Chamber adds new level of membership

Last Thursday, Dec. 14, the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce voted to add another level of membership. In addition to its membership levels for individuals, businesses, non-profits, churches and other organizations, the chamber will now have a level specifically for candidates and political action committees (PACs).

The decision came following a lengthy discussion concerning political advertisements for 2018, as it is an election year. Chamber Executive Director Meri Ann Rush prompted the discussion, in order to set out and clarify the policy regarding political advertisements.

The new membership level costs $225 per year.

In other action, the board approved of prices for advertisers for the 2018 city/county maps that feature Thermopolis on one side and Hot Springs County on the other.

Also during the meeting, the board briefly discussed where they are with ticket sales for the 2018 vacation getaway fundraiser. The chamber has been working with other communities to get some prizes together, with the idea of trip packages to those communities and the hope that they would offer trip packages to Thermopolis for their fundraisers.

Prizes are a fishing trip to Jackson, tickets to a game of the Wyoming Cowboys against the Washington State Cougars on Sept. 1, 2018, visits to historic sites in Saratoga and zip line trip at Sleeping Giant Resort near Yellowstone. Prizes can also be exchanged for $100 instead. Tickets are $20, or six for $100.

The board also received an update on the Merry Christmas Market, held on Nov. 28. During the event, which went from 5-8 p.m., participants picked up Bingo cards and played by shopping at local businesses. Those who got a Bingo had a chance to win a basket of prizes from the participating businesses.

There were 69 cards handed out and 20 were handed back in. She added some of the feedback from retailers is that people were stopping and shopping simply because the businesses were open, not because they were trying to fill a Bingo card.

There was also some discussion for extending the hours of the event, or even making it for a couple days, so people have more time to stop and shop while also filling out their Bingo cards.

The board received an updated recap for the demolition derby, which showed the total profit was $14,586.99, as the income was $34,034.53 and expenses were $19,447.54.

Rush pointed out that the expense for the portable toilets this year was $1,040, up quite a bit from $700 in 2016 and $420 in 2015. Rush plans to attend the Fair Board meeting in February to get information as to what the chamber will be charged for the derby and to discuss the bathroom situation, as portable toilets should had to be brought in because the bathroom facilities cannot be used.

It was also noted that while the derby saw similar attendance numbers from last year there was an increase in the number of participants, with 47 compared to the 30 budgeted for in past year.

Rush said when they were able to use the bathrooms, which was in 2015, the chamber even brought in additional portable toilets because they do acknowledge there is a lot of people attending and the regular facilities can’t handle them all.

The chamber also set their Christmas party for 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 and a work session for Jan. 22, from 6-8 p.m.

County Commission liaison, Phil Scheel, reported an emergency SLIB grant was received to pay for the new roof on Hot Springs County Senior Center, and that a new county maintenance supervisor, Anthony Fruciano, was hired.

As for Main Street activities, Deb Tudor reported six attended a webinar about “place making,” and how to acquire grant money to do some improvements. Among the locations discussed were the Wyoming Dinosaur Center and the green areas near the flagpole.