For those of you who were not able to attend our membership meeting in October, here is what you missed.
GSV Chamber accomplishments within last year:
- Hosted monthly networking events every third Monday of the month exclusively for Chamber members. Any member can host these events.
- Incorporated a website, community event calendar and Facebook page.
- Hired an employee for 15 hours per week (Lauren Zarske), and a bookkeeper (Jessi Peters).
- Developed visitor information maps/directories. These were distributed to all of our Chamber members as well as destination locations around town. They were also available at community events such as Rally in the Pines and the weekly Farmer’s Market. If you did not receive these they are available to pick up at our visitors center.
- Supported community events; Fireworks, Salmon River Days and Rally in the Pines.
- Disseminated monthly newsletters via email to our members. These are also available in our local newspaper from the Recorder Herald. KSRA has been a great partner for dispersing information as well.
- Getting more involved with Lemhi County Economic Development Association (LCEDA). John Blayden, one of our board members is now attending LCEDA board meetings to learn how they operate. His attendance at these meetings allows for an exchange of information between the Chamber and LCEDA.
- Recently started posting printed monthly events calendars around town at the beginning of every month. We will be sending out electronic versions of these calendars to our members so they can print them for their office.
- Our board members are heavily involved with volunteering their time to benefit the Chamber. Please note that all board members also pay their yearly membership dues.
- Improved Facebook presence. Last October we had 347 likes, today we have 1,213.
What members are currently paying for with their membership:
- One year’s worth of a website listing
- One year’s worth of printing in seasonal map/directories (one or two editions)
- Attendance at all Chamber networking events
- Voting rights in Chamber elections
- Event calendar access
- Facebook marketing and advertising for special community events
- Newsletter via email
- Fireworks
- Representation at Visitors Center and mobile visitor information booths
- (NEW!) Member Highlights on Facebook. Please note that the first round of highlights will be free, after that highlights will be available to purchase.
Current financial situation:
- Currently have $3k set aside for fireworks.
- L.O.T. Visitor Information Grant awarded $8,795 in total. Currently have $7,560 left to spend.
- Annual Revenue at 90 members will be $11k.
- Right now with current operations it will cost $17k. We are short about 5k.
- We have a strategic planning session mid January to continue to close the gap and build funds. We are maxed out on what we can do with the funds we have now. If you want the chamber to do more, we will need more of your time and more money. We are happy to do more but will need help.
What is in store for the future:
Continue delivering on LOT grant, which is specifically for visitor information.
- Improvements to the visitor center (i.e. Chamber banner, visitor information poster for outside of building)
- 1-2 more printings of the map/directory (i.e. winter, spring/summer)
- Event posters and other visitor information posted around town
- Attend more events with visitor information booth
Board Elections in March
- Four open positions: President, Treasurer, 2 board official positions
- Happy to have any of you or that you can think of! Open to any Chamber members.
Strategic Planning session in January with professional facilitator.
- Session will include both planning what we’d like to do more of, and figuring out how we’ll fund it.
- Member input from the Annual Membership Meeting will also be addressed in depth during our strategic planning session.