Chamber administrator Crockett resigns

RUMFORD — After more than a year in the job, River Valley Chamber of Commerce Administrator Cherri Crockett of Peru resigned as of Friday, Nov. 6, to pursue employment elsewhere.

Contacted Tuesday afternoon in Rumford, Crockett cited disillusionment with the job she has had since Oct. 1, 2008, and less than expected support from communities as reasons why she decided to quit.

“The job was a lot larger and more expansive than I thought,” Crockett said. “I felt that I could go in and make a difference to the positive, and I just didn't have enough energy or know-how to do it.”

“So I will be stretching my legs and spreading my wings and seeing what I am capable of without having to be in charge anymore,” Crockett said.

The chamber encompasses the 10 Oxford and Franklin county towns of Andover, Byron, Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, Hanover, Mexico, Peru, Roxbury and Rumford.

“The chamber is a great thing within this community and more people need to stand behind it and learn what it can do for you,” Crockett said. But “until you have support from your communities, you will always have someone struggling in that (administrator) position.”

In her remaining two weeks, Crockett is meeting with selectmen in the 10 towns "to try and get them to understand" the importance of having a chamber of commerce working for them, according to chamber President Cheryl Dickson.

Dickson announced Crockett's resignation in a Monday report, and said Tuesday in Rumford that all previously scheduled chamber events will go on.

“It's business as usual,” Dickson said. “Our Christmas in the Valley program will go on as scheduled, the membership drive will begin mid-December, and we have some exciting new events being planned for 2010.”

Dickson asked officials in the 10 towns “to wish our outgoing chamber Administrator Cherri Crockett the best of luck in her future endeavors.”

“Cherri is leaving the chamber for a new position more challenging and in sync with what she wants to do," Dickson said.

In the interim, Dickson said the chamber's Board of Directors wants to assure its business and nonprofit members and the public that the chamber will forge ahead.

“Your 18 directors will be working hard in Cherri's absence to continue to provide the benefits of being a chamber member and promoting our area,” Dickson said.

She said people with questions or concerns about the chamber may contact Dickson at 369-9008, Laurieann Milligan at 364-5022, Catherine Johnson at 364-4561, or Brian Arsenault at 364-3719. For more information, visit www.rivervalleychamber.com.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com