Moody Area Chamber of Commerce High School Ambassadors launched the 2015-2016 year with a trip down the Little Cahaba River.

The Moody Area Chamber of Commerce High School Ambassadors kicked off their 2015-2016 schedule with a Canoe Trip down the Little Cahaba earlier this month.

The three-hour educational tour through the Cahaba River Society was led by Education Director Gordon Black. Students learned about different species that reside in the river, including endangered species only present there. The Little Cahaba is one of the most diverse rivers in North America, and the group looked for quiet life in the waters, turning over logs, looking under rocks and used charts to identify each form of life. They also had to work as a team to catch fish with their feet and usher them into a net.

Since Moody gets their water from this river, this event was especially interesting. After having lunch on the river, the group headed back.

Ambassadors who participated in this tour included Trakelia Hood, Wynter Burlock, Amanda Carpenter, Rachel Watts, Evan McCrary and Chandler Howard, accompanied by Executive Director, Andrea Machen, and Board Member, Brent Earnest of Chick-fil-A.

Each year, the MACC Ambassadors spend volunteer hours each month learning about the Moody Area Chamber of Commerce and how it supports our local businesses and community.

The Ambassadors work at least one monthly Chamber luncheon, help with Oktoberfest in October as well as help with the Christmas Parade in December.

During the school year, they take field trips to visit a different business each month to learn more about free enterprise and what it takes to run a company. These monthly field trips educate our young people on the types of career opportunities that are available right here in the greater Moody area. The knowledge they gain from their experiences encourage them to return after college or technical school to bring their skills home and work in our local business community.

This year, the tentative schedule for MACC Ambassadors include a tour of Bag Supply Company, LeHigh Cement Company, Moody Sewer Plant, Guarantee Labels, a Medical Road Trip with the tour of a dental, physical therapy and eye care office. They will also tour the Chick-fil-A headquarters in Atlanta, attend a Moody City Council meeting and Moody Municipal Court.

The 2015-2016 MACC High School Ambassadors include Brett Staggs, Danielle Spiker, Trevor Webster, Haleigh Freeman, Evan McCrary, Madison Daniell, Rachel Watts, Trakelia Hood, Chandler Howard, Wynter Burlock and Amanda Carpenter.

This program is open to any junior or senior who lives in the city of Moody. The students make application each April and go through a strict interview process. A student may fulfill the role of a MACC Ambassador both their junior and senior year, but must make application and go through the interview process each year to be selected.

As well as the hands-on experiences that the Ambassadors enjoy, they may also make application for the Moody Ambassador Scholarship of $1000 which is awarded to one of the deserving students in May. Last year, Anna Caroline Adkins was the recipient of the MACC Scholarship.

The MACC High School Ambassador Program is just one of the programs provided by the Moody Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber also provides regular business networking opportunities to bring area business professionals together to meet, develop relationships and encourage doing business with each other. A monthly Chamber luncheon is scheduled on the second Thursday of each month and opportunities exist for Chamber Members to host an After Hours to showcase their business while meeting other business professionals.

The Chamber also hosts ribbon cuttings for new Members. Being a Member of the Chamber of Commerce helps strengthen your community as well as give you the ability to showcase your business, if you have a company, product or service you would like to promote. You do not have to be part of a business to be a Chamber Member. Many individuals are Chamber Members as well as business professionals.

The Chamber also works with the City Officials and the St. Clair Economic Development Council to attract new businesses to our community while making it a top priority to encourage Members to do business with one another. The Chamber refers dozens of inquiries on a regular basis about where to purchase services from Chamber Members by telephone, e-mail and walk-in requests.

One of the major events hosted by the Chamber is Oktoberfest which is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2015. The Chamber Staff and Board Members are busy right now planning this year’s festival and have a lot of exciting activities and entertainment in the works. Craft/vendor booths and sponsorships are currently available.

Another main event hosted by the Chamber is a spring golf tournament. Memberships, sponsorships and events provide the funding necessary for the Chamber to support local business, provide the MACC Ambassador program and other programs that support the greater Moody community.

For more information about the Moody Area Chamber of Commerce and the MACC High School Ambassador Program, please contact Andrea Machen, Executive Director, at 205.640.6262 or email to chamber@moodyalabama.gov. Also, visit their website at www.MoodyAlChamber.com.