Making connections is the new vision for the Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce as its president aims to bolster the once-dormant organization.
Andrea Glowatsky, who stepped up as president at the Feb. 10 annual general meeting, envisions the chamber working with other chambers of commerce, local governments, service groups, social groups and other organizations in the coming months.
Glowatsky served on the Okotoks Chamber of Commerce board of directors for six years - last year as vice-president.
“A big part of our strategic plan is to connect the businesses to government agencies so that we can have a more cohesive relationship,” she said. “The chamber is the voice of the business community. Our voice as a group will then take to the government body. In order for us to do business we need to let them know what we need and expect from them.”
Connecting with neighbouring chambers is also key, said Glowatsky, who chaired the Okotoks chamber’s golf tournament committee for four years. Last year the group collaborated with the Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce to host the event.
“My partnership with them in the golf tournament really opened my eyes to just me bringing them more of a leadership role in helping organize and get their chamber being as strong as the Okotoks one,” she said. “We will collaborate with the other chambers to discuss what other projects we can collaborate on, whether it be educational projects and bringing those kinds of things to the Foothills or possibly some event with speakers to ensure the businesses are getting the benefit of their members. If all the chambers thrive then the Foothills, in general, will thrive.”
Glowatsky also plans to introduce a back-to-business three-year strategic plan that will advocate on behalf of businesses to champion an influence policy and implement change in government policies and practices to support the interests of the business community.
Past president Richard Brotherston said it’s time for the Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce to move forward and that Glowatsky has the right tools to drive the chamber to the next level.
“Given the fact that she has the wealth of experience and I have the time and energy to commit to the support of it I think the partnership will work really well,” he said, adding he will stay on in a supportive role.
Brotherston said collaborating with other chambers is a great start.
“We need to capitalize on that and I think the chamber is actually realizing that’s the new direction that the chambers need to take,” he said. “That was one of the insights that we got from other chambers. Chambers typically, in the past, have stayed amongst themselves and do what they can for their communities.”
Brotherston said 40 people attended the Feb. 10 annual general meeting including councillors from Black Diamond, Turner Valley and Longview, and Black Diamond administrators.
In addition, six new members joined the chamber since the beginning of 2020, bringing the membership to just over 40.
“We built up enough curiosity to have people say, ‘Maybe we should take a look and see what they have to say,’” he said of the high attendance. “We got quite a bit of existing members and a few new members that showed up. We were surprised that Longview had a representative and there were a couple of businesses from Longview that came out to it.”
The Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold a meeting March 9 at 6 p.m. at Hard Knox Brewery to amend its bylaws and elect a vice-president, treasurer and secretary amongst the 11 board of directors that stepped up on Feb. 10.
“Typically, people get elected on the first day, but then they walk away and go what did I really get myself into?” said Brotherston. “This allows those people to walk away and then come back a month later and be in a better position to put themselves up for nomination or have people put them up for nomination and understand what the roles and time commitments are and can they do it.”
