Future of local business chamber on the table at annual meeting, including membership drive
MEMBERS NEEDED
The future of Douglas Chamber of Commerce will be closely examined at its own annual general meeting next week.
One of the chamber’s main objectives is a drive for more members.
Currently there are just 50 members, a far cry from its level of above 200 a few years ago.
That and the strains of declining volunteerism across all sectors of the community has put added pressure on the chamber, which relies almost entirely on volunteers for its management committee, apart from just one paid co-ordinator.
All positions are open and there will be a guest speaker at the meeting.
Chamber Co-ordinator Suzanne Robson said as normal AGM procedure determines, all members of the management committee will retire at the meeting but can be eligible for re-election if nominated.
Ms Robson said a service entity like a business chamber increasingly finds it difficult to attract volunteers.
“Other institutions or service clubs like Rotary and Lions, all those sorts of clubs which are full of volunteers, people don’t participate that way anymore,” she said.
There are nine positions on the chamber’s management committee open for election at the AGM, including president, vice president (two), treasurer, secretary and four committee members.
The meeting gets underway at 8am next Thursday, 29 September at the Tin Shed on the Port Douglas waterfront.