Chamber to be ‘more visible’

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce will be pursuing a higher profile in 2005, its president vowed yesterday.
“We’re going to be more visible,” said Gary Rogozinski. “It’s a pretty ambitious goal for 2005, but that’s the direction the Chamber has to go.
“The Chamber has to be the voice of the business community,” he stressed.
Rogozinski said the Chamber will strive to work even more closely with the Town of Fort Frances in the year ahead—and even try to have a representative at all council meetings.
Likewise, the Chamber will be involved in the new downtown planning committee recently called for by the town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee and, if it becomes a reality, the “red tape” committee the town pledged to look into establishing back in November.
The Chamber also will step up marketing Fort Frances in the new year, said Rogozinski.
“The Chamber of Commerce sends out 2,500 tourist packages every year and gets a few phone calls each day,” he noted. “People don’t realize we play such an important role market in the area.
“We’re going to expand on that this year.”
Rogozinski said the Chamber also will strive to work with local, provincial, and federal levels of government to look out for the best interest of business in the community, as well with interest groups like the Northwestern Ontario Tourism Association (NWOTA).
For instance, Rogozinski said the issue of tourists not being allowed to cross the border due to past criminal records, particularly if the crimes were simply misdemeanors committed 30 years ago, has to be resolved.
“It’s almost impossible for some people to get across the border, and it’s keeping people away,” he noted.
“NWOTA is having problems getting this issue resolved on their own, and it’s up to the communities, particularly the border communities, and the Chambers in those communities to get involved,” he stressed.
Rogozinski said 2004 set the stage for the upcoming year, with the seeds of the “red tape” and downtown planning committees being planted, but also with the resumption of “Business After Hours” mix ’n mingles and monthly luncheons with guest speakers.
He noted “Business After Hours” draws 70-80 people each time, but he’d like to see that number grow this year to the 200-300 the International Falls Chamber of Commerce attracts when it holds such events.
He also said the guest speakers will continue this year, but instead of being at luncheons, they will be featured at the second regular Chamber meeting of each month.
As well, the annual events the community has come to expect from the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce will take place once again this year.
The trade show, for instance, is confirmed for April 29-30, “Quest for the Best” tentatively is slated for July 18, and the 10th-annual business awards banquet will be held Oct. 22.