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