The Nakusp & District Chamber of Commerce held its annual general meeting last week, using it as opportunity to go over the chambers work last year and plans for this year, and to form a new board of directors.
The AGM was held at Chumley’s last Thursday, Jan. 26, with about 25 people in attendance.
Cedra Eichenauer, the manager of the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre, went over the chamber’s financials. The chamber posted a $2,000 profit last year, which she hopes will tide the organization over while member’s pay their dues for 2014.
Eichenauer unveiled the new website, which is currently online but not live to the public. The site replaces the old, text-heavy web page with one that is much more graphic intensive.
“I don’t know how many of you are familiar with our current website, but I use it every day and I find it a little bit difficult to navigate and not automatic when you see it,” she said. “The new one, we’ve eliminated the text so you just get images.”
The home page of the new site features three photo slideshows leading to sections titled visit, discover and stay. The visit section provides information about the region and how to get here. The discover section is all about the attractions in the region. The stay section provides a list of places to eat and stay while in the area.
The new site incorporates the Nakusp & District Development Board directory, with chamber members given priority on the site. Eichenauer said she will be seeking photos from every business to place on the site.
The business directory is also enhanced, with space for business owners to provide longer descriptions about what they do. Eichenauer has the ability to update the site herself, which will reduce the cost of running it.
The site automatically adjusts depending on what kind of device you view it on – computer, tablet or mobile phone.
“We’re hoping to have it go live next month,” she said.
Dawn Devlin, the chamber president, provided an update on new signage that has gone up at the Shelter Bay and Needles ferry landings. The signs showcase the Nakusp area and have advertising space for businesses.
Peter Welkering, the vice-president of the chamber, updated members on the recently-formed West Kootenay Tourism Alliance – a new group consisting of businesses, tourism organizations and other people in the Nakusp, Slocan Lake and Kootenay Lake area.
The alliance was formed last year to promote the region as a tourism destination. They hired a marketing firm with connections to the area to develop a brand that will include a name, tagline, colours, fonts, signage ideas and a sample website.
“The goal for us is to get the region, the small communities, out there so they see the small communities as a destination.” said Welkering. “Not only a destination for tourists but also for people who want to live here, raise their children and start a business.”
The meeting concluded with the formation of a new board consisting of:
— Niel Allkins, Overwaitea Foods
— Joanne Cowan, Kootenay Savings Credit Union
— Tammy Dachwitz, Cozy Cabin B&B and Nakusp Glass
— Dawn Devlin, ReAwakening Health Centre
— Willi Jahnke, Nakusp Greenscape
— Shirley Kosiancic, Century 21 Mountainview Realty and Spectrum Home & Family Care
— Susan Kostuch, Coachman Campsite
— Barbara Ross, individual member
— Shari Wahl, HUB International Barton Insurance.
— Peter Welkerling, Brouse Creek B&B.