It was a look to the future Thursday as South Fulton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Leslie Hamrick provided a glimpse of the organization’s plans at the Annual Meeting and Luncheon at Georgia International Convention Center.

Perhaps the most ambitious plan for 2007 will be the undertaking of the South Fulton Strategic Plan. Now in its infancy, the process to begin is underway, with all cities expected to have committed to participating by Feb. 2, Hamrick said. We want to see where South Fulton wants to go, she said. The strategic plan process will take months to complete and will involve community leaders from across south Fulton.

The chamber also plans to set a course that will impact test and graduation scores for south Fulton school students. A 50 percent graduation rate in not acceptable, Hamrick said. Scores show that a main need area are those in Science, she said. Hamrick said the chamber will begin a partnership between schools and small business to address the challenge.

Of significance during 2006 was the addition of 157 new chamber members, Hamrick said. The organization expects to double that figure in 2007 along with increasing networking opportunities and enhancing the chamber’s image. Complementing those plans is a new chamber directory that will be available in late January.

Hamrick said the chamber is keeping abreast of the changing geopolitical climate in south Fulton as it relates to the recent annexations and the upcoming vote to create the cities of South Fulton and Chattahoochee Hills.

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