The Bayfield Area Chamber of Commerce is actively seeking new members this year and has welcomed several new members already.
New Chamber President Brenna Morlan and new member Skip Thomas talked recently about the chamber's new directions. Morlan manages the Bayfield branch of Community Banks of Colorado. Thomas publishes Skip's Coffee News, distributed free at area businesses. Both are themselves new to the chamber.
Thomas said he enjoys meeting and talking with people and has taken on the task of inviting non-chamber members to join. "I was excited about the chamber because it's become so well-organized," he said. "For me, it's a fun thing to be a member. Meeting people is one of the most fun things I can do." He also attends other area chamber meetings to see how they operate.
Morlan said, "There's a re-vitalized opportunity for our chamber. We need to interact more as a community. (Networking athrough the chamber) can help you find investors, staff, reduce your business costs. Chambers are designed to be business advocacy, a voice for the businesses in our community."
She continued, "The other day, Skip and I were talking to someone who thought Bayfield needs a small hotel. If we don't have businesses coming together as a group and talking to town hall, it won't happen." It would draw tourist customers who might patronize Bayfield businesses.
The chamber will be having networking events and informational programs, such as about business taxes that could be of special help to new businesses, she said. But she added, "We can't do that without more businesses involved."
Morlan also wants to upgrade the chamber web site, www.bayfieldchamber.org, and to put out a newsletter.
The chamber meets the second Thursday each month at different member businesses. The March 10 meeting was at the Community Bank, hosted by Thomas. Next month's meeting is on April 21 at Bayfield High School, with lunch provided by BHS catering students. The cost is $10 per person, and reservations are requested by emailing info@bayfieldchamber.org.
"Input from our members is important," Morlan said. The chamber will continue events like Bayfield Yard Sale Day, and the bank will continue to offer vendor spaces in its parking lot. A Front Range group of Indian Motorcycle owners has asked the chamber to host an event this summer, "but we need more people to do it," she said.
Chamber memberships are $25 a year for individuals as Friends of the Chamber, $50 for businesses with up to 10 employees and for non-profit groups, and $100 for businesses with more than 10 employees.
This year's chamber board includes vice president Anne Cook and Secretary-Treasurer Meghan Lloyd, plus Ashleigh Tarkington and Wendy Malarsie.
