EPHRATA - The Ephrata Chamber of Commerce invites its chamber retail members to its first Retail Trade Committee meeting, at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 18.

The meeting is held at the Ephrata Recreation Center, at 112 Basin St. SW, Ephrata.

Chamber treasurer Shelly Detrick said the chamber held a meeting last fall, where participants wanted the chamber to focus on retail and shopping locally.

"The people took the time to come and express that," she explained. "We decided to put a retail trade group together to help our local merchants any way we can and find out better how to help them, whether it's a shop local campaign, or how do I compete in a dot-com world."

She expects they listen as much as talk at the meeting.

Meeting participants also told the chamber they wanted it to focus on communications. The chamber is launching a chamber master computer program to help with communications.

"It's been a fantastic creative process," Detrick said.

Chamber board member Deb Adams said the chamber's focus is to support its local businesses.

"In the process of supporting them, is encouraging communities to support their local businesses," she commented. "Our first effort to do so, is to get the retail community together to see if there are some things we can do as a group, whether its promotions or events.

"There is certainly some power in banding together," she added.

To reserve a seat, email the chamber at ephratawachamber@gmail.com or call 509-754-4656.