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the Zoom meeting
Invited: Erickson Chamber of Commerce Board members
In attendance: Eric Bjornson, Valerie Soltys, Brandice Bator, Nigel Kerr, Kristy Vermiere, Josh Surovy, Reghan Langston
Regrets: Heather Parrott-Howdle, Laurence Bertram
Minutes
Approval of Agenda
Approval of January Minutes - move to accept:
- Move to Accept: Valerie Soltys, Seconded by Brandice, All in favour
Determination of term newly elected directors (3 @ 3 year, 1 @ 1 year)
- Josh Surovy: 1 year
- Brandice Bator: 3 year
- Reghan Langston: 3 year
- Kristy Vermiere: 3 year
Determination of officers for 2023
- President
- Vice President
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Eric nominated for president by Valerie - accepted
- Laurence nominated for Vice President by Valerie - accepted
- Valerie nominated for Treasurer by Brandice - accepted
- Brandice nominated for Secretary by Eric - accepted
- 3 positions up for re-election every year
- One of the four re-elected board members will serve a 1 year term, and 3 will serve a 3 year term
Approval of new members:
a. Lakehouse
b. Katie Lake Farm
c. Grit and Growth Wellness
d. Locally Maid
e. Bruce McEwing
Motion to approve – Kristy
Seconded by Nigel
All in favour
Treasurer’s Report
- Since end of year – have received $1500 from Clear Lake Country for meet the candidates events
- Received membership dues
- Paid expenses for AGM which to Food Hub and Kammingas
- Motion to accept Treasurers report – Kristy
- Seconded by Nigel
- All in favour
In Camera
AGM Recap
- 23 attendees
- Good conversation - feedback from general membership from members
- Submissions from attendees for priorities (saved in Google Drive)
- Eric will summarize and consolidate priorities and will discuss at next meeting
Recruiting a Chamber Manager
- Having technical experience with software we work with would be an asset
- Spread the word – if you know of someone interested send an email
- Administrative side of board – take the load off the board, handles the backend part of the organization, maintain financial books on online software, taking minutes at meetings, distributing minutes, updating website/membership directory, maintain events calendar, involvement with special projects e.g. Christmas party
- 6-8 hours per month ([amount withheld])
Offering to maintain support for our advertising on the rink boards at the Erickson skating rink. $200 annually paid to “Erickson Skating Rink”
- Motion to approve: Josh
- Seconded by: Nigel
- All in favour
- Eric will send invoice to Valerie
Discuss the idea of sending a delegation to an upcoming Clanwilliam-Erickson council meeting summarize activities of the Chamber and priorities discussed at the AGM
- Send representative to Clanwilliam-Erickson and Harrison-Park Council meetings
- Nigel and Eric interested in presenting to council
- Nigel will draft a narrative that we’re in agreement on to take to meeting and will circulate to board for comments
- Feb. 22 – Harrison Park, February 15 – Clanwilliam-Erickson
- Should push councils to promote tourism and businesses in our area
- Beautifying main street Erickson is important
How to engage with municipal council representatives
- Cody Cameron is the current Clanwilliam-Erickson council rep for Erickson and District Chamber of Commerce and is willing to attend our board meetings if we desire
- Would be good to have Cody at meetings – integrate what we’re doing at Council – not a big job to get council on board or involved if they’re at our meetings
- Council Rep would provide feedback in terms of what’s happening at council meetings
- Should we reach out to Harrison Park to see if they would be willing to assign a council representative?
- Motion to Invite municipal council reps from Clanwilliam Erickson and Harrison Park as well as Rep Rolling River First Nation to participate in board meetings: Eric
- Seconded by Kristy
- All in favour
Membership Drive Update:
- We currently have 19 membership registrations/renewals as of February 6th, 2023
- We finished 2022 with 46 members. Perhaps we set a goal of 50 for 2023?
- Already have 5 new members for 2023 that were not members in 2022
- Eric will give a nudge to members from last year to renew this year
- Direct things to Rolling River Band Manager – Alvin Huntinghawk – Eric will ask Don Huisman to make introduction
- Are businesses run under the Band? Health and Gaming is separate.
- Ask RRFN to become members as a first step
- Invite a Band Manager to participate in a similar way as a municipal rep would attend
- Brandice will make an Instagram post
Additional Items:
- A. Highway Signs
- Average daily traffic count 2240 vehicles Highway 10/Mtn Road
- Some business signs, but nothing really directing people off the highway into Erickson
- Partner with the Municipality to advertise
- Unsure of costs for signs, land rental
- Look at our branding – come up with a consistent branding
- Sign coming into town needs repair work – include in master plan
- Replacing the inserts of light box with fresh branding could go a long ways
- Eric will reach out to Karly McRae and Graphic Factory regarding marketing
- Collaboration with Municipalities to take on some of the logistics and they can pay the bills for example
- Eric will add to agenda for next meeting
- B. Little Valley Jamboree Committee Meeting
- Would Chamber like to be part of Committee that supports the event?
- Meeting on Feb. 20th at 7:30 at Rec Center for interested parties
- Round up volunteers from the membership
- An actual parade in addition to kiddy parade
- Motion to make directive to put us forward as willing to participate: Nigel
- Seconded by Josh
- All In Favour
- C. Green team/Communities in Bloom
- Trouble getting applicants
- Community flower beds taken care of by volunteers
- Brandice will put something together for Bee City Canada for next meeting – beautification of Erickson
Next Meeting is March 7 at 11:00
Motion to Adjourn (12:17): Eric
Seconded by Nigel