Busy Week at the Chamber

On Monday, Jan 24th the Chamber partnered with the Lloydminster Rotary Club to being to town Celine Favreau , Project Manager with Saskatchewan Economic Development Assoc. who spoke on the Employee Investment Program. There are pamphlets and contact information available at the Chamber of Commerce office.

On Tuesday, I attended the federal budget consultations with MP Leon Benoit and other community leaders. Later that day, our President Wendy Plandowski hosted a meeting with Tiaingio International and Chamber members to learn more about the Chamber Business Trip to China in May. Information is available at the Chamber office and I encourage you to consider this great opportunity to visit China, learn about the culture and about what business opportunities might be available for you.

The Chamber is an active member of the Drug Strategy committee and I attended the monthly meeting on Wednesday. This committee is bringing to town, Susie Vanderlip, who presents a one woman show on how to improve communication between teens and parents. She has an amazing message about how to protect children. This event is being held on Feb. 10th beginning at 7:00 pm at the Legacy Centre. Call the Chamber office to register.

In preparation for the Annual meetings of both the Chamber and Streetscapes, we have been busy preparing documents for the meeting as well as the auditor. There will be a couple of proposed bylaw changes presented at the Chamber AGM this year on Feb. 16th.

I attended the Synergy Credit Union members meeting on Jan. 26th. What a great turn out to debate the amalgamation proposal. We heard some good arguments from both the yes and no perspective and ultimately the members made their voice heard. We are so lucky to live in this great country where anyone can speak up, have their say and have their wishes counted in a democratic way. The outcome was not to everyone's liking of course, but I would like to commend the Synergy Credit Union board and staff for all their hard work on behalf of their members.

Following the members policy development roundtable on January 19th, five policy resolutions will be presented for debate on Feb. 1st. Topics will include: Creating a Safer Community, Improvements to the Lloydminster Airport, Labour Force Enhancement & Pre-Kindergarten programs, Access to Primary Health Care, and Fair & Equitable Funding for Health Care Services in Lloydminster. If you have an interest in expressing your opinion on any of these topics, call the Chamber office and register for this event.

Till next time
Pat

City of Lloydminter e4 plan consultations moving forward

Economic Development Stakeholders Workshop - Chamber Particpates in the Strategic Planning Session

Jan 19, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chamber Participates

Kevin Lundell, Chamber Vice President & Executive Director, Pat Tenney, at work at the Economic Development E4 Strategic Planning Session on January 18, 2011.

E4 Lloydminster is a collaborative planning process introduced by Mayor & council that will create three planning documents for the City of Lloydminster. The 4 e’s embody the City’s desired goals of the entire project – engage, energize, execute & evolve. An interactive and engaging workshop was facilitated by planning consultants Armin A Preiksaitis & Associates Ltd.

The Chamber Political Action committee hosted a meeting of members on January 19th to consider the policy resolutions  that will go forward to the member's debate on Feb.1st . Eighteen members discussed issues concerning health care, airport improvements, quality child care, and safer community.

The Chamber staff is pleased to welcome our new marketing coordinator, Carley Shkopich. Carley has been a member of the Lloydminster community all her life and brings some excellent knowledge and skills to the team.

Till next time,
Pat

Chamber & Synergy Credit Union Business Mixer

Les Messmer CEO of Synergy Credit Union addresses the large crowd at the first business mixer of the new year.  Les informed the group about the work so far of the committee looking at the potential merger of the Synergy Credit Union, Conexus Credit Union and Innovation Credit Union. Les invited all Synergy Credit Union members to attend a public meeting on January 26th at 6:00 pm at the Stockade Convention Centre to learn more about the potential merger and to ask questions.

Some great prizes were up for grabs with Michael Hall winning the Dave Heibert framed print. In addition, president Wendy brought the members up to date on some of the events and projects currently on the go at the Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on Chamber Business mixers go to http://www.lloydminsterchamber.com/

Pat

Mt. Joy will be smiling with all this snow

Thanks to our City staff for getting our streets cleaned and passable after our large dump of snow. We encourage our business members, especially those in the downtown, to clear their sidewalks to make walking easier.

There is a number of events happening in the next few weeks.
Jan. 19th - Lloydminster Economic Development Corporation will sponosr the EARN breakfast with s
                      speaker from Sask Tourism Education Council.
Jan. 24th - Celine Favreau will be speaking at the Rotary luncheon on Employee Investment Program
Jan. 25th - Leon Benoit will be holding pre-budget consultations at the Best Western at 11:30
Jan. 25th - Chamber will host an imformation meeting concerning the next business trip to China
Feb. 4th -  Chamber will sponsor a Income Tax & T-4 workshop for business members
Feb. 10th -Drug Strategy committee will host Susie Vanderlip as she speaks to teachers and parents
                 about helping kids make good choices.
Feb. 16th - Chamber of Commerce AGM. Usually an intersting and fun event
Mar. 2nd    Business Education Month kick-off event featuring Kordell Norton speaking on leadership
Mar. 15th   Chamber will host a Labour Standards workshop on Alberta laws
Mar. 22nd  Chamber will host a Labour Standards workshop on Sask laws.
Mar. 30th   Business Education Month wrap up event for women featuring Pat Katz speaking on work
                  and life balance. Fashion Show & Trade Show as well.

