– Osoyoos joins new South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce –

(OSOYOOS TIMES — September 19, 2007) –

By Maureen ParriottrnOsoyoos Times

'All for one and one for all' could be the slogan of the newly formed South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce.
At a joint meeting held Sept. 11 at the Toasted Oak Restaurant in Oliver, the Osoyoos, Oliver and Okanagan Falls Chambers of Commerce voted to merge into a single entity with a single budget, a single set of bylaws, and a single staff team.
Meeting facilitator Kenn Oldfield summarized the steps the amalgamation committee had taken since January to create the new body, noting it had mailed out 444 surveys in February regarding the proposed reorganization. Of the 89 replies the committee received, 82 favoured the Chamber amalgamation.
Following Oldfield's request for a vote, both Oliver and Okanagan Falls Chamber representatives were unanimous in their approval of the merger. Osoyoos representatives voted 32 for and nine against.
Each Chamber then held a brief meeting to dissolve their old organizations and join the new one. The new Chamber promptly approved its proposed bylaws, fee structures and interim board of directors.
The South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce's interim board consists of: Myers Bennett, President (Osoyoos); Judy Sloan, Vice-President (Okanagan Falls); Betty Neufield, Treasurer (Oliver); Kathy Mercier, Secretary (Oliver); Bruce Volden (Okanagan Falls); Barbara Few (Okanagan Falls); Beth Garrish (Oliver); Neil Brimblecombe (Osoyoos); Jocelyn Merit (Osoyoos); and advisory member Kenn Oldfield (Oliver).
The board held its first session immediately after the amalgamation meeting and will spend the next few weeks carrying out details required to make the merger a reality.
The interim board's first official act was to endorse Bonnie Dancey as executive manager for the newly formed Chamber. She has been manager of the Oliver Chamber's office.
President Myers Bennett says the board must file the changes with Industry Canada. The new South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce will hold an election for a new board at its first Annual General Meeting, to be held in January 2008.
The business community from each of the three towns will have three representatives on the new Chamber board. The position of president will rotate among the communities annually, and each community will select its own representatives.
Dancey noted that the existing Chamber offices and visitor centres in Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos will remain open.
Bennett says, Our goal is to be able to take over 600 members of three small communities and build them into one strong Chamber of Commerce without losing the integrity of each community.rnIt is important we keep all the members' needs as our Number 1 priority, Bennett adds.
Leaders of the three formerly separate Chambers argued in recent months that the amalgamation would provide for a stronger lobbying voice for business in the South Okanagan and would also offer cost-savings and more opportunities for networking among the increased number of members.
Member fees for the new Chamber are: $50 per year for individuals or non-profit organizations; $150 for businesses with one to five employees; and $250 for businesses with more than five employees.