Chamber board holds annual member meeting

The Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce held their annual meeting last Thursday, touching on a number of items of interest.

Chamber director Meri Ann Rush talked about where the chamber has come over the last couple of years, including a 28-percent increase in membership over the last two years.

They have recently made the redemption of chamber bucks easier for businesses who may now process them like checks creating an increase in the amount of chamber bucks being purchased and used in the county.

The executive board has looked over the bylaws, mission and vision statements and reworked everything to bring them up to date.

The Chamber Ambassadors, an off-shoot of the chamber, have been visiting an average of 3-4 businesses each month and the chamber itself helped the Main Street Thermopolis organization get off the ground.

The Retail Committee is meeting each month, an Oktoberfest celebration has been added, school representatives are now on the chamber board, there’s a cash mob and on and on, all items created to not only help businesses but Hot Springs County as a whole.

In other business, the board discussed the need for volunteers for various projects and activities that will be going on throughout the next year.

“It's an opportunity for everyone to get involved,” Rush said. “We have something every month, especially during the summer, and the more people we have to help and plan the easier it is for everyone.”

They are working on getting a committee together for the 4th of July Pet Parade that has expanded to include not just kids and pets, but motorized entries as well.

Last year, the Big Horn Basin Riders participated in the parade with a large number of motorcycles. Unfortunately, they won’t be participating this year as they will be on one of the poker runs held during their rally here.

A theme needs to be found for the parade, but the committee will work on ways to improve things and get folks to stay downtown after the parade.

Seven businesses and organizations were congratulated on their longevity in Hot Springs County: Town of Kirby (100 years), Lions Club (90 years), Mortimore Funeral Home (70 years), Gift of the Waters Pageant (65 years), Wyoming Pioneer Home (65 years), Wyoming Dinosaur Center (20 years) and Captel (10 years).

The board's next meeting will be on Thursday, May 14 at the Hot Springs County Museum.