The Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce and the Sundre Petroleum Operators Group (SPOG) aspire to solidify their relationship to build a more mutually beneficial partnership.
About 20 people attended the chamber’s annual general meeting at the legion on Jan. 29, which following the regular agenda, included a presentation by guest speaker Tracy McCrimmon, SPOG’s executive director.
“I saw an opportunity for us to refresh and renew our relationship,” said McCrimmon, who has been involved with SPOG for 16 years, initially as an industry member from Calgary and for the last 11 years as the executive director.
“We’ve been asked by about three or four companies to create a list of local contractors and service companies,” she said, adding SPOG will be concentrating on “helping the chamber build their membership through our membership with industry members.”
That approach is sort of a two-way street, she said, as SPOG struggles to promote local contractors that aren’t engaged with the industry synergy group.
“One of the things that we all know and see is the cannabis industry has come pretty heavy into this neighbourhood,” she said.
“They are looking to us for resources.”
However, SPOG, which has about 30 members, is still undergoing an internal governance review on whether to open the organization’s doors beyond the petroleum industry, she said.
“I’d really like to see if we can solidify our relationship with the chamber and work together, build both of our memberships, because it helps both of our organizations.”
McCrimmon also extended an invitation for the chamber to return to the annual Neighbours’ Day fair — scheduled this year for Sept. 13 — which SPOG intends to be more of a community event rather than only an oil and gas open house.
By joining forces, SPOG and the chamber can together add value to industry in the region, she said.
“We’d like to see if maybe in March or April we could put on a social for our industry members and our local businesses to come and hear us out and talk to us, and see what value we can add.”
However, while not all of SPOG’s membership is excited about the idea of expanding the organization’s mandate beyond the petroleum industry, she said ensuring sustainability might well mean including other stakeholders such as the aggregate and cannabis industries, which have some overlap with the oil industry with respect to certain kinds of required service contractors.
Leading up to her presentation, the regular business of the meeting was attended to.
Although the chamber was still in need of a secretary-treasurer by the end of the meeting, Jean Jones was elected to the position by the following day.
Meanwhile, the rest of the board, including directors, was elected during the meeting. Connie Anderson was re-elected as president, with Velma Vincent chosen to serve as vice-president. Chris Newton and Mike Crouch, who attended the meeting, were elected as directors, while Chris Vardas, Jim Ecklund, Heidi Overguard, Marty Mennear and Melany Sealy, who had previously decided to let their names stand, were also elected in absentia. The floor was then opened to further nominations, with Sundre resident of five years and retired businessman Ken Harris throwing his name in the hat and subsequently being elected as a new director.
“I came tonight to try and get a little bit more involved in the town,” said Harris, adding he wants to help the municipality along the path of economic recovery and growth.
Anderson started the meeting by expressing gratitude to Lois Warnock, who stepped down as secretary-treasurer, as well as Monica St. Dennis, who stepped down as a director, and Colleen Praill, also a former director.
Anderson reported that since the chamber’s last annual general meeting in April 2018, a process led by Newton to modernize the organization’s bylaws to bring them up to today’s standards had been underway.
“He wants to have them reviewed and approved by June, we’re hoping,” said Anderson.
The president also mentioned last year’s Explore Sundre Adventure and Home Expo, which had been organized by former chamber president Mike Beukeboom.
“He did a very good job of course and I thank him for that,” said Anderson.
Additionally, Moe Fahey was hired to help out at the Visitor Information Centre in a part-time capacity following the departure of students funded through the Summer Temporary Employment Program, he said.
“So far, she has changed the VIC around, sold off a bunch of old inventory, cleaned out the shed, done a wonderful job for us — a wonderful addition,” he said, adding the visitor centre was previously run by volunteers and summer students.
Additionally, Fahey spearheaded the organizational effort behind Sundown in Sundre with enthusiastic volunteer support, he said.
“It was a huge success that attracted many people to the community centre for an enjoyable evening.”
Over the past year, Vincent brought the chamber’s finances and books up to speed, with up-to-date financial statements presented at each monthly meeting, he said.
“Coming out of the statements, we realized that the VIC draws money out of our chamber coffers,” he said, adding the expense adds up to about $28,500.
The Town of Sundre now contributes $15,000, up from the previous $12,500, while Mountain View County kicks in an additional $5,000, he said.
“That leaves about $8,500 that we have to cover out of our money to run the VIC.”
Vincent discussed the chamber’s financial position, which as of the end of 2018 saw the organization sitting at about $3,500 in profit.
According to the document presented, the chamber had — from January to December of last year — a total income of about $66,000 with total expenses amounting to nearly $62,000. Looking at the balance sheet, she added the chamber had about $15,000 in its bank account.
Membership fees are currently due, with a new option available for people to pay online by credit card, she said.
