Work on bringing another business seminar to Bashaw was the main piece of the latest meeting of local businesses.
Following a break for July, the Bashaw and District Chamber of Commerce held it’s monthly regular meeting on Aug. 8 where the focus was coming up with ideas for Small Business Week in October.
Chamber president Dustin Hemingson suggested that the organization once again sponsor an information evening for local business owners and staff.
“I think if we can do something similar to what we did in 2016, with a seminar presentation geared toward what is going in the area, I believe that would go over really well,” he said.
The hope is to approach Bashaw RCMP Sgt. Bruce Holliday to again come up with something that would bring businesses up to date as to what is happening locally and what they can do to assist. The seminar will be held during Small Business Week that runs Oct. 14 to 20, but the exact date and time has yet to be determined.
Hemingson also hopes to combine the session with a membership drive for the Chamber, which presently sits at about 22 paid members.
While there were no specific ideas presented on what the membership drive would entail, the question came up once again about the lack of a business licence in Bashaw and what help the town can provide in guiding businesses to the Chamber.
The Chamber had been working for some time with town administration in an attempt to have a business licence implemented, and with that, part of the licensing fee going to the Chamber in the form of membership.
However, Hemingson explained the idea fell apart when there was no appetite among town council to see any licensing implemented — due to a perception a licence would restrict operations as well as that the idea isn’t needed as things are running fine the way it is.
“Also practically, the idea posed a lot of hurdles with how to deal with businesses outside of town that are members,” he noted.
Other business
The digital sign came up for a brief discussion, where town CAO Theresa Fuller explained the idea is a dead duck as far as the town is concerned. She said that council was adamant that the sign would only be back in front of them if a “community based push” was made with significant financial contributions from the community.
Several organizations, including the Chamber, as well as town administration have expressed in replacing the current placard sign with the easier to operate digital one. However, no community group has stepped to help pay for one, which is part of the reason council decided to eliminate it from their list of spending priorities.
Chamber members are also being encouraged to nominate a local member for the 2019 Alberta Business Awards plus participate in the 2018 Marketing Challenge put on by Community Futures East Parkland.
Help wanted
The Chamber is also in need of a few members to step up to fill a pair executive positions, or risk having their Chamber status revoked. Hemingson stated the group must fill the vacant secretary spot and will soon be losing its treasurer, due to the individual being transferred.
Vice-president Peter Graham added, “If we cannot fill the secretary position as soon as possible, it could jeopardize our standing with the governing body for Chambers of Commerce. It would be like losing status as a non-profit.”
The secretary post would need a hour to each week, while the treasurer spot would be about the same with the positions up for election at the annual general meeting in January. Training would be provided.
For information on joining or to find out more about helping out, contact the Chamber at www.enjoybashaw.com.