Staff
Just as the municipal election has wrapped up, the Fort France Chamber of Commerce is looking at an election of its own.
The Chamber currently is seeking recommendations and nominations for its 2015 board of directors.
Nomination forms can be found on the Chamber’s website at www.fortfranceschamber.com
The nomination deadline is Nov. 25, when Chamber president Mark Caron makes the final call for nominations at the annual general membership meeting.
But the Chamber would prefer that nominations forms be sent in by Friday, Nov. 21 so a list can be compiled prior to the Nov. 25 meeting.
Once the total number of nominees has been determined, the ballots will go out.
The deadline to vote is 5 p.m. on Dec. 12, after which time the votes will be tallied.
Chamber manager Annely Armstrong-Thorstad said this year’s election is being done through the Chamber’s “Constant Contact” e-mail program, meaning each business (paid membership) only gets one vote.
Ballots will be returned by e-mail (the system automatically will tally the votes).
Paper ballots will be available upon request.
As per the election bylaw, which was revised last year, Chamber directors now must be elected every year.
Current directors can run again, as can new individuals interested in being elected director, said Armstrong-Thorstad.
Once 12 directors are elected, they are eligible to put their name forward to be elected to the executive, which consists of a president, first vice-president, second vice-president, and treasurer, she noted.
One person who won’t be vying for president is Caron, who has reached the end of his four-year term limit.
He will serve as past-president on the new executive.
Directors participate in the governance of the Chamber of Commerce, determining the focus and direction of the organization each year.
They are representatives and ambassadors of the business community at various Chamber and community events.
They also attend monthly board meetings, appear at Chamber member events, volunteer with Chamber initiatives, and participate on board committees.
You do not need to be a business owner to sit on the board, but your affiliated business must belong to the Chamber.
The current board consists of Robin Payeur (Main Street Market), Steve Gushulak (Fort Frances General Supply), Travis Glowasky (Studio Gibbous), Paul Noonan (La Place Rendez-Vous), Jennifer Greenhalgh (JGreenhalgh Solutions), Ben Morelli (From the Grind Up), and Bob Hamilton (Little Beaver Cultural Centre).
The executive includes Caron (M.L. Caron Electric), first vice-president Myles Kuharski (Gillons’ Insurance Brokers), second vice-president Jordan Forbes (Saulteaux Consulting & Engineering), treasurer Marie Allan (BDO Canada), and past-president Cathy Emes.
Armstrong-Thorstad serves as the secretary.
For more info, call 274-5773.
