hands on learning
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Lindsay Park students are getting into rocks.
Free book exchange launched.
Lindsay park rocks
BOOKS GO WILD
ThursDAY January 31, 2013
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The Bulletin
Proudly serving kimberley and area since 1932 | Vol. 80, Issue 22 | www.dailybulletin.ca
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Chamber sets new direction at AGM More business focus, revamping of JulyFest CAROLYN GRANT www.dailybulletin.ca
It has been a year of change for the Kimberley Chamber of Commerce, says President Darren Close, but also a year of accomplishment. The Chamber held its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday night at the Kimberley Conference and Athlete Training Centre, and the board reported to its members on the new focus and direction it intends to take. It was also time to welcome new members to the Board. Joining those who have one year remaining in their term — those being Greg Bradley, Darren Close, Tamara Duggan, Schaun Goodeve, Kieran Hickey, Janet Johanson, Grant Sharam, Liana Shaw and Virginia Watson — are new board members Bev Campbell, Simone Desautels, Jaime Funk, Chantal Hack, Tylene Turner and Alison Walker. “I think we have a strong board,” Close said. “New directors coming on board add to that strength.” The biggest change for the Chamber is that it is no longer operating the Visitor Centre. Tourism Kimberley took over at the beginning of the year and are renting the
Annalee Grant photo
The 2013 Kimberley and District Chamber of Commerce Board. Joining Greg Bradley, Darren Close, Tamara Duggan, Schaun Goodeve, Kieran Hickey, Janet JJ Johnason, Grant Sharam, Liana Shaw and Virginia Watson are Bev Campbell, Simone Desautels, Jaime Funk, Chantal Hack, Tylene Turner and Alison Walker. Chamber-owned building. Close says that turning over Visitor Centre duties does not alleviate responsibility to advocate for the tourism sector but frees up time to better support busi-
ness. The Chamber itself has found a new office and will operate out of an office between Our Place Restaurant and Trickle Creek Gallery on Wallinger Avenue. “It’s a positive, visi-
ble location. It was a goal to be more visible, to be easily accessible.” A new manager is also being recruited. Employees have gone down from three to one with the hand-over of Visitor Centre duties.
The Chamber wants to take a leadership role, Close said. “We are the voice of business in Kimberley. We advocate and offer assistance and we want to hear from you.” The Chamber has
set goals for itself. They want to work toward increasing membership by 15 per cent each year, grow event revenue by 20 per cent in the next three to five years and build a reserve fund of $15,000.
“We have to be financially responsible. We must increase value to our membership to be sustainable,” Close said. “Events have to be run in a profitable manner.
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