The Walton County Chamber of Commerce Foundation has been incorporated and the appropriate paperwork has been submitted to the Internal Revenue Service to obtain tax-exempt status for the Foundation. The initial Board of Directors for the Foundation are: Connie McFarland (Seaside), President; Deloria Connor (First Union Bank), Treasurer; Allan Ramey, Attorney; Mike Richards (CHELCO); and Jewell Rushing (Associated Land Title).

"Our immediate goal, once we receive approval on our tax-exempt status back from the IRS, is to begin the fund raising for our new Chamber building," said Board President Connie McFarland. "We have a Marketing Committee in place working to create the materials our volunteers will be using to ask for contributions from the community. We are very excited to be moving forward on this important project for the Chamber.

The Foundation's Marketing Committee is being lead by Alvin Bettcher (Seaside); committee members are Teresa Corbin (Hilton Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort), Jim Jarvis (The Walton Sun), Kathy Morrow (CHELCO), Karen Terrell (Sandestin Resorts) and Myra Williams (Silver Sands Factory Stores).

The theme for the fund raising campaign is "Vision Walton", encouraging community leaders to focus on the future of Walton County and the Chamber's important role in it.

The Chamber wishes to thank David Holder and Craig Robinson for all their work in preparing and filing the papers to start our Foundation, and to our members who have agreed to serve in leadership capacities guiding the Foundation as it develops.