OLDS — Some big changes have been made as a result of the Olds & District Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting (AGM), held March 8 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105.
Three people were acclaimed to the organization’s board of directors.
They are Albertan publisher and longtime board member Murray Elliott as well as two new board members: Peter Premachuk who owns the local H & R Block franchise and James Kreese of MNP.
The chamber’s executive will be chosen when the board holds its first meeting after the AGM on March 15.
AGM attendees approved a new streamlined membership structure for 2024. It’s now down to four levels from more than seven previously.
The new structure is $100 for non-profit/home based businesses, $185 for businesses with one to 15 employees and $285 for businesses with 16 or more employees. The fee for corporate membership is $1,500.
The simpler fee structure will “make it a little bit easier for our membership to know exactly where they fit in,” Doug Rieberger, the chamber’s president at the time, told reporters.
Rieberger also noted that a change has been made to the chamber’s member to member (M2M) program.
Its purpose is to encourage people to shop locally, thereby keeping money flowing within the town instead of being spent elsewhere.
Participants offer incentives to shop locally to other member businesses that do the same.
M2M will now be free for any business that joins the chamber.
“That will be a member perk. So there’ll be no cost to the membership,” Rieberger said. “I think that’s going to be a tremendous benefit throughout our community.”
The chamber’s two signature events -- Business Beer & Blue Jeans and the Small Business Awards banquet -- will be held in different locations this year.
Business Beer & Blue Jeans will be held this September at the Werklund Agriculture & Technology Centre, a newly renovated and expanded Olds College facility.
It’s an opportunity for chamber members to mingle and find out who the finalists are for the organization’s Small Business Awards banquet.
As always, the awards banquet will take place in October, but this year, it will be held in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105. Previously, it has been held at the Olds College Alumni Centre.
“We’re trying a little bit smaller venue so the guys can interact and mingle a little better as well as just supporting a local charity with the legion,” Rieberger said.
Attendees approved the 2023 budget, which projects a surplus of $1,210 on total revenue of $85,760 and expenses totalling $84,550.
Attendees also approved a change that allows the board to name honourary chamber members. Proposed life members will be presented to the membership for approval during AGMs
At Elliott’s suggestion, the crowd paid tribute to four retiring board members: Town of Olds appointee Dan Daley, Sundai Cody of Cody & Co.; Karley Boom of MNP and Heather Weir of Oasis Hut Medi Spa.
“Thank you for your time and effort on the board,” Elliott said. “You’re not going anywhere; there’s always opportunities to join again.”
