Getting the word out about the latest arm of the Chamber of Commerce was the mission of a new brochure about the Young Professionals.

“We had been talking about doing this for a long time,” Massie Schemmel, of the YP, said. “We felt like a lot of people in the community didn’t know we existed.”

Started four years ago, the organization geared for professionals in the county under the age of 45 is a way to get younger men and women involved with the chamber.

Each Christmas season the Young Professionals provide winter clothing and toys for needy children in the county through its Secret Santa program that helped more than 500 last year.

“We wanted it to portray what we are, the future of Lawrence County business,” Schemmel said. “We can provide networking, social events, a way to meet people in the community.”

Right now there are 15 active in the Young Professionals with about 40 on its mailing list. The group has a monthly business meeting and also tries to host social events periodically. This summer the group is organizing a trip to a Cincinnati Reds game and a skydiving excursion.

Jennifer Desai was the graphic artist and CJT’s Printing produced the brochure, which will be distributed at businesses that are chamber members and at the chamber’s South Point headquarters. Total cost for production was $350, paid for through advertising.

The project brought in $1,000 in gross revenue, with the profit going to the YP’s treasury.

“We want to be fun, hip and provide a great networking opportunity,” Schemmel said. “The demographic of the chamber is mostly older. Younger people don’t feel there is a place for them. (The Young Professionals) is a great way for people to start serving their community.”