Even after 120 years, the Warren County-Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce still strives to improve the quality of life in the community.

But still, they’re looking to do more with more, and that’s why they’re extending an open invitation for membership.

The Chamber will hold its annual membership drive Tuesday at the Chamber of Commerce building, 2020 Mission 66, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., said Maggie Dimmette, a chamber member who is on the membership drive committee.

“This year, the event will be staged as a telethon,” she said. “We are attempting to crate an air of excitement or urgency to join.”

Chamber members will be set up at work stations making calls to prospective members throughout the day, Dimmette said.

“When a caller gets a commitment we will sound a horn and throw streamers. At that time a runner will take balloons and a goodie bag to the business,” she said. “All new businesses will be photographed and featured in November’s Chamber newsletter.”

Chamber Executive Director Jane Flowers said there are numerous benefits to joining the organizations beyond the luncheons and business after hours events.

“When I came in I started trying to really promote members,” she said. “This is a membership organization. Our revenue is from membership, so the more members we have the more we can do to promote members.”

Recently, a member offered a customer service training program for members, one in a series of informational programming for the business community, Flowers said.

“Right now we have the Leadership Vicksburg class we’re trying to revamp,” she said. “You’ve got to be united and you’ve got to know each other. It is important to have relationships in order to do business with others.”

Flowers said even if business people weren’t able to take advantage of things like the luncheons and seminars provided by the organization, they should still join to support Vicksburg.

The chamber is a vessel for its members in promoting the community through their education initiative The Leader In Me and their work to attract new businesses and residents to the community through programs like the Certified Retirement Community and Vicksburg Young Professionals.

The chamber also rewards outstanding businesses with awards and special recognitions like You Caught My Eye, and it welcomes new individuals to town with welcome baskets filled with promotions from chamber businesses.

“We need all hands on deck as we promote our community,” she said. “This community is what we make it. We have a lot of great things going on in Vicksburg, and the chamber helps promote those things.”

For more information, call the chamber office at 601-636-1012.