CHESAPEAKE — The Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce wants to reach out to a new demographic as it starts up a Young Professional organization within the larger business agency.

The Young Professionals is the brainchild of Casey Baker of Huddleston Bolen law firm in Huntington, W.Va.

“We want to raise the profile of young professionals in Lawrence County in the hopes of attracting business,” Baker told the chamber at its monthly 4th Friday Luncheon, hosted by Chesapeake Middle School.

“In this economy, businesses need human capital. If we can give young professionals an opportunity to interact with one another, they will be more likely to come back (to their hometowns).”

Creating this new group would give Lawrence County and the region a competitive edge, Baker said.

There will be an organizational meeting Monday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the chamber’s headquarters in South Point for anyone interested in joining the Young Professionals.

The chamber is looking for men and women 35 years and younger who want to become more involved in the community.

Guest speaker for the Friday luncheon was Charlene Farrell, director of Hospice of Huntington, who told the audience she would like to see her organization have a greater presence in Lawrence County.

“There is still more we need to do to spread the word on what we can do to make people lives better,” she said. “Hospice is helping people live longer and better facing terminal illness.”

Hospice provides a team of doctors, nurses and social workers who work with the patients and their families as they cope with the challenges that come from such an illness.

“It is a scary thing to take care of (a loved one) at home,” Farrell said.

Hospice began in Huntington in 1982 and five years later it opened an office in Lawrence County.

The Chesapeake branch of the Briggs Library is the site for monthly grief education and support sessions ranging in topics from stress and grief to holidays and grief.

For more information or to find out about Hospice support systems, contact 304-529-4217.