UPDATE: Chamber of Commerce Launches Campaign to Keep a Downtown Geneva Post Office

It's a brief missive, but it's powerful, and it's the first campaign I've heard of to lobby the Postal Authority powers that be to keep a post office in the heart of Geneva's historic business district.

The Geneva Chamber of Commerce sent an e-mail to its membership Monday, asking for support from businesses willing to sign a petition to keep the post office presence downtown.

"The Geneva Chamber recognizes the importance of a downtown post office," the e-mail says. "In that spirit, we would like your support to put your name on a petition to 'Save the Geneva Post Office!'

"Reply to this e-mail by Wednesday, July 13, with a YES, and we'll add your name to the list of businesses who support saving this Geneva institution—saving a post office that has been in the same location for almost 80 years."

The is one of many for sale or in transition. Read the series by Tara Knott and Garrett Lance by and following the links to earlier stories.

Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns said in an e-mail Wednesday morning that the Chamber of Commerce is hoping for a downtown location—not necessarily the same location on Third Street.

"It should be noted, as I'm sure the Chamber would agree, that the effort undertaken is NOT to save the current building as the post office per se, but to encourage the post office to remain (re-locate) in downtown Geneva," Burns said. "(That's) an important distinction for sure."

To contact the , call 630-232-6060, e-mail jsawtell@genevachamber.com or visit www.genevachamber.com/.