The Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for another exciting year for the town. The Chamber held its Annual General Meeting on Jan 20 at the Old Iron Horse Restaurant.
The meeting addressed many topics for this 2009 year and reflected on 2008.
The financial report was given by Linda Steinmann and showed that the Chamber did very well in 2008, exceeding the expectations at the beginning of the year.
The Chamber highlighted past events including the successful trade fair where all 200 booths were sold out.
In 2008 the Chamber launched their new website, www.ponokalive.ca. They also touched on the success of the Ponoka Car Show, their Ponoka Stampede involvement, garage sale, Show n’ Shine, Midnight Madness, and much more.
The Chamber is looking forward to a great new year and is hoping to get more members.
Currently the Chamber has approximately 200 members and is always looking for more to join.
The meeting also elected past and new members as executive and directors. President of the Chamber is Darren Galan replacing past president Marion Raugust. New Vice-President of the Chamber is Melodie Helm. Swearing in of executive was done by mayor Larry Henkelman who read the duties of each position and officially made them executives.
Sherry Gummow, vice-president and fundraising chair of the Ponoka Ag-Event Centre, did a presentation on the new Ag-Event Centre project that will be part of the community in the future. She highlighted the need for it as well as the benefit it will be to Ponoka and area. Gummow gave detailed information and answered questions at the end of the presentation.
The next general meeting will be held Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. Chamber members will be luncheon guests of Sunrise Village and RSVP is strongly encouraged.