By Jessie Burchette

Salisbury Post

CHINA GROVE — A meeting of the Board of Trade Monday drew special attention from two chambers of commerce.

Top officials of both the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce attended the luncheon and made brief sales pitches to the China Grove businesses.

John Cox, chief executive officer of the Cabarrus Chamber, introduced several staffers and talked about their growing focus on business retention.

Bob Wright, president of the Rowan Chamber, also introduced staffers and encouraged Board of Trade members to check out chamber programs, including Leadership Rowan and various business seminars.

It was the first time the chamber executives had attended the Board of Trade meeting. And it was the first joint meeting of the South Rowan Business Council, one of eight councils sponsored by the Cabarrus Regional Chamber.

Bob Fallis, president of the Board of Trade, invited members of both chambers to be involved or attend the 2007 edition of Farmers Day, which is upcoming in July.

Farmers Day began in 1982 as a project of the Board of Trade.

“Farmers Day put China Grove on the map,” said Judy Haire, secretary of the Board of Trade.

Haire gave the nearly 60 people attending the session a brief history of the Board of Trade, which was founded in 1957 to work for harmony and unity in the business community.

“We still have the same mission,” said Haire. “We work together to promote the town.”

A 50th anniversary celebration is being planned for later this year.

Jack Ahart, a retired U.S. Navy captain and current director of the Charlotte USO center, outlined the work of the nonprofit, which has assisted 26,000 troops since opening six months ago at the Charlotte airport.

Ahart shared stories of the extensive services the agency provides to troops and their families.

Ahart also made a pitch for donations, pointing out that the center doesn’t get support from the national USO organization.

The Charlotte center, which is located at the Douglas International Airport, has a staff of two and more than 250 volunteers.