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Chambers of commerce fill a lot of different roles in a community.
Among all of the other jobs they do during the course of a year, they educate, they honor, they work to improve the community and they advocate.
Reminders of those missions were offered on March 26, when the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce held its 87th-annual membership meeting and awards banquet.
An example pointed out by Brenda Mull, president of the chamber, was the cooperation and collaboration it has taken to restore several of Weirton's vintage holiday decorations back to life.
"Last year, we enhanced our community Christmas displays through the help of many," Mull explained while speaking to the more-than 200 chamber members and guests who had gathered at the Lauttamus Communications Banquet Room.
It was a list that included members of City Council and the city's administration, members of IBEW Local 246, members of the Weirton Steel 25-Year Club, the Holiday Inn of Weirton-Steubenville, First Choice America Community Federal Credit Union and volunteers from around the community.
"All played a part in making this happen," she said.
Mull added that through the efforts of those volunteers, they have been able to refurbish all 50 of the horses and candy canes that had been basically abandoned and left to sit in a pile for the better part of four decades.
"That's a good thing," she explained.
"Together, we brought them back to life -- rather than sitting in a pile, they should be hung for the community to enjoy."
"Now, we are facing the problem of the 48-foot Santa and reindeer display, which didn't cooperate this past year," Mull continued. "Every time it sprinkled, it seemed there was a problem. We spent a lot of nights going back and forth up there to get that working.
"But the display is iconic," she said. "It was given to us by Weirton Steel, so somehow, we need to figure out how to refurbish it. A lot of entities working together is what makes projects like that successful."
Among those entities, she said, was Cleveland-Cliffs.
"They have allowed us to store those lights in their training center for the past 30 years. Working together and supporting each other -- that's how this chamber rolls," Mull said.
Being there for one another -- that's especially true now, as Cleveland-Cliffs has announced it plans to indefinitely idle the Weirton tin-making facility later this month in response to a U.S. International Trade Commission decision that denied the company's petition for trade duties on imported tin products.
It's a move that will put more than 900 residents of the Tri-State Area out of work -- and bring an end to a steelmaking legacy in the community that goes back 115 years.
"Right now, Cleveland-Cliffs employees need our support," Mull said. "I know you have read the reports and see the updates that come almost daily."
It's a situation that will have an impact that will be felt throughout the region.
"It affects everyone in this room. We all will be affected in some way if Cleveland-Cliffs remains idle. It's not just a valley issue, it's a national issue," Mull said. "I don't know if there's enough we can do to change their minds, but I do know we have to try."
Among those who is at the front of those efforts is Mark Glyptis, the president is United Steelworkers Local 2911, who has seen many ups and downs in the industry during his time with the union.
"He has fought many battles throughout the years, and this is just another battle, but it's a big one for him," Mull continued.
"He is asking for our help, for your help. He's fought partial closures before, but never a complete shutdown. This town was built around that mill. Thank you, Mark, for all of your time and effort and for continuing to fight the battles for your workers.
"We support one another, always. We stand up for each other. We're not a community that gives up. Right now, Cleveland-Cliffs employees are in the fight of their lives," Mull added while encouraging those in attendance to sign a letter of support similar to letters that already have been prepared by other area groups, including the chamber board and the Hancock County commissioners.
"We don't know what their final decision will be, but I just don't want to sit back and then, later, wish we had been proactive. We need to let President Joe Biden know that we want Cleveland-Cliffs to remain open, and that America should be on a fair playing field."
Mull also touched on things the chamber had accomplished during the past year, including the addition of 23 new businesses, completing another youth leadership class, preparing the adult leadership class for its June graduation and making plans for Thursday's Dr. Barbara A. Matey High School Symposium, which annually offers students from high schools around the Tri-State Area the chance to learn about many aspects of the business world.
Twelve member businesses were recognized for milestone anniversaries, including Hancock County Savings Banks, which has served the region for 125 years; M&M True Value Hardware, which is marking 110 years; and Weirton Eye Clinic, which has been in business for 50 years.
She also helped to promote a joint business after hours event that's scheduled to be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 2 at Brooke Hills Park. The event will bring members of the Weirton Area, Jefferson County, Follansbee and Wellsburg chambers of commerce together for a cookout, tours and other events.
It's just another way chambers of commerce serve their communities.
"Our goal is to help you grow and bring value to your membership," Mull said. "That's important to us. We do it through networking, advertising and other promotional ideas, seminars and, sometimes, just through fun things."
(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)