These are just a few of the events that the Chamber is involved with. For information on any of the above, call the Chamber office at 780-875-9013

Policy Development is happening right now. If you have an issue that you think the Chamber should address, either locally, provincially or nationally be sure to let us know. Currently we are considering resolutions on Airport support and upgrades, quality child care and supports for schools dealing with special issues.

Well I'm off to the business mixer at the Synergy Credit Union. Hope I'll see some of you there.
Stay warm
Pat

We're Ready for the New Year

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and are ready for another exciting year to come.  Last year was a great year of growth and change for our community. The Chamber grew as well by over 50 new members as well as the introduction of some new programs and services.

Upcoming this month will be several important meetings and events. The Political Action Committee will meet on Tuesday. This hard working group of individuals, led by Vice President Kevin Lundell, are presently preparing policy resolutions for the upcoming year. The Policy Development Roundtable will be held on Wednesday, January 19th at 11:30 am at the Chamber office and is open to Chamber members. Just call the Chamber office to register and come out for lunch and have input into the policy direction for 2011.

Lakeland College Soiree on Friday, January 7th will celebrate 20 years of Learning at the Lloydminster campus. Congratulations Lakeland College. We are proud to have you as Corporate members and value the contribution you make to the Lloydminster community.

An adhoc Chamber committee led by board member Stephanie Dobson is in the process of reviewing the Business Awards processes and criteria. This committee will continue their work over the next few weeks to ensure that the awards continiue to be relevant and current with our community.

A meeting concerning the next Business Trip to China will be held on January 25th. Last year, Chamber president Wendy Plandowski along with members of the Lloydminster, Leduc, Cold Lake and Lethbridge Chambers spend ten days in Shanghai and Beijing learning more about the culture and the business oppourtunities that are available in China.  If you would like to get more information, please call the Chamber office and register for the meeting at the end of the month.

Also on January 25th, our Alberta MP Leon Benoit will be giving our community and members an opportunity to have input into the federal budget. This consultation will be held at lunch time at the Best Western Wayside Inn. Call the Chamber office for more details.

The Lloydminster Chamber and the Lloydminster Rotary Club will host a noon hour speaker at the regular Rotary meeting on Monday, January 24th. This speaker will explore how companies can get their employees more involved in the company through employee investment programs. Call the Chamber office to register.

The Chamber Board of Directors will be holding a strategic planning session in March, soon after the election of the new board.  This planning session will set the course for the next few years. A member survey will be part of this plan, so watch the Chamber newsletter for your opportunity to give feedback and suggestions.

We will be working with the Saskatchewan Chamber over the next year to try and get some clarification in a variety of existing pieces of employment legistlation. In order for employees and employers to resolve conflicts it will be necessary to streamline and bring clarity to the process.

We are looking forward to the development of the new economic development model for our community. The Chamber will have a seat on this board and we are excited about the possibilities that this new structure will have for our community.

If you have a comment about the Chamber, please set up a google account and let us know your thoughts and ideas.

Pat

Happy New Year from the Chamber

It's time to wind down a little and for the board & staff at the Chamber to take some R & R. It's been a busy year.
* Began active participation in the Lloydminster Business Incubator project
* Planning started for Business Education Month 2011- Monthly meetings
* Participation  in LEDA
* Monthly participation in Drug Strategy Committee
* Participation in the Canadian Chamber Executive Committee
* Monthly business mixers
* Partnership with RCMP to provide buisness security workshops
* Political Action Committee meets monthly and develops policy resolutions
* Attended Farm Credit Canada luncheon & brought greetings
* Nominated local business to Alberta Awards of Distinction
* Particpated in EARN breakfasts
* Coordinated  two Community Leaders Meetings
* Attended APEGGA Annual Meeting & Dinner
* Participated in Canadian Chamber conference calls
* Particpated in Alberta Chamber Political Action committee meetings
* Participated in provincial and federal budget input meetings via conference call
* Hosted luncheon with MInister Cheveldayoff
* Participated in Lakeland College awards night
* Attended Leckie & Assoc. 25th Anniversary
* Coordinated two Labour Standards workshops
* Particpated in the Youth Centre strategic planning session
* Participated in Sask Tourism Ready to Work program lunches both spring and fall sessions
* Coordinated an MP's luncheon
* Operated the Travel Alberta Centre from May long week-end to Sept long week-end
* Attended the Saskachewan Chamber and Alberta Chamber AGM & spring conferences & presented
   policy resolutoins
* Attended HUB workshop in Lac La Biche
* Participated in the Lloydminster parade
* Attended Servus Credit Union member appreciation night
* Attended retirement evening for Bill Kondro
* Coordinated a very successful golf tournament
* Did the management & administration for Streetscapes Co. the downtown business district
* Attended Husky Oil open house
* Attended Community Futures AGM
* Attended budget breakfast with MLA Lloyd Snelgrove
* Attended Interval Home AGM
* Partnered with Rotary to bring in several speakers
* Met with and supported through advertising the Sure Shot III movie
* Particpated in the Lakeland College student welcome barbecue with LEDA & Century 21
* Met with the County of Vermilion River, RM of Britannia & RM of Wilton.
* Attended the Canadian Chamber AGM & Conference & presented our policy resolution
* Attended the Immigration Gateway Open House
* Attended Alberta Chamber roundtable in St. Paul
* Presented business awards in 10 categories at the Business Week gala
* Coordinated a very successful Christmas Trade Show
* Made presentation to the Hotel/Motel Assoc.
* Coordinated a Chamber strat planning session
* Awarded four scholarships to deserving students
* Participated in three Emergency Services Luncheons
* Hosted the MLA/MP dinner with the Community Leaders Group
* Fielded over 3000 calls and made referrals to buinesses, events, organizations, and provided info
* Welcomed over 800 visitors to the office and provided information and referrals
* Manaaged the common areas of the Community Services Centre and provided sevices to over 30 non   
   profit organizations.
* President & members participated in a business trip to China
* Promoted and supported Lloydjobs.com
* Provided a web presence on http://www.lloydminsterchamber.com/ for 550 members
* Produced and distributed an e-newletter twice per month providing advertising opportunities to members
* Provided networking opportunities, support, & referrals to members

