Sylacauga High School:  Erin Gauker, Adrienne McNeal, Ashley Miller, Cory Miller, Lauren Ogle, Heather Stanford & Alesia Williams

Fayetteville High School: Becky McGrady

Childersburg High School: Nick Martin

B.B. Comer High School: Ashley Beam, Krystal Fuller, Rachel Meherg, & Destanee Jones

Policies and Procedures 

The Sylacauga Chamber Ambassador Program is designed to be an opportunity for young women and men to become a part of the business community by being exposed to programs of the Chamber that will give them insight and to teach them responsibility into the requirements of a corporate citizen.  They will assist at special functions and various events as requested by the Chamber. 

They will provide Chamber administrative support at least four (4) hours a week for mail outs, assisting with administrative duties and Chamber events, i.e. Orientation, Red Carpet Program, Grand Openings, MusicFest, Ice Cream and Heritage Festival, Christmas Parade and Holiday Open House, Decorating Contest, Santa Village, Spring Open House, Community of Promise, Chili Cook-off, Health Expo, Fishing Rodeo and special projects including the chamber scrapbook, new member/relocation/commercial prospect packets, administrative duties, mail outs, etc.

1.                   This program shall be referred to as the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Program (herein after referred to as the program), and shall be administered by staff of the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce, with the Membership Coordinator having oversight responsibilities.

2.                   This program will be open to 30 participants attending school in South Talladega or Northern Coosa County: Sylacauga High School, B. B. Comer High School, Childersburg High School, Coosa Central and Fayetteville.  This program is also open to students who are home schooled.  Participants can be male or female who are rising sophomores, juniors or seniors for the upcoming school year.

3.                   The following criteria are deemed necessary to apply to the program:

A.                 Cumulative scholastic average, expressed in a numerical scale, of

at least 80.  This must be certified in writing by the applicant’s principal,

headmaster, headmistress, guidance counselor, or registrar.

B.                  Letter of reference from school principal, teacher or counselor.

C.                   Letter of reference from a Chamber member must be attached with information sheet.

D.                  Applicants must be free of parental or marital obligations.

4.                   Selection process

All positions in the program will be selected each new program year, which is defined from June 1^st until May 31^st of the year following the selection.

The selection will occur in the month of May, and is governed by the following regulations:

A.                An interview process will determine those selected to the program.  Out-of-town judges, who will be selected by the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Program Committee, and who will possess, in the judgment of the Committee, appropriate business and public relations background, will conduct this interview process.

B.               Each interview will consist of questions asked by the judges.   The criteria to be used to determine the selection of program participants will include: 

a.        The manner and ease in which the applicant deals with people

b.       The content of the answers. 

c.       The application.

d.       No input from Chamber Staff or Board of Directors will be any part of the selection process.

C.               Any questions concerning the selection of Ambassador participants shall be directed to the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Program Committee.

5.                   Participation

Upon selection to the program, each participant shall be required to purchase certain articles of clothing (shirt) as determined by the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Program Committee to be used as a uniform.  The cost of these articles is the responsibility of the Ambassador participant.  The Chamber will purchase nametags for each Ambassador member; if lost or misplaced, replacement is the responsibility of the participant.

Upon selection to the program, each participant must maintain a scholastic average equivalent to 80 on (numerical expression) to remain in the program.  These grades will be monitored on a semester basis.  If the average falls below 80, the participant will be removed from the program, pending review of grades at the end of the following immediate grading period.

Upon selection to the program, each participant is expected to maintain high standards of personal ethics.  Any incident, which comes to the attention of the Ambassador Program Committee, and is deemed to be inappropriate or detrimental to the good name of programs of the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce, and upon review and recommendation of the Ambassador Program Committee, will result in dismissal from the program.  This will include, but is not limited to, the advent of parental or marital obligations.

Upon selection each Ambassador will be paired with an area business person who is a Chamber member (business buddy).  This will help to further their career goals and give them insight and experience into their chosen profession.

Established Chamber functions will be assigned at the beginning of each program year.  Each participant will be required to attend all scheduled Ambassador Orientation Programs.  Scheduling of events for Ambassador participation will be the responsibility of the Membership Coordinator and Executive Director.  Each Ambassador member is required to obtain his or her own replacement Ambassador if unable to participate in a scheduled event. 

Demerits will be given and marked on the Ambassador’s record if not made up.  Exceptions will be made in case of illness or other extreme cases, at the discretion of the Membership Coordinator and/or Executive Director.  Each Ambassador must sign in on a weekly basis and attend all scheduled meetings.  Each Ambassador is required to work a minimum of four hours per week in order to graduate from the Ambassador program and receive recommendations for college and jobs from the staff and committee.

This program is open, regardless of race, creed, religion, or national origin, to those who qualify under the above listed age and academic requirements.