Despite weather, large turnout on hand for 2016 Chinook Chamber annual banquet

The Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet at the Eagles Club on Saturday, January 23. Slippery roads and icy sidewalks didn't deter attendees as Chamber President Heather DePriest noted more than 80 people attended the event. The annual get together included a dinner prepared by Val Frank, a presentation by Gayle Fisher, Executive Director of the Central Montana Tourism Region, introductions of the 2016 Chamber leadership and opportunities for lots of visiting and networking among members and guests. It was a great kickoff to support the business community in Chinook.

After dinner, President Heather DePriest welcomed Chamber members and guests and gave a brief update on activities and accomplishments of the Chamber during the preceding year. Noting several projects aimed at 'sprucing' up the town she listed the holiday snowflakes on the light poles downtown, completion of the downtown sidewalk improvement, the annual Highway 2 cleanup and the placing of ads in tourism publications to attract visitors to the area.

Of special note was the beginning of a new visitors' center as the Chamber moved its office and display area to the old Bear Paw Credit Union site in the 300 block of Indiana. DePriest said plans called for the new location to again provide a place for visitors and tourists to find information about attractions in the area.

DePriest said chamber membership was now at 200, a significant growth in membership from just a few years ago. Membership benefits include listing of individual and business members on the Chamber's website (www.chinookmontana.com), complimentary tickets to the annual banquet, access to various business-related workshops, email updates on chamber and community events and reduced pricing to use the tables and chairs available for rent through the chamber. The chair and table rental program, including a trailer for moving, now has the capacity to comfortably host 200 guests.

The newly elected Chamber Board of Directors was introduced. They are: Heather DePriest, President; Bonnie Weber, Vice President; Jennifer Hellman, Treasurer; Sarah Pratt, Secretary/Communications Director and Mitzi Cecrle, Parliamentarian and head of the Sugarbeet Festival committee. Shannon Nissen was recognized for her service as Secretary last year.

Each year the chamber recognizes an individual who has made a "dedicated effort to the growth of the community of Chinook." This year two individuals were honored, Reverend Sherry Edwards, Pastor of the Chinook Presbyterian Church, and her husband, "Journal" reporter Steve Edwards. The couple was presented with a plaque and a bouquet of flowers.

Gayle Fisher described tourism efforts in the area

Gayle Fisher, who grew up in Chinook, has worked in tourism for 26 years, first beginning with the Chamber of Commerce in Great Falls. For the last several years she served as executive director of the Central Montana Tourism District (first known as Russell Country), a 13 county area covering our region. She explained, "After the bed tax was passed in 1987 by the state legislature, six tourism districts were started in Montana with much of the funding coming from the tax on motel/hotel usage. She said, "Twenty percent of every dollar generated by the bed tax goes to support tourism promotion."

She described Montana's 'branding' efforts of the last few years. Montana offers "spectacular, unspoiled nature, vibrant and charming small towns and breathtaking experiences by day and relaxing hospitality at night." Fisher then described a variety of efforts, from printed tourist guides to digital promotion, visits to out of state regional tourist events and the use of national media to tell the story about Montana's beauty and excitement that has helped the tourism flourish. She added, "About two thirds of our efforts are now through digital sources, it's how a large number of potential tourists get their information."

She explained several efforts in Blaine County to promote tourism, including a birding trail that runs between Chinook and Lloyd. Fisher described a new program for the Central Montana Tourism Region, funded by a grant from Montana's Department of Tourism, that will erect signs along major tourist routes identifying the crops being grown. Of the new CROPINFARMation program, she said, "It involves developing a phone app that will allow visitors to identify our region's great variety in farm crops being produced. I hope to be contacting Chinook High's FFA for help to implement this new tourism program in this area."

One chamber program that seems to have really gained traction is the Business After Hours program. Now starting its third year, the program showcases local businesses in a relaxed atmosphere after regular business hours. The next Business After Hours will be hosted by the American Garage, on Thursday, February 11, from 6-8pm. As was pointed out during the banquet, the Chinook Area Chamber has a lot going on, mark your calendars for this next event.