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Do you
know how much the Port Mansfield community benefits from the Chamber of
Commerce?
• Pamphlets about Port Mansfield are mailed out or faxed to persons who inquire about
the town. Hundreds of potential visitors mail letters to the Chamber or call on the
Chamber phone and each is provided with information about Port Mansfield.
• Advertising of the community and local business members is done in various fishing
magazines, tourist bureaus, and at the Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce. Hundreds of
Chamber brochures are also distributed through local businesses.
 • Holiday events include providing
buffet-style Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for up to 300 people, open to locals and
all the out-of-town visitors. Holiday parties include New Year’s Eve celebration, an
Easter egg hunt, and a Halloween costume contest and children’s party. These dinners
and parties are free and the Chamber only requests a cash donation from those attending.
Holiday bake sales, rummage and craft sales are other fundraisers that are held.
• The Port Mansfield Fishing Tournament is the primary Chamber fundraiser for the
year. The tournament brings many fishermen and spectators to town and receives Valley-wide
television coverage which promotes Port Mansfield. Local businesses benefit from the
tournament when so many people come to town. Hopefully these fishermen will return often
to Port Mansfield to do their fishing. The 25th annual Port Mansfield Fishing Tournament
will be in late July of 1999.
• Activities for Winter Texans and locals include weekly covered dish dinners, Bingo,
and exercise classes.
• A basketball court and lights were recently added to the Chamber-maintained Port
Mansfield playground/park. The park also has a tennis court. In 1997 the park equipment
was refurbished and painted.
• Each year the Chamber donates a $500 college scholarship to a Port Mansfield
student graduating from San Perlita who excelled academically and was recommended by the
school. In 1997 the Chamber also sponsored Miss Port Mansfield.
• Chamber funds are used to benefit the community in many ways and in 1995 included a
$1,000 donation which helped allow the Port Mansfield pool to reopen after the pool had
been closed for many years.
• The Chamber building also serves as a Community Center and the building is
available for use or rental by individuals or groups including community health fairs. It
is used as the local site for voting in local, state and national elections.
• In years past the Chamber paid to set up the Post Office and Library buildings and
still pays the utility bills for the Library and park. The Library is open part time and
is staffed by volunteers. Also, the Chamber was able to provide the street name signs in
Port Mansfield with proceeds from the annual fishing tournament.
• The Chamber paid for and operates the current events/notice sign outside the post
office. Contact the Library or the Post Office if you wish to use the sign to publicize an
event of interest to the people of Port Mansfield.
• The Chamber provides the 944-2222 phone number for the Port Mansfield Volunteers.
This allows local volunteers to respond much faster to medical and other emergencies. The
community is also part of the 911 network. In 1997 the Chamber donated almost $600 in
Bingo proceeds to the Port Mansfield Volunteers.
• In 1995 the Chamber helped organize a volunteer fire department and over $10,000
was raised for new fire equipment. This money came from some generous donations and the
proceeds of bake sales, dinners, and rummage sales.
• In 1996 a public restroom was built, in partnership with the W.C.N.D., near the
Chamber-maintained playground and tennis courts.
For additional information on Port Mansfield Chamber
http://www.portmansfield.us
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