Chamber election underway

Following their annual general meeting last Tuesday (Nov. 27), members of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce are in the process of voting to decide who sits on its board of directors for the coming year.
Chamber manager Dawn Booth said Monday a total of 15 people stepped up to fill the nine seats on the board, and those 15 are on the ballots she mailed out to the Chamber membership last Thursday.
“Everybody should have received one,” Booth remarked. “They were all sent by mail to ensure everybody gets one and they go to the right person.
“They’ve come in steadily since then. That’s good to see,” she added.
The Chamber membership has been asked to return their ballots to the Chamber office (474 Scott St.) by this Friday (Dec. 7), after which time the results will be tabulated.
The elected directors then will be announced at the Chamber’s next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 11.
(Booth noted the Chamber is not publicly naming all the nominees; only those who were elected will be announced).
Booth said the board has five vacancies to fill. Former director Brian Kahler left in June, and four current directors declined to put their names forward again.
Kelly Spicer (Curves for Women), Jeff Wright (Wright Physiotherapy), Stephen Kontzie (RBC), and John Kantola (Confederation College) will not be returning to the board in the new year.
The current board of directors consists of Spicer, Wright, Kontzie, Kantola, Barb Cournoyer, Bev Kotnik, Kevin Nielson, and Pam Parsons.
Booth noted that at last Tuesday’s general meeting, the Chamber elected its executive, which is staying the same as last year.
It consists of president Christine Denby, first vice-president Cathy Emes, second vice-president Nancy Daley, treasurer Janet Plumridge, and past-president Gary Rogozinski.
Appointees also will remain the same, including Geoff Gillon (RRFDC), Patti Anderson (BIA), Christine Jourdain (Couchiching First Nation), and Jane Gillon (MNDM).
The Chamber board also is looking for a new appointee from the Town of Fort Frances.
Council has agreed the seat, previously held by former councillor Tannis Drysdale, will be filled after the Jan. 14 byelection.