE PRESS owner. “Now folks will have something that commemorates Fort Collins and that they can pass down to their children – to be preserved for generations to come.”

The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce is a business and community leader in the areas of community betterment, economic development and political advocacy and will continue to offer services to businesses for the next 100 years.