Chamber of Commerce ramps up for an exciting year
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
The Lake Benton Chamber of Commerce met in its first meeting of the calendar year on Jan. 11 at the new time of 5:45 p.m. in hopes that more members will be able to attend the meetings.
Treasurer Jenny Nordmeyer reported that the budget appears to be at a loss due to the fact that the chamber paid for two years’ worth of Visitors Guides in the same year and that revenues for the guides haven’t been collected as of yet.
Nordmeyer also said that the organization paid out $5,000 for this year’s Red Wing Pottery and that $2,900 worth of the product has been sold.
Nordmeyer suggested that the chamber close out thenew cityfloat account with a balance of $32 since the float has been completed and all of the bills for that project have been paid.
Nordmeyer also said that a nice donation of $2,000 has been received from an individual who requested anonymity and that repayment of a book loan from the Historical Society will be returned to the general fund.
Special event insurance covers the annual kickoff, flea market, Benton-Fremont/Te Tonka Ha, Santa Claus Day and Saddle Horse Holiday.
The chamber is still looking for a vice-president to fill that board position and President Mike Carpenter, Treasurer Jenny Nordmeyer and acting Secretary Heather Ulrich-Glynn have agreed to retain their positions for the coming year.
The chamber talked about the possibility of combining with the school and the city to produce a community newsletter to be mass mailed quarterly to reach more people in order to get better activity and help with events.
The chamber would use the potential newsletter to spotlight businesses in town and will check with the Valley Journal about assisting with production and preparation for mailing, though someone would have to take on the project.
Secretary Heather Ulrich-Glynn suggested that office expenses be shared by the various community organizations that use them. Costs are currently split for advertising with the South Dakota Glacial Lakes Board of Tourism between the chamber and the Community Visitors Bureau (CVB) and there are copier codes for those organizations and the Historical Society and the Economic Development Association (EDA).
Ulrich-Glynn suggested sharing telephone and Internet costs as well.
President Mike Carpenter said the executive board needs more help with Saddle Horse Holiday 2012. Carpenter would like more people to get involved to help generate new and different ideas for events and help coordinate and run them.
Carl Burk said he would like to reestablish the Benton-Fremont committee for the Te Tonka Ha Rendezvous. Burk has been doing a lot of the work and needs help generating new attractions and entertainment.
The event has been holding its own but things are changing for many of the talent and attractions.
Burk would like to bring back the popular style show and add an evening program with a power-point-type living history show in addition to games for kids and rock painting with assistance from the High Valley Art Guild.
Several chamber members agreed to be on the committee, which will hold its first meeting in March.
The chamber received several thank you letters from winners of turkeys at the holiday open houses and also from winners in the holiday lighting contest.
The chamber will prepare a First Dollar Award for the new owners of the Garden Gate Greenhouse, which recently changed hands.
In the Mayors Report Mike Carpenter invited everyone to come to the Historical Society Annual meeting on Jan. 22.
“It’s a great organization,” said Carpenter. “Everyone should become a member of the Historical Society.”
The next meeting of the Lake Benton Area Chamber of Commerce will be on the second Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 5:45 p.m.
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