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Home > Members > Projects > Minutes : 6 May 2010 at Magrath High School Band Room > Forms

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Magrath and District Chamber of Commerce Organizational Meeting
May 6, 2010 at Magrath High School Band Room

Chair for Meeting: Duane Thomson of Westwind Weekly News
  1. Call to Order 7pm Duane: Welcome to meeting to discuss why/how to organize a community Chamber of Commerce, to raise concerns/issues, and to decide if/how to proceed.
  2. Introduction Noted presence of Mayor Murphy and spouse and Councilman Tom Spackman and Guest Speaker. 28 persons total in attendance.
  3. Move to Adopt the Agenda. Carried without change.
  4. Comments - We have had a Chamber in past but not recently. Many have expressed interest in having one in town. Preliminary informal meeting held to determine if now is a good time to have this meeting.
  5. Introduction of Guest Speaker Kay Olsen of the Alberta Chamber of Commerce by Jay Mackenzie of Roosters.
    Kay Olsen is a business woman from Medicine Hat starting as a Chamber member there and also later serving in Medicine Hat Chamber executive and now on Alberta Chamber (for the past 2 years). Presentation: Why have a Chamber? It is a voluntary professional/business organization open to any interested party. Main functions are to a) lobby government with common voice, b) provide group with value added services, and c) allow networking with other community business minded people. It is demand driven based on needs of community as determined by chamber members. What can it do? Community brochures, welcoming committees, advertising to benefit local business interests. Should provide foundation for growing local business. Why join? To raise and address common issues or concerns. What responsibilities would the Chamber have? To provide information to chamber members, provide services and group benefits, opportunities to learn, promote members interests.

    The Alberta Chamber of Commerce exists to address province wide issues with provincial government while the local Chambers work to address local issues with community government. The Alberta Chamber is composed of 127 local Chambers in Alberta. Membership in Alberta Chamber is optional - there is a fee of about $12/year/member to belong which bring benefits - eg Heath Benefit Programs, discounted rates for Credit Card Processing, Fleet Fuel Savings, etc and opportunity to network with other community Chambers of Commerce. Local fees are set by each local Chamber. Many Chamber members offer discounts to other members e.g 10% and hold Business of Year programs, etc.

    Things to think about. Will it build the community? How will you attract, serve and keep memberships? How will you deal with local governments - best to raise issues and propose viable solutions. Change may be slow but will never happen if do not start. Chamber of Commerce is optional - could also just operate as a local Business Association. Would operate under Alberta Societies Act in either case. Need to consider how to operate within budget constraints while providing service to members.
  6. Business:
    1. Moved: Agree to proceed to form a local Chamber of Commerce? Passed.
    2. Moved: Selection of interim Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer. Names put forward Jay McKenzie, Duane Thomson, Laura Loose (also serves as Treasurer for Raymond Chamber). Roger Davies volunteered to serve as interim Secretary. Passed
    3. Next meeting proposed for Thu 10 Jun 2010 7pm at the Covered Wagon RV Park (thanks to Hazelden's for offer of location). Passed
    4. Suggest we prepare for an official Chamber of Commerce organization by Sep 2010. Passed
    5. Interim board decided to meet together in 2 weeks Thu 20 May 2010 at Westwind Weekly News office and again on Thu 3 Jun 2010 to prepare for the meeting on the 10th of June.
    6. Distributed attendance sheet to get contact information for attendees. Asked all to sign it.
    7. Adjourn. Refreshments thanks to Jay of Roosters. Cleanup completed by 9pm.
To do:

  • Potential master member list - draw from town list of business licencee's, Westwind Business Directory, Lions Club Welcome to Magrath brochure.
  • Determine how to initiate creation of Chamber of Commerce - next steps.
  • Investigate sample bylaws and compare to bylaws of other local Chambers - produce proposal.
  • Propose membership fee structure for Magrath Chamber of Commerce for bylaw.
  • Roger will setup interim website for Chamber of Commerce information.
    see http://magrath-ab.net/chamber
Meeting Notes by Roger Davies of Soft Serve Direct / Magrath Lions Club
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