Interim Bronson Chamber president wants to pay old debts

BRONSON - The Bronson Chamber of Commerce is in a rebuilding phase following the exodus of immediate past president Bob Levesque, who is now considered to be "an inactive member" by the new leadership.

Interim Chamber President Cameron Asbell said the first thing he wants to do is to "get things straightened out financially."

Asbell said he accepted the position as interim president during the Christmas holiday.

"I heard that we are $3,000 in debt," Asbell said. "He (Levesque) is supposed to give us a list of who we owe and what is owed."

The interim Bronson Chamber of Commerce president said he plans to "mend those fences," which were broken from the Chamber's previous failure to continue working at paying off 2-year-old debts.

The Bronson Music Festival of 2005 was a good idea by Levesque, Asbell said, but businessmen need to act like adults and continue to retire old debts.

"He left us with a mess and we need to take care of it," Asbell said.

Fundraising events such as chicken dinners are one method to help reduce the Chamber's existing obligations to people and companies, he said.

"I don't believe in shirking responsibility," Asbell said. "I want to be sure we pay what we owe."

To be considered as a legitimate entity to promote local business, Asbell said, the Chamber of Commerce must make good on its debts. Asbell is a small business owner and he expects people to keep their promises to pay him, just as he pays those to whom he has promised to pay.