Chamber of commerce welcomes new board members at AGM

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore and District Chamber of Commerce held its Annual General Meeting at the Travelodge on March 21. The meeting began with dinner, followed by speeches about how the Chamber has done over the past year, and a few things they plan to continue to promote over this next year. 

“It went really well. We probably had about 35 to 40 in attendance, so considering the weather and that sort of thing it was probably about what we expected,” said Lin Walker, president of the Chamber. 

“What we are the most proud of, as far as what the Chamber accomplished last year, is we increased our membership by 40 per cent, and we bettered our financial situation.”

Walker said part of that is because they have had phenomenal representation over the past year. The Chamber also introduced five new board members: Steve Jefferies, publisher of the Chestermere Anchor and his wife Barb, owner of Pier Communications: Rick Risdale from Golden West Radio; Debbie Wakelam, owner of Meadowlark Care Homes; and Doug Sholter with the Days Inn. 

“We are very well represented in the communications field,” said Walker. 

She said they are looking forward to the added talent on the board, and the new ideas from new people. Walker said she thinkd the Jefferies’ formed the Chestermere Chamber of Commerce, when there was one. The new board will get together and have a one-day workshop and formulate a plan as to what is in store this year. Walker said what they have learned is they have an enthusiastic board full of ideas. She also said every single person on the board is a business person. They want to make sure they have a strategic plan in place so that no matter how carried away they may get with their other ideas, they make sure they focus on their mission, which is advocacy and education. They plan to still keep bringing in top notch educators and speakers and will continue promoting the Shop Local program.

“Whatever we do, we’ll be keeping our members in mind and will this benefit our members and their businesses,” said Walker. 

Lyndsay Goebel, winner of the 2010 Strathmore’s Got Talent was one of the entertainers of the night. The next big event on the agenda for the Chamber is SpringFest, which is scheduled for June 4.