Erickson & District Chamber of Commerce
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March 16, 2023 Board Meeting

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Attendees

Eric Bjornson, Laurence Bertram, Heather Parrott-Howdle, Reghan Langston, Nigel Kerr, Valerie Soltys, Brandice Bator

Minutes

  1. Approval of Agenda

  2. Welcome to associate members

    Cody Cameron (council representative from Clanwilliam Erickson)

    Gloria Campbell (council representative from Harrison Park)

    Elvin Huntinghawk (representative from Rolling River First Nation)

  3. Approval of February Minutes

    Motion Val second Laurence carried

  4. Approval of new members:

    • Empress Therapies
    • Pugh's Pumping / Parkland Plumbing & Heating
    • Motion heather, second Nigel carried

  5. Treasurer's report (Valerie Soltys)

    • Invoice for cleaning of the napkins from the Christmas Party from Brandon Cleaners

  6. Recruiting a Chamber Manager. Consider ACC or RRC student?

  7. Informal (monthly) Coffee Meetings organized by the Chamber (various venues)

    • discuss things that are important to business owners
    • held in the legion (Erickson), drop in center (Sandy Lake), community center (Onanole) – every 2 months (rotate through) = twice a year in each location –
    • time of day? Business people are busy during the day, could be a bag lunch meeting
    • would be good to host in coffee shops
    • hold on 3rd Tuesday starting April 18th – Newdale would be the first spot – Nigel will mention to owners – 1:00 PM
    • Chamber Views and News

  8. Considering sponsorship of the 1st annual Altitude Festival (led by The Score Store)

    1. $250-$500
      • Sponsorship to become a partner
      • Willing to commit $250 in first year
      • may have call for volunteers – event ambassadors
      • Motion to support this festival (Heather) – seconded by Nigel – all in favor
      • Link from Chamber website: Eric will find out more about what’s involved – link to it so that it doesn’t seem like it’s a Chamber event

  9. Correspondence from RMNP re: AIS

    • Going to announce in next few weeks what the plans are
    • Possible increased screening of watercraft or the restriction of type of watercraft that can go onto Clear Lake
    • Don’t want to divert problems to other local lakes
    • Doing a consultation process – if we have views as a business community or as individuals let this be heard
    • Ability for individual businesses to get certification to conduct decontaminations – Clean Machine?

  10. Support for Erickson Airport Repaving

    • Got the tender back for the smaller scope with the opportunity to grow it
    • May be a call for private support to help with project, grant funding, Building Sustainable Communities, call the MLA

  11. Updating the Membership Directory (temporary until we have a Chamber Manager to keep it up to date)

    • Eric having trouble finding time keeping this up if anyone wants to help reach out to Eric
    • Previous members have not been asked to renew – Eric will send an email

  12. Summary of RMED Event attended by Eric on Feb 22nd 2023

    1. RMED related Documents
    • Eric attended – intro of representatives from a bunch of organizations to help Rural Economic Development
    • PrairiesCan may have programs to fit nicely with Leda Lake project (see agenda item 13)
    • Email sent to Gerry Marques at PrairiesCan- Eric will be meeting with Laurie Crowe from Prairies Can to discuss further
    • Laurence talked to someone re Erickson being included in travel magazines for the area – getting information on who Westman Tourism and how do we get in publication

  13. Membership Drive Update

    • Eric will send email to membership to renew
    • Email list of everyone we can think of who might want to be a member

  14. Updates on presentations to Municipal councils of Clanwilliam Erickson and Harrison Park (Nigel and Laurence)

    • Clanwilliam Erickson – not very receptive, asked for copy of presentation, concerned about what we’d be asking for from Harrison Park, by-law that businesses are supposed to clean sidewalks
    • Harrison Park – positive reception, charging stations at Elkhorn, appointed a rep to come to meetings (Gloria), asked if we were coordinating with Onanole Chamber of Commerce (doesn’t exist anymore?), there is a Wasagaming Chamber of Commerce – association with Clear Lake Country destination marketing – overlap between Erickson and Wasagaming Chambers,
    • Having Chamber reps from council might help with them understanding our objectives and mission
    • Should be a partnership not territorial –
    • Motion for Eric to represent Erickson Chamber to Wasagaming Chamber (Laurence) – could report on agenda on joint ventures
    • propose to them that we trade memberships – Eric will reach out
    • Clear Lake Country would like to expand geographic location to encompass Erickson, Sandy Lake
    • Used to be Sandy Lake Business Association (Nigel) – not sure if it’s still a thing

  15. Swedish Cultural Day June 10, 2023

    • Laurence is working on tour of heritage site and cemeteries
    • Most of the rest is being organized by that group – speaker lined up, family histories, refreshments, lunch at the legion, outdoor traditional dancing at the end of 1st street SW near TransCanada trail
    • Valerie has tickets $25 – meal and attendance for the day
    • Will put on Chamber calendar and share on social media
    • Regional events/festivals will be added to the Chamber calendar going forward (non-profits)
    • Would like Chamber to advertise and sell tickets

  16. Updates on support for Little Valley Jamboree (Valerie) (June 17/18)

    1. Event Support Staff
      • Have 5 organizations confirmed to be part of the food and beverage side of Jamboree (Lions - bar, Curling/Skating rinks -menu, Fire department/chamber – support staff)
      • Need volunteers from membership base
      • Meeting on April 3, May 1 to continue planning
      • Is there someone from the Chamber who could take a lead role to take lead of the organization – liaison between Jamboree fundraising committee and local community volunteer committee
      • Laurence – will look after parade
      • Townwide yardsale – will discuss further at next meeting
      • Opportunity to coach up and coming volunteers

  17. Highway Signage Discussion (Nigel Kerr). Perhaps call this destination marketing?

    • Sign at east end main street has bulbs burnt out – could be a bill that comes to the Chamber – leave with town office for now and Val will follow up
    • Our information/calendar should be shared on town/municipal website – liaison between us and them for website – what do they need, updates, etc. – Could be a Chamber Manager opportunity

  18. In Camera

Meeting Adjourned at 12:30

Action Items:

  • Nigel: will talk to owners of Newdale Hotel about holding the first Chamber Views and News on Tuesday April 18th at 1:00
  • Eric: will find out more about Altitude Festival and how we could incorporate that event into Chamber website
  • Eric: will send emails to previous members have not renewed membership as well as businesses who have not joined but may be interested
  • Eric: will reach out to Wasagaming Chamber of Commerce to see if they’d be willing to trade memberships
  • Val/Eric: Will share Swedish Cultural Day poster with Eric to post