Karen Clendenen Stays at Helm of Chamber Board
by Ruth Lepper

2004 Chamber Directors and Officers attend their annual Chamber Retreat at the Salvation Army. Front, left to right: Executive Director Sharon Anderson, Directors Josepha Hegan, Karen Clendenen and Sharon Davis. Middle, left to right: Dave Smithley, Jo Fox, Jeff Ruland, Bryan Woods, George Romero, Bill Jenkin. Back, left to right: Dan Vengler, Randy Waitman, Chuck Demund, Scott Field, Patrick Meskell.

Karen Clendenen will continue as president of Ramona Chamber of Commerce for the second year, working to complete the goals she has set in motion.

She was installed by county Super-visor Dianne Jacob at the annual ceremony on Jan. 16 at the San Vicente Country Club.

"We’re really hoping our chamber will be the place people will come to — an information center, one total information center that would be for the business community as well as just total information," Clendenen said in an earlier interview.

She is joined on the chamber board by vice presidents Chuck DeMund and Bill Jenkin, secretary Sharon Davis, treasurer Patrick Meskell and directors Bryan Woods, Dan Vengler, Jeff Ruland, Dave Smithley, Jo Fox, Scott Field, Randy Waitman, Josepha Hegan, George Romero and Carol Fowler.

Comedian Erath, doing what he does best and telling a joke to Jeff Uran, Darrel Kinney and John Harmes.

Sharing the honor of Citizen of the Year 2003 were Jo Fox and Dave Smithley.

"The committee found it to be a tough decision,’ said Woods, who served as master of ceremonies for the evening.

Fox has been active as a chamber ambassador for several years and has been on the chamber’s board of directors for one year. A part-time real estate agent, Fox has lived in Ramona since 1972.

She has served on several committees for the chamber, including the fair, rodeo, business expo, antique and wine festival, air show and tree lighting.

Vince Franano and Tony Montegna from Main Street Auto watch a presentation while waiting patiently for their dinner.

Smithley is store director of Albertsons supermarket, transferring to the Ramona store when it opened 10 years ago. He has been with Albertsons for 24 years.

After moving here from Orange County, Smithley became active with the chamber and other community groups. He is starting his seventh year on the chamber board of directors and is chairman of the monthly mixers. He also served on the chamber’s fair, rodeo, golf tournament and tree-lighting committees.

Smithley was a trustee for the Boys & Girls Club of Ramona for four years and has been a member of Rotary Inter-national for one year.

Chamber directors Dan Vengler and Jeff Agnew made the selection for the Citizen of the Year 2003 awards.

Bryan Woods joking with 2003 Citizens of the Year, Jo Fox and Dave Smithley. Left to right: Dan Vengler, Jo Fox, Dave Smithley and Bryan Woods.

Others nominated for the honor were Elyse Kuhn, Joan Gansert, Bill Jenkin, Charlotte Jensen, Kathy Brumfield, John Jones, Cherri Frazier and Karen Clendenen.

The Ambassador of the Year award was presented to Charlotte Jensen.

Retiring directors Kimberly Brock, Jeff Agnew and Kent Taylor were recognized for their service to the chamber.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by singer-songwriter Glenn Erath, who composed several songs specific to the Ramona community and local merchants.

Left to right: Becky Elliot, Sharon Anderson and Ramona Valencia join in the fun.

Photographer Forrest Letzring presented a slide and video show, highlighting the year in review. Prominent in his presentation were photographs of the Cedar fire, the Antique & Wine Festival’s grape stomp and the golf tournament.

Left to right: Jeff Uran, Ellie Whitcomb, Elyse & Bernie Kuhn.

Joe Browning from Congress-man Duncan Hunter’s office presents Congressional Recognition award to Karen Clendenen.