Chamber board passes budget

At the May 13 Chamber of Commerce meeting, the chamber did a membership review for the past year.

Chamber Director Meri Ann Rush reported that in April 2020 there was only one tourist that visited their office in the entire month. However overall their stats look good. For people looking to relocate to Thermopolis there were 13 people interested in this last April whereas there were seven last year. Rush said Thermopolis is a relocation hotspot but the housing inventory is not really available.

The chamber’s website had 1,435 different visitors. Also, the chamber’s membership increased by 22 and went down by 18, which is a net plus of 14. Rush said they maintained their membership amount and that is what they were hoping for. 

In old business, the coming board elections are in place. Ballots will be in the mail by May 20. The deadline to turn them in is June 4. They will form an election committee to count the votes on June 10. There will also be an executive board election. Those existing board members cannot be reelected after two consecutive terms. The ballots have six candidates but there are only four seats open.

The chamber will have board training on June 14.

Also, ideas for fundraisers were discussed. The chamber wants to do more of them in slow times of the year and hopefully do them without needing to plan them all year long.

In new business they discussed the Pageant Day Parade for August 7. The theme is still being decided upon. 

Rush also presented their 2021-2022 Investment Schedule which shows an increase of 3% due to the averaged expected rise of inflation. The chamber board voted and passed to accept the new schedule.

The board voted and passed their new budget for 2021-2022. The total amount was $151,852 and Rush said it didn’t change a lot from the previous year.

The chamber’s Demolition Derby is scheduled for August 14 and Rush recently met with the Fair Board and she said, “Things are moving forward.”

Howie Samelson reported about Main Street Thermopolis and said the downtown clean up is scheduled for May 19. Samelson added that the new decorative lights for 5th Street and Arapahoe have arrived. 

In the director’s report, Rush reported about her attendance at the Wyoming State Chamber of Commerce Conference which was held April 28-30. Rush said, “It was awesome to see people in person” and that attendance was up with many new directors visiting. 

The chamber held their last Coffee Talk on May 25 and Rush described the Small Business Development Center and how it provides a lot of free resources that can help small businesses improve. These include a seven week master course on profits. Rush emphasized that their training resources are helpful and are either free or cost little, such as webinars. 

Rush also brought up a discussion of the Chamber’s Business After Hours events. She asked the board, should they continue to hold them? Is there good attendance? And, is it a good resource of time? Rush added that they have struggled to have them and wondered if it is worth it to continue doing them. Members of the board said that in cases like grand openings or a special event, the After Hours would be helpful. 

Rush continued in her report about their Thermopolis Tatanka program where they are partnering with the Public Health Office and the Department of Family Services. Kids and their families will go on a hunt of 16 places through the State Park and elsewhere where they visit each place and take a picture. They also give the kids crayons to color a buffalo picture.

Once their adventure is done, they return to the Chamber office and take a survey about their experience. In return, the kids get a small ice cream dessert at Dairyland and are placed in a drawing contest to potentially win $100 in Chamber Bucks. There is no age limit to the program and it is currently running and ends August 1.

Rush reported that the Chamber Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit is up and running. They raised enough funds to pay the $275 to create the foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to benefit citizens and the economy of Hot Springs County. 

The next Chamber Business After Hours will be on May 28 at the Wind River Canyon White Water and Fly Fishing. The next Chamber meeting will be June 10.