Rivers Chamber hears many changes
- Details
- Published on Thursday, February 5, 2015
By Sheila Runions
Banner Staff
The January meeting of Rivers and District Chamber of Commerce was filled with much discussion, some on changing meeting dates.
Learning that president Ken Tait will be at a work convention the last Wednesday of February, the next meeting has been moved to Wednesday, March 4. Meetings are held at noon at Lee’s Restaurant; they announced their closure from March 16-April 9 so the March chamber meeting will actually be held April 15.
A well-defined report from a joint meeting with chamber and hospital auxiliary representatives brought many comments regarding the annual home and craft show. It was agreed to proceed for another year, on Sept. 19, though changes may be in the works. Seven benefits were recognized in the report, eight concerns were mentioned and 11 solutions were suggested as potential options. More information regarding this annual joint fundraiser will be forthcoming.
It was previously reported to the chamber and through this newspaper that Razzamatazz Dance Club was going to co-ordinate a family dance in February. They sent correspondence to the Jan. 28 meeting that they would be unable to meet this goal. Membership is too busy planning for festival entries in Brandon and Minnedosa and the 25th anniversary recital which will be held in Brandon in May. That group implied that when they meet in August to plan their 2015-16 dance year, they would be better able to schedule such an event.
A letter was received from Rivers Bigway Foods; they announced their willingness to plan a Christmas tree auction for 2015. Based on a similar event in Brandon, their idea was met with little enthusiasm, especially because they suggested that auction proceeds be given to charity. Membership agreed that because the chamber is watching its budget to update their highway signs that if this event was co-ordinated, funds raised should remain in the chamber account.
Consideration may be given to starting the 2015 Santa Claus parade at 11 a.m. instead of 10 a.m., in hopes of allowing more time for families to have their children dressed and ready. It was reported that the 2014 parade was well attended with more floats than average, partially because of the beautiful weather that Saturday in December.
A preliminary schedule of workers for Brandon’s Home Show was passed around; eight shifts need to be filled, preferably with two people per time slot. Because this event is held April 10-12, there is still plenty of time for members to plan to help their chamber and their community. Although leftover Town of Rivers and RM of Daly items are available for promotional purposes, the chamber needs to decide whether or not to purchase souvenirs which promote the new Riverdale Municipality.
It was noted that at the November meeting when the Home Show was first discussed, that members were told it would be in March. Now that dates are known as April 10-12, members were reminded that the first-ever Rivers Wellness Day will be held during that weekend. Featuring Dick O’Brien from Ontario as the primary speaker for both morning and afternoon sessions, the free event also includes a free lunch. It was implied that some members who may have been available to work the Home Show will now have a conflict because of their previous commitment to Rivers Wellness Day, held at Rivers Collegiate.
Rivers and Area Game and Fish Association announced its eighth annual ice fishing derby will be held March 14. Members agreed to renew their past support of this event by suppling five $20 gift certificates for timeed fish reporting and three $50 certificates if any of the tagged fish are caught within 12 months after the derby. Dave Falkevitch reminded the organization that on derby day the tagged fish is worth $10,000 and that in 2014, that fish was caught three days after the derby.
Chamber members also agreed to renew their sponsorship with Rivers Ag Society and supply $200 for $100 prize money in both cattle and horse classes. In return for this donation, the society will print a half-page chamber ad in their fair book.
