Chamber elects executive board members

Last Thursday, the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce elected its executive board, naming Deb Tudor as president, Pastor Sam Needham as vice president, Susan Linko as secretary and Vivian Butchart as treasurer. Those elected were also authorized, along with Greg Willson as past president, as signers on the chamber account.

Prior to electing the executive board, the chamber also elected members Needham, Butchart, Robin Griffin and Shelly Burrows to fill vacancies. They will serve on the board until October of 2021.

Also during the meeting Meri Ann Rush, the chamber executive director, provided an update on the Live Local Work Local tour coming up on Nov. 5. The tour provides students from the University of Wyoming the opportunity to see what jobs are available to them around the state, in the hope that more graduates stay in the state. Rush said the university is taking applications of the students who are coming, and she has submitted a list of different possibilities for the students to visit. She expects to have a final number of visiting students this week.

Rush also expressed appreciation to the Christmas Committee and all who have come out to help refurbish the wreaths put up around town for Christmas. She also noted there will be an attempt to have the light up parade again this year, and application entries are currently available. Another thing being brought back for Christmas is the light up contest, allowing people to nominate homes they think have interesting decorations. There will be a tour and judging of the nominees.

Willson noted service for the chamber doesn’t just end with the board as there are a variety of committees that people can join.

Tudor reported that this year’s Oktobrewfest was great, as the weather held out and there was quite a bit of participation. She added there were notecards designed and sold this year rather than ornaments, and many of the cards were sold at Oktobrewfest.

The board will have a planning meeting in lieu of a regular meeting, in order to review and familiarize new board members with the strategic plan and determine if the plan needs to be modified. He believes a functional strategic plan is one that is “alive,” being continuously updated and reviewed and ensuring the board is staying on task for what they want to accomplish.