The Ainsworth Area Chamber of Commerce met on Monday, March 1st.
Board members present included President Karen O’Hare, Vice President Brenna Duester, Treasurer Hunter Martin, Secretary Katie Leymaster, Danielle Witte Dan Brockman and Anissa Julius. Board member Curtis Childers was absent.
Minutes from the February 8, 2021 meeting and financial reports were approved.
Duester reconciled accounts from December and has completed quarterly taxes as notified by the US Department of Labor.
Guest, Linda O’Hare from the Brown County Travel and Lodging Committee was present to discuss options for a Brown County tourism brochure. She noted the Travel and Lodging Committee is grantfunded and has funds available. Requests for funding are approved by the committee and use of the funds is the responsibility of the requesting committee/party. The Ainsworth Area Chamber of Commerce would be responsible for creating a tourism brochure.
The Board discussed coordinating with the Long Pine Chamber and with Johnstown, as well as involving students at Ainsworth Community Schools for design and development. The brochure swap takes place in September for distribution to area rest stops. The Board tabled the brochure assembly until June.
Bylaws were reviewed and approved by all members.
Duester discussed Imagination Library fundraising ideas with Traci Ganser. The Library Board will be responsible for running this event. The chamber will present ideas to the Library Board at its March 3rd meeting.
Radio Takeover Day is scheduled for April 9th. So far, $600.00 - $700.00 cash has been raised. Discussion was held on a ‘Camping’ and ‘Water Fun’ pack to be donated by the Chamber as auction items with the idea to purchase package items locally. Five or six possible bigticket items are in the works. All donations need to be confirmed by March 15th. Membership letters will be sent out.
During National Ag Week, March 21st through 27th, Duester will be sending out a questionnaire to area farmers and ranchers to have each featured on the Chamber website and Facebook page.
During this year’s Bargain Buyways, the Chamber is not doing rental spaces since the Connection has been rented out that weekend for a craft fair. Becky O’Hare has rented spaces at the Elks Lodge and is in charge of renting those spaces.
A drive-in movie will be held in July and potentially another one in August in conjunction with the Back-to-School BBQ Bash to be held the weekend before school starts in August.
Duester has completely revamped the old website, to be revealed at the Chamber’s next meeting on April 5th at 5:30 p.m.
The Board has planned a March 21st meeting at 1:00 p.m. to discuss Radio Takeover.
