SYRACUSE — Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce shared progress on the Winter Carnival at its board meeting Wednesday, Jan. 6, with Kristi Martin, chamber assistant director, stating several of the event’s activities had been solidified.

The Winter Carnival and the Wawasee Kiwanis Snowmobile Drags had been pushed back from January to Feb. 13 due to the unseasonably warm fall and winter temperatures. And while ice is still a concern for the snowmobile drags, the Winter Carnival portion has been beefed up so it can continue even if Syracuse Lake doesn’t ice over.

This year people will be able to enjoy a biscuit and gravy cookoff, winter fun run, food trucks, music, a dog show, ice sculpting and more. Several activities, such as snowshoeing, trail hikes and hot air balloon rides, will occur on the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation property, with shuttles being available to take people between event locations. The Polar Plunge, benefiting Boomerang Backpacks, is the only activity in need of a location.

RSVPs are incoming for the chamber’s annual award banquet. Banquet task force chair Tricia Small said all but one of the awards have been sponsored, and on that one, they are waiting to receive confirmation. The chamber is still seeking silent auction items for the event, which will occur Jan. 26.

Also during the meeting, chamber board members heard a presentation by Chad Wooten about Beakn, an electronic customer loyalty program aiming to help local businesses and organizations get their news and deals out to the public through a free consumer smartphone app.

Wooten stated he would like to work with the chamber and make Syracuse one of the first towns locally to launch Beakn. Interested businesses and nonprofits would sign up under the chamber and then receive their Beakn, which will relay the information they want to distribute to those with the app, within a 2-mile radius — hopefully drawing them to their business or events.

Many larger cities like Indianapolis, Chicago, Fort Wayne and South Bend already have several businesses using Beakn to reach customers. Chamber Executive Director Tammy Cotton noted it might get Syracuse ahead of the curve since many summer visitors will be familiar with or already have the app.

The chamber will be sharing information on Beakn with its members at future events to gauge if there is interest in participating.

In other chamber news:

• Cotton shared the chamber will potentially host additional Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation roundtable listening sessions and Small Business Development Center town training/counseling sessions in 2016.

• The chamber tabled its 2016 budget to input corrections. It will be voted on at the chamber’s next meeting, to occur at noon Wednesday, Feb. 3, in the chamber office.