SPEARFISH - Nine men and women gathered Wednesday at the Spearfish Chamber of Commerce to form a young professionals group.

Janette Hettick, member services coordinator for the chamber, and Melissa Barth, Convention & Visitors Bureau marketing coordinator, organized the meeting in response to the chamber board of directors's decision to form a group for area professionals ages 21 to 40.

"A lot of chambers throughout the nation are starting young professional groups, and they are very successful," Hettick said. She said their motivation was to increase membership. "Basically, to get young people active within the chamber."

The group will focus on networking and community involvement with an emphasis on professional development.

How the group will achieve these goals is undecided, but ideas include casual social gatherings, meetings of members with similar professional interests and luncheon seminars including a speaker on a specific topic, such as marketing or technology.

Final details will be made by a steering committee elected from members of the group. Membership will be open to any employee of a member of the Spearfish Chamber of Commerce, which also has member businesses in Rapid City, Lead, Deadwood, Custer, Hot Springs and Beulah, Wyo., and Aladdin, Wyo.

"We even have one member from Pierre, I believe," Hettick said.

To support the group, Barth and Hettick suggested a $50 annual membership fee, which was agreed upon by the people attending the meeting.

Barth and Hettick are also in the process of applying for a grant through the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Barth said the success of a similar group in Rapid City, which has about 500 members, gives the founders hope that the Spearfish Area Young Professionals will be successful, too.

For more information, or to find out if an employer is a member of the Spearfish Chamber of Commerce, contact Janette Hettick at 642-2626 or member@spearfish.sd.us.