Smithers District Chamber of Commerce
New Directors Orientation Meeting

Tuesday April 9, 2002
Chamber of Commerce Board Room

AGENDA TOPICS

1.       Welcoming Comments – President Sheri Howard (5 minutes) 

2.       Introductions – President Sheri Howard (5 minutes) 

3.       New Board Members – Self-introduction and Brief Background. (10 minutes) 

4.       The Director’s Binder:  - Brian Burrill, Manager (30 minutes)

·         The Chamber and its Objectives (A-6)

·         How it operates (A-7)

·         The Board and the Role of the Board (handout)

·         Executive Committee (chart)

·         Standing Committees – examples (chart)

·         Ad Hoc or Special Committees – examples (chart)

·         How the Chamber is Financed (last section)

·         Membership dues

·         Events (Trade Show, Business Awards, Luncheons, etc)

·         Fee for Service – Town of Smithers

·         Miscellaneous fees (insurance, souvenirs, etc)

·         Grants

·         Some Organizational Guidelines (Section “B” of binder)

·         Nature of the Board of Directors (B-1)

·         Responsibilities of the Board of Directors (B-1)

·         Functions of the Board (B-2)

·         Relation of a Director to the Public (B-2)

·         Relation of a Director to Committees (B-3)

·         Relation of a Director to the Board (B-3)

·         Some Structural Guidelines for the Chamber Board of Directors

·         Directors (B-7)

·         Officers or Executive Committee (B-8)

·         Committees (B-9)

·         Smithers Chamber Relationship with BC Chamber and Canadian Chamber

·         BC Chamber of Commerce

·         Canadian Chamber of Commerce

·         Some other important parts of the Binder for your own reading…

·         Volunteer Board of Directors – Legal Risks (Section D)

·         Conflict of Interest Guidelines (Section E *between D & F)

·         Rules of Procedures (Section F)

·         Our Constitution (*Some changes voted on at last AGM)

·         Fee for Service Agreement (Town of Smithers)

·         2002 Budget

5.    Things You Should Know about the Smithers District Chamber of Commerce (30 minutes) 

General Goals For New Board to Consider:

·         More active committee system

·         Board Training – understanding roles and responsibilities; teamwork, etc.

·         Improve public perception of Chamber

·         Improve budget situation—increase membership; lower expenditures 

Member Services Goals to Consider as a New Board:

·         Increasing membership

·         Market the Chamber Group Plan more intensively (increases revenue)

·         Provide more training and information exchange for members

·         Work more effectively to improve local business situation

 Some General Issues that our Chamber is Dealing With:

·         Fee for Service Agreement with the Town

·         The tax burden levied on the Chamber

·         Use of our surplus funds

·         Provincial Government job cuts

·         A more defined vision for the Chamber

 Some Economic Development Issues our Chamber is Dealing With:

·         ED on behalf of the Town through the “Fee for Service Agreement”

·         ED Survey developed through joint meetings with Town of Smithers

·         Public Forum on ED Survey April 29th

·         Skeena Cellulose

·         Ski Smithers agreement with Canadian Rocky Holdings

·         Cruise and container ship development in Prince Rupert

 Associations that the Chamber is Affiliated With:

·         BC Chamber of Commerce

·         Canadian Chamber of Commerce

·         Northern BC Tourism Association

·         Tourism BC

·         Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway Association

·         Northwest Corridor Development Corporation

·         Economic Development Association of BC

 Chambers Role in Tourism:

·         Part of “Fee for Service Agreement” with Town of Smithers

·         Operates Visitor Information Center (under agreement with Tourism BC)

·         Marketing (media ads; www.TourismSmithers.com)

·         Hire summer staff for VIC

·         Licensing agreement with SuperHost (for delivery of courses)

 Chamber Events:

·         Board Meetings (3^rd Tuesdays*)

·         Economic Development Committee Meetings (2^nd Tuesdays)

·         Business Luncheons (third Wednesday of each month at Aspen)

·         Chamber Week (February)

·         Small Business Week (February)

·         Annual General Meeting (March)

·         Trade Show (April)

·         Business Awards and Installation of Officers (May)

·         BC Chamber of Commerce AGM (May)

·         Member BBQ (July)

·         Northern BC Tourism Association AGM (October)

Ref.  Smithers District Chamber