With a few minor bumps in the road, the Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce has continued day-to-day operations with the help of its board of directors and one member pitching in to run the office.
Board members had to cover when Executive Director Bonnie Patton suffered a massive heart attack on December 4.
“Rose Black stepped up and has been doing a great job,” said Chamber President Jim Phillips. “She was the one most familiar with the daily operations.”
Learning as they went, Phillips said the winter months slows things down and that helped to make it easier.
“Things fell together, but Bonnie knows how to make it all work,” he said.
Things for the Chamber get busier in the spring and summer months and currently the organization is planning its annual dinner scheduled for Thursday, April 24th.
“It will be nice to get Bonnie back as we enter the warm weather months and our calendar of events” Phillips told The Daily Herald.
Phillips, entering his second year as president, said the Chamber continues to work to increase its membership and is pleased with the new businesses in downtown Tyrone. Behind the scenes, the chamber is working on new welcoming packages for businesses, and people in general, that are moving into town.
Meanwhile, Patton is recovering from her heart attack and attending rehab three times a week at Bon Secours Holy Family Hospital in Altoona.
“I’m feeling better and I’m blessed and pleased every morning I wake up” Patton said this morning, noting that she spent seven and a half days in intensive care following what doctors are calling a stress induced heart attack. “It was very touch and go during this seven days.”
Now, three days a week, she exercises on six different machines and then walks in between, all at Bon Secours Joly Family Medical Hospital. She admits that she’s tired when she finishes.
Doctors will reevaluate her condition on April 8 to see what damage is done to her heart, and then a decision will be made on her return to her position at the Chamber of Commerce.
“I miss all the people, and I’ve gotten more than one hundred cards, flowers and actual gifts,” she said. “Thank you to everyone.”
Although no exact date has been set on her return, she’s hoping that she receives a good report and possibly return to her position in late April or early May. During her recovery Patton has kept in close contact with Black in helping to make the office continue to run.
“That office has been in good hands with Rose,” said Patton.
The Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce continues to be focused on the future of Tyrone and represents all types of businesses to promote increased business through activities based on enlightened selfishness, which at the same time, benefits the entire community. The goals can only be reached by a unified effort through the chamber as it has proven during this recent crisis.
Black will continue to run the office, and in a few months, the smiling face of Patton will great you through the window as she once again returns to a job that she loves
