Nathan Jeffers/photo

Pictured is James Strader with the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation speaking on the Civic Leaders Fellowship Program at Tuesday’s Mason County Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

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POINT PLEASANT — “It’s important to give back something to the place that’s given you all that you really have.”

This quote from a student in the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) Civic Leaders Fellowship Program was among several which sum up the message from Tuesday’s Mason County Chamber of Commerce luncheon featuring speakers Jane Winters and James Strader with the PACF. Along with this message of giving back, local business leaders were reminded the future of Mason County is dependent on today’s students and children and how they as business leaders could help with this program.

According to the foundation, the Civic Leaders Fellowship Program provides summer employment opportunities and development for college students in the foundation’s service area, which includes Mason County. Through these summer internships, students learn of local opportunities that are available after graduation, as well as gain much needed work experience.

Winters and Strader spoke on the importance of this program, saying many college students and graduates leave the area when looking for jobs because either local opportunities aren’t available, or they simply do not know of the local opportunities. Both stressed the importance of this program, reiterating the fact that the students will be the future of businesses in Mason County.

In addition to looking for students to enroll in the program, Winters and Strader said PACF is looking for hosts to provide a place for enrolled students to work. It was noted that the deadline to apply is March 8 and applications and more information can be obtained online at www.pacfwv.com

Chamber President Eddie Lanham added there was one student from Mason County involved with the program last year and he would like to see a few more involved in this year’s program.

In other chamber news, Lanham announced the newest member of the chamber is the Mason County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Lanham also mentioned a new event call “Business After Hours,” which will provide local businesses a chance to learn more about other local businesses. The first event will be at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, at City National Bank. Lanham also said there would be no luncheon in the month of March and that the Annual Chamber Dinner is set for April 2. Further information on the dinner will appear in a later edition of the Point Pleasant Register.