Chamber discusses hosting a job fair

At the March Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce meeting, the board and CEO Meri Ann Rush discussed the three different focus areas for their strategic plan. The board then voted and passed to adopt the strategic plan as presented. 

Voting for the 2021 Business/Non-Profit Organization/Citizen of the Year will be April 24 at the Annual Board meeting. Past presidents will also be voting.

In new business, the board formed a nomination committee of three board members. There are four seats available in this election cycle.

Board member Bradyn Harvey brought up an idea to do a job fair that would help businesses let people know they are hiring and for high school students and everyone has the opportunity to know where to look for work. The board found the idea pleasing and there was discussion about having the job fair in April with members paying $50 a table and non-members paying $100 a table.

In the director’s report, Rush updated the board on the National Civic Bee Pilot Program. The deadline for essays is March 18. The live competition will be on April 9 at 1 p.m. The essays are to be 500 words and will be read by two judges. The first prize is $1,000, the second is $500, and the third is $250. The first 100 essays will be narrowed down to the top 10 and then the winners will be chosen. Students grades 6-8 are participants. 

Rush and the board also discussed the idea of having a charging station for electric cars be available for tourists and other drivers in the area. Rush noted that she is not against the oil and gas industry.

The next chamber meeting will be on April 14 at Big Horn Federal beginning at 6 p.m.