Napa Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors monthly meeting. 

Nominations for the Ambassadors are based on past Chamber services such as committee chairs, directors or other positions of responsibility in the community.

Thirty years ago the Napa Chamber of Commerce adopted its own diplomatic corps. Not in the United States Department of states sense; rather the Chamber’s new unit was designed to spread good will for the Chamber within the Community.

Appropriately, members of the new organization were called Ambassadors. Although initially composed only of men (the Chamber then had a women’s division), in later years the Ambassadors included both men and women, who combined their efforts and energies to achieve a common goal.

The First official ambassador initiative was participation in the ground breaking for a new bank – Napa Valley Bank. On hand for the first assignment were Ambassadors Dario Bardini, Ernest Rota, Alan Young, Glenn Dar, J.V. (Vin) Brenner, James Fogarty Jr., Virgil Thompson, Marvin Yeiter, Robert Scott, Charles Harper, and Carlo Hojsgaard.

Today, as when the organization was started the Ambassadors are commissioned to “create good will and understanding among members of the Chamber and business community.”

This mission is carried out in a variety of ways. For example, the Ambassadors organize and attend ribbon cuttings for new businesses or businesses which have enlarged or remodeled their premises.

Ambassadors also:

•     Participate in Chamber Mixers and other designated events
•     Visit local member businesses for orientations on their operations.
•     Attend Ambassador meetings and activities

It’s not particularly difficult to distinguish an Ambassador from other Chamber members. They are likely to be in their “uniform” – consisting of a maroon jacket bearing the Ambassador emblem.

The Ambassadors hold annual meetings to select a chairman, secretary, treasurer and two team captains. For the past several years, at the Chamber’s annual dinner meeting a special award is giving to an ambassador for distinguished service. The honor is presented as a memorial tribute to Gene Cufaude, who was an original member of the organization and played a major role in its activities.