Clearwater and District Chamber of Commerce successfully completed several projects last year, according to president Jeff Lamond.
Speaking during the Chamber's annual general meeting on Monday, March 3, Lamond reported that a new map board had been completed and installed on the meridian next to Brookfield Mall.
Many businesses bought spaces on the map to advertise themselves to visitors.
Still being sought is a corporate sponsor to help pay for a bulletin board on the reverse side of the map.
The Chamber has secured office space in the soon-to-be renovated community center in the former Dutch Lake School, Lamond said.
An office assistant helped for part of the year with daily duties plus member issues and questions.
Chamber directors met with representatives of Trans Mountain Pipeline and Yellowhead Mines during the year to discuss matters of mutual concern.
The Chamber has also continued its relationship with Clearwater's municipal government.
Items on the agenda for the coming year include repairing and replacing the Chamber's signs along Highway 5.
The Chamber would like to get more businesses sponsoring its map board plus find a corporate sponsor for its bulletin board. Possibly a second map/bulletin board will be set up in another location.
Chamber directors plan to continue meeting with officials from all levels of government, as well as with directors from the Kamloops and Barriere chambers.
Membership in the Chamber is down slightly, secretary Anne Krawec said in her report.
At present there are 89 regular memberships, eight organizations, four individuals and five racking memberships. All except the racking members can take part in the Chamber of Commerce group benefit plan, she noted.
Through a Services Canada summer student grant the Chamber was able to hire two students for its desk at Wells Gray Infocenter last summer. One worked May 17 to Aug. 31, the second from July 1 to Aug. 31. The Chamber's desk closed for the season on Oct. 14, Krawec reported.
No Citizen of the Year
Speaking after the meeting, Chamber president Lamond said that, for the first time in many years, there had been no Citizen of the Year or Of the Year banquet in 2013.
Chamber directors found themselves too busy in the fall to organize the event, he said, and no other volunteers stepped forward to do the work.