It was more than just a regular monthly meeting of the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) on September 7. This month they celebrated a Chamber milestone, exceeding 200 members.
The HDCC's membership has grown steadily over the years, but has more than doubled in the last eight years, from 94 members in 2003 to 201 members currently.
Approximately 60 members attended the afternoon presentation that included the launch of the new Humboldt Business Video and an overview of the 2011 Business Investment Attraction Study.
Vice-president Jodi Smith began the meeting with a brief history of the HDCC.
It was interesting to note the organization's first meeting was held at the Windsor Hotel in 1906, and at that time was called the Humboldt Board of Trade. It wasn't until 1966 that its name was changed to the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce.
A second item on the agenda was the presentation of the new Humboldt Business Video, "The Humboldt Region: The Best Place to Live, Work and Invest." At the initiative of executive director DonnaLyn Thorsteinson, the video was created as a marketing tool to draw potential businesses to the area. Carlos Correa of Access Communications in Humboldt filmed the video and it can be viewed on the HDCC's website, www.humboldtchamber.ca.
After the viewing, HDCC president Kevin Plemel suggested all members should take advantage of the web tool, and post the link on their company or business website.
"Use it on Facebook, YouTube, whatever," said Plemel. "We want to get as many hits as possible for this video."
The three minute video includes short interviews by HDCC members who tell why Humboldt is such a great place to live, work and invest.
"It's a hotbed of entrepreneurship" one business owner says, while another says "The area continues to provide opportunities to families and businesses that relocate here."
For the third topic of the afternoon, Thorsteinson presented an overview of the HDCC's 2011 Business Investment Attraction Study. The 66-page document was researched by an MBA student from the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan. The study "outlines the gaps in the current business community, advises on areas to expand it, and recommends ways to identify opportunities to attract new investment to it."
Thorsteinson said the study is available online "for anybody and everybody that wants to see it."
The meeting closed with the president and vice-president thanking all the members who came to hear about the HDCC's new business.
