Fodbatingiladea etme cae ee ae sero ele SET ate rnin eg ba MA IE ra PPLE Smee, He See ee roa im SS ae AT EE PE RR PRET RSE The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 14, 1996 -A11 p TERRACE & DISTRICT | Chamber of Commerce Building Blocks of the Community | Past year a virtual whirlwind for chamber of commerce Barb Kerr FROM POLITICIANS te bridge closures — it’s been quile a year for Barb Kerr, the president of the Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce. “The first major event was the bridge closures. We were heavily involved in that,’’ said Kerr of last summer’s tedecking project of the Dudley bridges on Hwy16. The chamber became involved in an attempt to case the traffic congestion caused by closures and line-ups. Chamber executives also met with various interested parties in response to the cancellation of Alcan’s Kemano Completion Project. And it played host at luncheon meetings to a variety of people including Vancouver economist Roslyn Kunin, As- sembly of First Nations leader Ovide Mercredi and provin- cial Socred leader Larry Gillanders. Various chamber exccutives also found themselves in- volved in new approaches to secondary and post secondary education. “We're very interested in the requirement that graduat- ing high school students have to have 30 hours of work ex- perience,’ said Kerr. As well, chamber execulives met wilh their Kitimat counterparts, talked with the Terrace Regional Health Care Society about its financial problems with Mills Memorial Hospital and learned about the PacRim LNG project, In addition, chamber officials found the time to organize its spring trade show. It all adds up to a heft time commitment, says Kerr in pointing out that the chamber executive and board hold regular carly morning meetings, Kerr, a 10-year chamber member, has quit a service club membership and other activities as a result, “You have to dedicate yourself. You can only do so many things. And of course there’s the business to run,” said Kerr who owns a travel agency here. Kerr said there are many benefits to becoming a chamber member including the chance to network and to take ad- vantage of its member programs. “For small business owners who want to know whal’s going on, the chamber is it,”’ she said. Rapid growth of chamber bears fruit with ever expanding membership list AFTER SEVERAL YEARS of being on the verge, 1996 is the year the Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce will hit 304) members. When chamber manager Bobbie Phillips close2d the books for 1995 there were already 290 members listed. ‘And we've picked up some new ones since then, With the renewals coming in after sending out the notices recently, [’m sure we'll hit that 300 mark pretty soon,” she said. That growth pattem has been soaring ever since 1988 when the chamber signed up mem- ber number 200 — Mount Layton Hotsprings. Formed in 1927, the chamber has members ing business sector. It’s also an organization that goes beyond what many would think of as normal chamber activities, A large portion of the new members come from the smai] business sector employing one to three people. “Within that there’s a wide range of activities — heavy duty repair shops and smali retail out- lets,’’ said Phillips. Growth in that area is welcomed by the cham- ber as it solidifies ils position as being the voice for smal] businesses in this area, she added. The chamber has added new features to attract smail business members, . fepresenting every segment of the area’s grow-'~--~Chamber members,-for: instance, pay half of — the normal small business rates far the righls to offer Visa or Mastercard purchase options to their customers, “The {ce is based on volume, by being a part of the chamber, the business can take advantage of the volume discount,’’ said Phillips. Last year the local chamber through the B.C. Chamber of Commerce took part in a deal with Westel that resulted in substantial Jong distance savings to chamber members. Members also receive business news and in- formation through the chamber’s monthly newsletter and by special mailings as the needs or issues arise. Twice winners IT'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE week this waek and that means a lot of attention is being paid to the Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce which acts as the voice for local businesses, Ac- tivities during the week have paid off in the past as the plaque held by chamber executive member Skip Bates and chamber manager Bobbie Phillips signifies, The chamber won a provincial award for its work during chamber week last year and did the same in 1993. TERRACE. STANDARD RESTAURANT VMcEwan Terrace Proud Member of the Chamber of Commerce for 18 years Proud Member of the Proud Member of the Chamber of Commerce for 8 years Chamber of Commerce for 18 years 4740 Lakelse Ave. 3210 Clinton St. 638-7283 | | 4643 Park Ave. 635-6111 635-4941 MOUNT LAYTON HOT : ( 1; SPRINGS RESORT LTD. 7 7, Fie — Proud Member of the . Proud Member of the Chamber of Commerce for 8 years. Proud Member af the Chamber of Commerce for 7 years. Chamber of Commerce for 2 years. Highway 37 Lakelse Lk. 4147 Lakelse Ave. 4616 Keith Ave. 798-2214 4652 Lazelle Ave. 635-4997 pce peepee | — COAST {FLOWERS ALA ||Crampton, Brown TRACTOR “Your FTO Florist With A Flairt & Arn dt BDC ~ Skeena Mall 635-4080 busines Deelopment nicl cad Proud Member of the Proud Member of the Proud Member of the Proud Member of the Chamber af Commerce for 6.5 years, Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. Chamber of Commerce for 12 years Chamber of Commerce for 18 years. | 3233 Emerson St. 1-800-663-5035 | | 4650 Keith Ave. 635-7131 225-4741 Lakelse Avenue #3-4623 Park Avenue — 635-6330 i = * a Helem’s Play JOHNNY’S BERTS & \Learn WELDING LTD. DELICATESSEN Proud Member of the Proud Member of the Protud Member of the Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce for 17 years. Chamber of Commerce for 2 years, é) 65-555 pe 4834 Halliwell 638-8578 4933 Keith Avenue 4603 Park Avenue 635-5440 ae CENTRAL FLOWERS Proud Member of the Chamber of Commerce for 18 years. . 101-4716 Lazelle Ave. © 635-5920 SANDMAN INN Proud Member of the Chamber of Commerce. 4828 Hwy. 16 West ¢ 635-9151 | Caledonia Collection Agency Proud Member of the Chamber of Commerce for 13 years. 3 - 4554 Lazelle » 635-7649 Proud Member of the Chamber of Commerce for 2 years. 4550 Greig Ave. 635-6500