In The News

The Bethel Business Association holds an annual fund raising luncheon each year to generate money for the association. This year the BBA luncheon will be held beginning 11:30 a.m. March 7 at Grant Career Center.

As in year’s past the BBA has an invited guest speaker and this year it has invited US Representative Dr. Brad Wenstrup.

“I am absolutely ecstatic about it,” BBA President Mike Salvatore said, “I was the one who actually sent off an email to his field rep, Jeff Uckotter, and really didn’t expect a response. I know he is a busy man and things are booked off far in advance. It was a shot in the dark and I didn’t expect a commitment and kind of left it open ended that maybe he could have a Senior Aide come and represent him. But I think it was maybe a day and half later he accepted and said he was looking forward to attending.”

In addition to being the guest speaker at the event, Dr. Wenstrup asked if he could do a question and answer session with those an attendance as well. Salvatore told Wenstrup it was up to him and his staff if they wanted to have the session.

Salvatore thinks the Congressmen will be a bigger draw than some have been in year’s past because everyone knows who he is and what he does.

“Now I could be wrong, but I am really expecting a much bigger turn out than last year,” Salvatore said. “I think because he is our local Congressmen and the fact he was a practicing physician here locally we are his base. I think he has a tremendous and of support in this area and those two things will draw more people in. We are open to both business members and the general public.”

Wenstrep is more than excited to come speak to business owners and community members in Bethel. The Congressmen was in Georgetown for the annual Chamber Breakfast on Jan. 25. He said he was looking forward to “preaching to the choir”of small business owners.

“In Bethel or anywhere in the district really, even today (Jan. 25) being here with small business owners and having been a small business owner, it’s kind of fun to come back,” Wenstrup said. “I really preaching to the choir and understand the challenges that businesses are facing. A lot of that has to do with regulations that come out of Washington that I would like to try to remove, unfortunately, a lot of them come from agencies that consist of people who are not elected. We try to slow them down. I’d like to see a trend in Washington where the people are represented again and that regulation come out of legislation and not out of agencies. I am looking forward to it, we will give a Washington update and the topic of regulations and the effects they have had on small businesses and what we can do to try to unburden our businesses to flourish.”

Wenstrup, who had originally been scheduled to be in Washington on Jan. 25, avoided the trip back because of the blizzard in the Beltway. He said he spends his weekends away from Washington at his home in Anderson Township.

“I like working in Washington, but I don’t like living in Washington,” Wenstrup said. “That’s why I come home every weekend. I was supposed to be in Washington today, but the snow in Washington prevented that. I am glad I’m not there.”

The annual event this year will be catered by Grant Career Center according to Salvatore.

Tickets are available at 305 W Plane Street in Bethel. Reservations are required for this event and the deadline to order tickets is Feb. 29.The cost is $12 for members and $18 for non-members.

The event is open to members, non-members, businesses and individuals.
will be the guest speaker at the annual Bethel BBA luncheon on March 7.

By Brian Durham
bdurham@civitasmedia.com
Reach Brian Durham at 937-378-6161 or on Twitter @brianD1738.

Click here to read the original article in The Georgetown News Democrat.