Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Board Meeting
June 24, 2010
Executive Director’s Report
Public Relations/Events
} The May mixer, hosted by Island View Family Golf Centre and Honeycomb Webworks, attracted more than four dozen members and guests.
} The June mixer will be held on Thursday, June 24 (tonight) at Miraloma on the Cove with food provided by The Latch. We have received 18 email responses to the invitation, which we consider a very high number as, usually, most people who attend do not RSVP.
} The June 7 breakfast with Dr. Jennifer Thanscheidt, an executive with a 50,000+ chamber in Osnabruek Germany, attracted 17 people, plus three chamber staff members. The breakfast was held at Jazzaniah Café in Sidney.
} Two articles, submitted by the Peninsula Chamber, appeared in the Peninsula News Review; one in monthly paper, Business Vancouver Island (attached).
Visitor Centres
} The March-April and May reports to the Town of Sidney regarding Beacon Avenue visitor services, are attached to this report.
} The May statistics report for all three visitor centres has been submitted to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. It is attached to this report.
} Visitor centre manager Carol Whitehouse has completed training of this year’s new volunteer recruits.
Golf Tournament
} To date we have 95 confirmed players in our July 9 golf tournament. We have 23 confirmed golf tourney sponsors (Seaside Times and Metro Lexus Toyota are sponsoring hole in one contests) and several pending. Members have been generous with donations to the silent auction.
The 2010 budget calls for revenue of $19,150 with a net revenue of $11,260. Gross revenue to date is $15,200.
Thank you directors for your great support of this year’s event!
Office Relocation
} On Thursday, July 14, we will move our office from #201 to #209 in the Albion Building (our current location on Beacon Avenue). The new offices will provide a larger meeting room, larger reception area and a dedicated office for marketing and sales. Peter Payerl, from the Town of Sidney’s IT department, will provide the office technology support.
BC Chamber AGM
} ED attended May 26 though 29, in Vancouver. Article attached to this report
BC Chamber Executives (BCCE) Conference
} The 2010 professional development conference will be held in Sidney, September 9 through 11. ED sits on BCCE board and on conference committee. Local planning is being done by a committee comprising Graham (Director of Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan for BC) and Eileen Barnes, Doug Wedman and ED. About 80 delegates from across BC will attend.
} The conference venue is Mary Winspear Centre. Boondocks Café will provide the meals and coffee/tea service. The Thursday night reception will be held at the Sidney Pier Hotel. The Peninsula Chamber will host a reception at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre on Friday, September 10, to which local dignitaries are to be invited. The Victoria Airport Authority will sponsor the event. The wind-up dinner will be held at Church & States Winery. Graham Barnes will sponsor the dinner. Bus transportation to the winery will be supplied by Wilson’s Transportation.
} Delegates will have plenty of free time to enjoy Sidney and the peninsula.
New Email Format
We are now using an email program called Constant Contact. It enables us to generate reports on who is opening our email communications. Our open rate is 35%, an indication that we have engaged members. The average open rate for a not-for-profit is 20%. The average open rate for a range of two dozen business sectors is less than 20%.
Community Tourism Grant
We have received approval to use the CTO grant money of $7684 for the Saanich Peninsula routes brochure and update of www.peninsulatourism.ca. The funds were originally designated for Ocean Discovery Days but were not granted in time to allow for mounting of that event this year. The money is granted through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Attendance at Outside Meetings and Events:
} BC Chamber Executives conference planning meeting (local) – 1 hour
} BC Chamber Executives (BCCE) board meeting (conf call) – 1.5 hours
} Peninsula trolley meeting – 3 hours
} Chamber Finance Cmte
} Chamber Governance Cmte – 1 hour
} Chamber Events Cmte (2) – 3 hours
} Chamber Membership Cmte – 1.5 hours
} Chamber Executive Cmte – 1 hour
} Chamber HR Cmte – 1 hour
} Sidney-Anacortes Ferry teleconference – 1.5 hours
} BC Chamber AGM – 3.5 days
} Website meeting – 1 hour
} Vic-AM breakfast – 2 hours
} Women’s Network luncheon – 1.5 hours
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Leddy
