The Spirit of Community in Delano is defined by the
Creativity, Resilience, and Community Investment of its people.
Delano Chamber of Commerce
EST. 1967
The Delano Area Chamber of Commerce traces its beginnings to 1939, when local businessmen organized a Santa Claus Day for Delano children, an effort that grew into a broader movement to promote the community and support local commerce. On June 3, 1941, the group formally organized as a Civic Club dedicated to advancing the interests of local merchants, expanding Delano’s trade area, and encouraging community activities and improvements. In 1953, Articles of Incorporation were adopted and the organization became the Delano Civic and Commerce Club. Through community celebrations, banquets, promotions, and other civic projects, the organization played an important role in bringing Delano’s business community together and supporting the growth and vitality of the city.
The start of the Chamber started back in fall of 1939, when Don Bartlett and Bob McEachren started a movement to hold a Santa Claus Day for children in Delano and the surrounding trade area. They worked with Cliff Lundsten, and Delano merchants funded 600 bags of candy and fruit for children at that first event.
In fall 1940, the effort grew. A committee headed by Ed Dalheimer, Sham Jaunich, Jack Tomnitz and John F. Tischler, with help from the American Legion Auxiliary, prepared 1,000 treat bags. Again, local businesspeople paid for the event.
The important date for the Chamber's organizational history is June 3, 1941. A meeting was called specifically to form a Civic Club whose purpose was to advance the business interests of local merchants and expand Delano's trade area through promotions, community activities and improvements.
First Officers
Chairman - Carl Hanseman
Vice Chairman - Jack Schumacher
Secretary - Harold Henk
Treasurer - Harry Kuka
The club's first dinner meeting was June 17, 1941, at the Last Roundup, with 60 business and civic-minded people attending. Three committees were immediately established: Resolutions, Membership and Entertainment.
A second milestone occurred on April 8, 1953, when Articles of Incorporation were drawn up and the organization formally took the name:
“The Delano Civic and Commerce Club.”
Its officers at that time were:
President - Harry Kuka
1st Vice President - Bill Wallisch
2nd Vice President - C.N. Lundsten
Secretary & Treasurer - Al Weihe
The historical account says the organization sponsored the Annual Athletic Banquet for many years and continued the Christmas party that had begun around 1940. It also produced a Community Calendar that was distributed to area residents, with the programs financed by club members.
There is independent evidence connecting this organization to today's Chamber. An obituary for longtime Delano businessman Carroll J. Lundeen, who opened Lundeen's Men's Store in Delano in 1953, describes him as a member of the Civic Club and explicitly calls that club “a forerunner of the Delano Chamber of Commerce.”
According the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State on November 23,1954 filed as a nonprofit corporation for Delano Civic and Commerce Club.
From the 1960’s to 1990’s the Delano Civic and Commerce Club hosted many long-standing events like Christmas/ Santa Claus Day, Annual Athletic Banquet and Community Calendar that was sponsored and paid for by the members of Delano Civic and Commerce Club.
On October 20, 1993, Delano Civic and Commerce Club changed its name to Delano Area Chamber of Commerce.
From the beginning Delano Civic and Commerce Club and now the Delano Area Chamber of Commerce have hosted events, committees and supporting local businesses. The events, committees and businesses have changed over the years. The focus has always been ‘equipping members to thrive in our business community’.
To find out more about Delano Area Chamber of Commerce is doing now, visit their website at www.delanochamber.com
The content of this page is brought to you by the Delano Spirit of Community Trail Committee in honor of Delano's 150th Anniversary.