By David Vitrano
L’Observateur

VACHERIE – The River Region Chamber of Commerce took the spirit of the season to heart recently with its first ever Chambercopia event at St. Joseph Plantation.
Among the furnishings and artwork from a bygone era, Chamber members gathered to network and socialize while munching on food from Aloisio’s Bakery.
“It’s the first event we’ve hosted for the Chamber,” said St. Joseph Plantation Marketing Coordinator Denise Borell.
The event location was part of a push by the Chamber to have more of a presence in St. James Parish.
“Thank you for coming to the west bank,” said Borell. “We have a lot to offer.”
River Region Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chassity McComack said the idea for the event, which was intended to be a sort of “thank you” to members, came from the Membership Committee. She said the name “Chambercopia” was chosen because a cornucopia traditionally contains a wide variety of foods just as the Chamber counts a wide variety of businesses among its members, and just as a cornucopia signifies the bounty of harvest season, the Chamber’s membership in many ways represents the bounty of the region’s business sector.
“You’re going to hear that name again,” said McComack.
On Monday, a group of local Chamber members and government officials will travel to Washington, D.C., for the third annual fly-in. Originally scheduled for October, the trip had to be pushed back because of the government shutdown. The group will return Tuesday evening.
McComack said those in attendance are in store for a whirlwind of meetings with those who represent area interests.
“It’s going to be a quick trip, but I think it’s going to be effective,” she said.