The Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce is getting ready for the fall season with our upcoming AGM, Harvest Pumpkin Festival, Business After Business events and new this year, the Small Business Christmas Party.
Networking and community events like these don’t happen due to the efforts of just one person; it takes a team to plan and implement activities. It is great to share the work, as well as the success, with a committed team and I am thankful for the commitment shown by our chamber executive and board of directors on a daily basis.
Several directors are finishing their terms – Donna Steeves (Valley First Insurance), Sharon Dahl (Century 21 Executives North) and Jayme McKillop (Rancho Vignola) – and that means we are looking for new team members.
We often hear “I am involved with the chamber. I pay my membership.” While we do need membership revenue to help with administrative costs, what we really need is you. Getting involved is key to getting the most out of your chamber membership.
One way to take full advantage of your membership is to get involved in committees that help promote business, economic growth and a positive lifestyle in our area. Here are a few of the opportunities and how you can get involved to improve your business, and ultimately our community.
Board of directors – The role of a board member includes providing board visibility in the community and at events; acting as a conduit of information and business concerns to staff; and chairing various committees. The board meets at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the chamber office.
Would you like to get involved but aren’t ready for the board level? There are opportunities available on committees such as advocacy, which develops positions we adopt on behalf of business at a local, provincial and federal level. It currently includes issues regarding transportation such as the Highway 97 corridor task force.
The membership committee establishes programs relating to membership development and retention; Business After Business; Business-4-Breakfast, website and social networking.
The events committee sees to things like the Harvest Pumpkin Festival, Downtown Light Up, Countdown to Canada Day, Armstrong Funtastic, Music in the Park, as well as other major community events.
Committees consist of two or more members and a committee chair, who must also be a board member. Committees change annually in November, and each committee determines when they meet and when the committee is active.
The chamber also forms task forces and work groups as the need arises. These can evolve around an area such as transportation, or be task specific to something like a marketing work group to assist in the redesign of marketing materials. These groups vary in size and duration, and may require members with a specific skill set to participate.
How to get involved? If you would like to learn more about the board of directors or any of the committees, contact the Armstrong chamber at 250-546-8155, or e-mail manager@aschamber.com.
Patti Noonan is the executive director of the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce.
