Win a vacation to Waikiki Beach

With cold, snowy weather setting in, the Thermopolis-Hot Springs County Chamber of Commerce Board approved Thursday the group’s upcoming fundraiser, which will send one lucky Hot Springs County resident and a friend to Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii.

The fundraiser is similar to a fundraiser ran last year by the board, which sold 113 tickets and raised over $2,500 for the board. A limited number will be sold, improving buyers’ chances of winning.

The winner will be given a travel credit of $2,500 to travel to Honolulu, which, according to Executive Director Meri Ann Rush, will be more than sufficient for both airfare and hotel stay. The beginning date of the fundraiser has yet to be decided, but tickets will be sold until the March Chamber Meet and Greet, and the lucky winner must book their trip by June 1. The drawing will take place on March 19 at Central Bank and Trust.

Also during Thursday’s meeting, the board discussed organizing a weekend in July to host a hot air balloon festival. Jessica Lippincott of the Big Horn Basin Foundation suggested the idea to Rush, who researched the idea leading up to the meeting. Both Riverton and Cody have participated annually, although Cody has dropped the event due to lack of sponsors. The board would have to pay lodging, food and propane for the hot air balloon pilots and crews, as well as mandatory insurance and for a balloon coordinator that would help solicit participation of balloon pilots.

The board did not make a decision, and instead will continue to do research to make sure the event would be worth the investment.

The board was shown prospective fliers for the upcoming Chamber Board Meet and Greets. Hosting businesses will now be charged $25 each, which will allow the board to buy door prizes for those in attendance. The board is seeking to strengthen the Meet and Greet format in order to encourage wider participation.