Still a few buffalo to find

At the August Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce board meeting, during old business CEO Meri Ann Dorman reported about the August 5 Pageant Day Parade that it had a “nice turnout and was a really nice parade”.

Regarding the 2023 Get Out with Your Family Activity, Dorman said there are some buffalo dolls still left waiting to be discovered. Dorman said that a tourist told her, “People are excited and over the moon” with this activity. This program is paid for by a grant from the Wyoming Children’s Trust Fund and also is in cooperation with the Department of Family Services. The program ends on August 27.

Dorman reported regarding their 2024 Weekend Worker Contract with Hot Springs County Travel & Tourism that they are pending their signatures. Dorman asked the board if they should continue with the contract, which amounts to $4,000. The board voted and passed the approval to move forward. 

In new business, Dorman and Sue Knighton reported about their Fieldprint service and that the month of June was busy with 11 people who participated. In July they have eight. Prior to the Thermopolis Chamber providing this service, the closest location was Sheridan. Knighton noted that more than 50% of the people who received the Fieldprint service were from out of town. 

Regarding the coming Chamber Banquet on October 7, Dorman said they are “working on it.” The banquet will be Halloween themed and called the “Chamboo Bash”. They will have 10 “coffins” for prizes.

Howie Samelson and Dorman reported on behalf of Main Street Thermopolis and discussed the old Firehall mural project. The artist Sage Brushes out of Lander. Wyoming Main Street is providing $15,000 to the project and the Town of Thermopolis and Main Street are splitting the remainder cost with $5,000 from each entity. Dorman added that Central Wyoming College helped her discover and connect with Sage Brushes.

In the Director’s Report, Dorman said she will attend the Wyoming Working Together Conference on September 19-22 in Lander. Also, Dorman will attend the Shooting Complex Task Force meeting on Friday, August 18 at 5 p.m. at the County Annex building. In this meeting, they plan on exploring with others a possible location for the shooting complex. Governor Mark Gordon signed a bill for the creation of the task force and for $10 million to be set aside for its construction after a location is decided upon. Various communities throughout the state are in competition to win the location as it could be a draw for tourists and other commerce. 

The next Chamber meeting will be on September 14 at Big Horn Federal.