Chamber of Commerce initiates informal meet and greet for community organizations to identify opportunities for collaboration, cross-pollination and support
For a community of 6,000, Pemberton, Area C and the Lil’wat Nation has a robust calendar of events and community initiatives. From toonie rides and loppets to BMX Championships, stock car races, trail clean-up days, plant sales and seed exchanges, rodeos, pow-wows and music festivals, trap-shoots, fly-ins, slideshows, fundraisers, bird counts, and celebrations of food, farms, rivers and lakes, (phew!), the annual calendar is chock-full of opportunities to enjoy the region’s dynamic environment and culture, and double and triple book yourself.
Over-booking and under-promoting is a real risk for the volunteer-driven local organizations, and the Pemberton & District Chamber of Commerce is tackling that challenge head-on, hosting an informal meet and greet for community groups on April 7, in order to flesh out a calendar of upcoming events.
In concert with the Village of Pemberton and the Pemberton and District Recreation Service (a joint service provided by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and the Village of Pemberton), the Chamber has invited community groups and organizations to the Pemberton Community Centre on Thursday April 7 to meet each other, share and learn about the various events happening over the coming year.
The Village of Pemberton hosted a community calendar on their website for several years, but when Google’s calendar plug-in stopped syncing with the VoP’s website operating system, it left a void that the Chamber’s get-together will help fill - at least until a cost-effective technical solution might be found. “The important thing,” says Chamber Secretary and Treasurer Shirley Henry, “whatever technology we deploy, is to ensure that we are working together to schedule and promote all the amazing offerings this community puts on. We figured it was a good opportunity to get everyone in a room together. Lots of amazing synergies can happen when people start talking.”
The Village of Pemberton will provide community groups with an outline of the Community Enhancement Fund and Community Initiative & Opportunity Fund programs which have supported a number of community projects and programs such as the BMX Bike Park, the Pemberton Children’s Centre, Signal Hill Elementary School, Stewardship Pemberton, the Chamber and Tourism Pemberton. As well, the Village will review the process for booking Village facilities and parks, including the Downtown Barn, and the prime promotional real estate of the roundabout sign.
Manager of Corporate & Legislative Services for the Village of Pemberton, Sheena Fraser, is excited to share various opportunities with the community and hear from people. “The Village is excited to be working with the Chamber on this initiative. It’s inspiring to know we have so many active community groups, organizations and committees in the Pemberton Valley. We are very lucky to have these dedicated groups and individuals working to make Pemberton extraordinary.
We are really pleased to have this opportunity to share information about the funding programs and opportunities the Village has to offer and how the Village can support an event or program to ensure success. We know that sometimes the paper work can seem to be daunting, but we are here to help. We look forward to working with the Chamber, to meeting everyone and to finding out what is coming up and how the Village can play an active role in supporting community initiatives.”
The Pemberton and District Recreation Service will promote the funding opportunities provided by the Recreation Commission Grant Program, a $30,000 fund available to non-profit or community organizations for recreational and cultural initiatives throughout Pemberton and Area C of the SLRD.
Recent Recreation Commission grants have supported MADE, the Library Wine and Cheese, the Pemberton Valley Seniors Society’s and Men’s Shed’s lease to use the Rec building, the PSS Senior Girls Basketball team to compete at the provincials, and the Pemberton BMX Society to help host a Provincial Championship event in September. Eligibility details are also available on the SLRD's website.
Angela Barth, the Pemberton and District Recreation Service Manager says that it’s a great proactive initiative from the Chamber and an exciting opportunity to get community organizations in a room together, to see what’s happening, who’s making it happen and what help is available. “If you see a gap, communicate it, and let us see how we can support it. Our community members are the best resource we have. You know better than anyone else what is needed. We’re very receptive to local initiatives and we want community groups to be aware of the opportunities that exist to help support new ideas.”
Details:
Who: Representatives for community groups and organizations in Pemberton, Area C and Lil’wat Nation
When: Thursday, April 7, 2016 from 7 – 9 p.m.
Where: Room D at the Pemberton and District Community Centre
What: Community Organization Meet & Greet. Share what your organization has planned for 2016. There will be calendar sheets around the room to insert your event(s).
More information and to RSVP: Shirley Henry, info@pembertonchamber.com. (If you are not able to attend but have an event scheduled please email to advise the event and date.)