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Chamber hosts annual AGM at Woodington, picks up new board member

October 13, 2022   ·   0 Comments

By Wendy Gabrek

The Tottenham Beeton & District Chamber of Commerce (TBDCC) hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Woodington Lake Golf Club on Thursday, Sept 29. The evening was an occasion to look back on the Chambers’ previous fiscal year and secure a new Board of Directors for 2023.

Chamber highlights from 2022 include: re-launching in person events such as Chamber Connections; continuing the Online Learning Series – where five virtual workshops were presented; launch of the Support Local Contest in March 2022; in-person Home Show & Artisan Market and Toot N’ Holler community garage sale in May; and the Tottenham Artisan and Farmers’ Market in July and August, in partnership with Tottenham Sunday Music in the Park – to name just a few.

Attended by members of council (Mayor Rick Milne, and Ward 5 Councillor Donna Jebb, as well as TBDCC Town Liaisons Ward 6 Councillor Stephanie MacLellan and Ward 8 Councillor Alan Lacey), Mike Jerry with the Alliston BIA and Susan Iacoucci, of the Beeton–Tottenham BIA, the event was also a fundraiser for My Sister’s Place (MSP) – the local women and children’s shelter in Alliston. Proceeds from the events 50/50 Draw, including the winning 50 per cent – totalling $680 – were passed along to Deborah Herrington, MSP’s executive director who was in attendance.

Speakers for the evening were emcee Jerry Switzer, TBDCC Secretary, who read the minutes and called for a vote of acceptance. Switzer also spoke on the 2023 Tottenham Bluegrass Festival, and challenges that were met in 2022 due to the continued fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact on social gatherings. Harrington also spoke, letting participants know of the ongoing needs of the 12-bed shelter that operates to capacity year-round. Guests also heard from Sarah Taylor of Taylor Media, a social media professional, who shared a few inside secrets for better business marketing in her presentation, ’The Importance of an Online Presence’.

The keynote speaker of the night was TBDCC President Robyn Caruana, who spoke on what the Chamber needs to move forward and stay alive.

“There are strength in numbers and our goal is to support as many local businesses as we can so that as a collective unit, we have the strength to advocate, promote and build the thriving business community that we all dream of. Please continue the conversation with others and tell them about our Chamber. Small town chambers are becoming a thing of the past and we have a good thing going here,” said Caruana, who plans to stay with the Chamber into the next term.

When the call for new board members was announced, TBDCC member Beth Wink nominated Annette Erasmus, who accepted the challenge. Annette is a business representative from Edward Jones in Thornton, serving the South Simcoe area. She joins existing board members: Robyn Caruana, president; Peter Barbati, vice president; Jerry Switzer, secretary; Brenda Horan, treasurer; Martin Ranby, director; Tonia Salvaterra, director; Kiran Mann, director; Linda Carr, director; and Peter McKenna, director. The executive will be voted in at the next meeting of the TBDCC on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at its office inside Horan and Associates at B–6670 3rd Line, Tottenham.

Annual membership with the TBDCC is open to any business owner, or business representative, with no geographic limits to join – despite the Chamber’s name. Membership is $199.95 per year and includes: access to business-to-business discounts and specials; group health benefits, networking opportunities, business promotion and advertising as well as an opportunity to be a part of a thriving Chamber with heart.

On the success of the evening, Caruana told The Times, “We are so fortunate to have a membership and community leaders who are invested in the success of our small business community. Having so many in attendance tonight shows the passion and commitment that we want to see as a network so that strong partnerships are forged, and together we move towards further success”.

If you missed the TBDCC’s AGM and would like further information visit: www.tbdcc.org, email admin@tbdcc.ca or call 905-936-4100 Monday and Friday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Wednesday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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