Wow! this is just a few of the things the Chamber has been busy at over the year. Your Chamber works for you every day. Being a Chamber member is just good business.

To comment on this blog, set up an account with google and comment away.

Till next year,
Pat

Merry Christmas to All

Well this is my first attempt at blogging. Thank-you to our slightly younger staff for assisting me to get this set up. I hope that this can be an effective communication tool to keep our members more fully informed about the work that the Chamber is doing in our community & region.

The Political Action Committee (PAC), lead each year by our Vice President, (2010-Kevin Lundell) works very hard at determining what the policy direction will be for our Chamber. We have a very active and contributing PAC with lively discussions and debates. This committee is also responsible for ensuring that our government leaders are invited to participate in our discussions a couple of times a year.

The Community Leaders Group has been meeting under the coordination of the Chamber for the past two years. This group made up of Senior Management & Elected officials from Prairie North Health Region, Lloydminster Public School Division, Lloydminster Catholic School Division, Lakeland College, City of Lloydminster and Chamber of Commerce meets to discuss the challenges that we face in our community, offer supportive input, and brain storm solutions.

A very successful Leaders Dinner was held with our two MP's, Gerry Ritz & Leon Benoit & our two MLA's Tim McMillan & Lloyd Snelgrove in early December.  Having our provincial and federal leaders in the room with our local leaders served to provide an opportunity for our community leaders to have a frank and open discussion about some of the special challenges that Lloydminster faces, and to offer some suggestions about how our government officials might assist us to resolve some of the issues.

The Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce applauds the federal government after the recent announcement by Minister of Agriculture, the Honorable Gerry Ritz that the Government of Canada will invest up to $3 million for a series of pilot projects that will investigate and help better position provincial meat processors to move their safe, high quality product across the country while keeping with Canada's high federal food safety standards.

Since 2005, the Lloydminster Chamber has been encouraging the federal government through 5 different resolutions, to promote a common sense approach to cross border movement of food products and in particular meat, especially in Lloydminster.

In 2005 the first resolution entitled “Promoting Interprovincial Trade in Meat Products” was presented to the federal government as well as one entitled “Accommodating the sale of Alberta & Saskatchewan food products within Lloydminster.”  In 2007 the resolution entitled “Enhanced Domestic Markets for Agricultural Products” was first introduced and was re-introduced in 2010. 2008 saw a policy resolution on “Reducing Barriers to Interprovincial Trade” brought before the federal government and in 2009 a resolution on “Meat Inspection and Food Safety Standards” was presented. All of these resolutions, authored and approved locally, and then promoted up through the Canadian Chamber, all spoke to the need to be able to move products freely across the border.

“It affects so many areas of our commerce and community” said Pat Tenney, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. “Alberta producers weren’t allowed to sell their Alberta slaughtered chickens at a Saskatchewan farmer’s market. Saskatchewan Elk or buffalo producers couldn’t sell their Saskatchewan processed jerky at an Alberta farmer’s market … so Lloydminster has two Farmer’s Markets, one on the Alberta side and one on the Saskatchewan side.  This is just one small example, but is typical of this resilient and innovative community and region that has had to find ways to continue to do business in spite of the restrictions.

Our local Chamber was also part of the hearings that met in Saskatoon to look at the possibility of Saskatchewan entering the trade agreement with Alberta & BC. Tenney stated. “After all, where else in Canada would you find a community that lives this issue everyday of our lives.” We thank our MP’s Gerry Ritz & Leon Benoit for the work that they have done to move this agenda forward and to MLA’s Lloyd Snelgrove and Tim MacMillan who talk our border talk when we can’t be there to present it ourselves.  The Chamber looks forward to the results of the pilot projects that should go a long way to standardizing new inspection procedures that will make our meat processing plants the best in the world. 

This is rather a long first blog. I am excited about the work that the Chamber does in and for our community. If you would like to get involved, just give me a call.