Business remains positive as the Tenterfield Chamber of Tourism, Industry and Business held its second annual general meeting on Wednesday, August 1.
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Around 30 Chamber members attended the AGM, held at the Tenterfield Golf Club, to elect a new board of directors and plan the town’s economic future.
“There's a lot of enthusiasm at the moment about the way business is heading,” outgoing chair Vince Sherry said. “That certainly came out at the meeting!”
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Who’s on the 2018/2019 board
The Chamber held its first AGM and elected its first official board last August. Since starting with a small steering committee in 2016, the Chamber has grown to 71 members in two years.
Seven of those members were elected to lead the chamber for the next year.
Three of them are old hands. Amanda Rudge (Our Place Wine & Espresso Bar), Paul Quinn (Tally Ho Motor Inn), and Patricia Parker (Sullivan’s Newsagency) continue on from the old board.
Joining them are three fresh faces: Chris Jones (Glenrock Gardens), Gina Carpenter (Telegraph Hotel), and Suzanne Griffiths (Ruben and Flax).
The seventh member has not yet been elected, but talks are going on with interested people. The position should be filled within the next month.
Once all seven board members have been elected, they will meet at their earliest convenience to decide who will fill which office.
A successful year – and plans for the next
Vince Sherry stepped down from his position as chair. He can look back on a successful term in office.
“There's a distinct feeling that Tenterfield is going economically extremely well,” Mr Sherry said. “People feel that a lot of positive things are happening in town; businesses are doing well; new ones are coming to town; and there are many new initiatives.”
The Why Leave Town EFTPOS gift cards, only redeemable at participating local businesses, were launched in December. 730 cards have been loaded to the value of $26,000 – all money spent in the local economy.
The initiative has been so successful that the next round of cards, now printing, will be co-sponsored between the Chamber of Commerce and the Tenterfield Bowling Club, who load up to 140 cards a month.
Seven hundred tickets have been sold to the inaugural Peter Allen Festival on September 7 – 9, and hotels are already booked out.
Social media will launch an advertising campaign within the next month. Filmed and shot in Tenterfield over the Easter weekend, this initiative between Council and the Chamber hopes to bring more tourists into town.
Other suggestions include more business workshops via the TAFE NSW Connected Learning Centre, and at least four general meetings with a guest or keynote speaker each year.
Members also praised Sapphire Daly’s Emerald Adventure Project, teaching business and life skills to young people, and suggested more initiatives like this.