Summerland Chamber of Commerce
Member Newsletter
March 26, 2015
In This Issue
Message from the President
Message from the Executive Director
2015/16 Chamber Board
Business after Business - upcoming events
2015 Visitor Guide and Telephone Directory
Chamber Group Insurance Plan
Summerland Business Buzz
Reading Room
Message from the President

In what is my first official role as the Chamber President, I would like to begin by thanking the outgoing directors who have contributed significantly to the evolution of the Summerland Chamber and its advocacy and tourism functions. To Arlene Fenrich, outgoing President, Thor Clausen, Past President and Maged Said, Treasurer; we will miss your leadership and the thoughtful conversations, respectful engagement and opinions you have shared to help shape this organization into what it has become today.  

 

I hope to continue to build upon the legacy that has been left for us.  I would like to welcome new directors Robert Hacking, Michael Hughes and Erick Thompson who are known throughout the community and welcome back familiar faces, Christine Coletta, Jason Embree and Kelsey Van Alphen as we roll up our sleeves and begin to get down to work for another season.

 

I believe we have a tremendous team and I look forward to working closely with the Executive Director - Christine Petkau, our staff and members and leaders in our business community. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions please do not hesitate to reach out to any one of us.  We are here to serve!

 

On a closing note, I would be remiss if I didn't pass on congratulations to all the individuals and businesses who were nominated for the Summerland Business and Community Awards.  Your leadership and dedication to our community of Summerland are an inspiration to all of us.  

Message from the Executive Director 
Christine_Petkau

The Chamber project we are most excited about right now is the new Chamber website.  For the last few years we've been tinkering with our existing site and trying to keep it as functional as possible.  And it's served us well.

But now we are very close to launching the new site and we think you'll be impressed and pleased with the changes and how they'll benefit you.

 

The home page is striking with great photography.  Our tourism website and our relocation guide links are front and centre.  You'll be able to see new members on the home page as well as access both community and business events.  And of course you'll be able to search for the information you want in an easy to use format and even advertise if you'd like to.  All of these things make it a great new member resource.

 

But the pièce de résistance of this new site will certainly be the business directory.  Much more detailed than previously, the directory will be clearly accessible from the home page.  It will be very easy for visitors to find the businesses they are looking for.  This is important since we get more than 450 unique visits to the site per day, most of them looking for information about Summerland businesses. 

 

The new directory will also give you the opportunity to showcase your business.  As in the past, every Summerland business member will have a free listing.  But you will also have the option to purchase an enhanced listing, ($85/year) bumping you to the front of your category in the listings and giving you the option to not only expand your business description, but to add photos and video as well.

 

Stay tuned for the launch of this great new member service.

Chamber Board sworn in at AGM
The 2015/16 Chamber Board of Directors had their first meeting March 12. The Chamber is pleased to announce that the new Chamber President is Kelly Marshall of Summerland Credit Union, and the new Vice President is Robert Hacking of  Bad Robot Computers & Electronics . The position of treasurer is still to be determined. 

Congratulations to all the members of the new board. Find out more about the Chamber Board on our website.
The 2015/16 Chamber Board at the Chamber AGM March 10. From left: Jason Embree, Erick Thompson, Michael Hughes, Christine Coletta, Kelly Marshall, Robert Hacking. Missing from this photo: Kelsey Van Alphen.
Business after Business
Upcoming events
Thank you to Sumac Ridge Estate Winery for hosting the Chamber's Business after Business and AGM on March 10. 

Upcoming Chamber networking events for your calendar:
2015 Summerland Visitor Guide 
and Telephone Directory
The 2015 Summerland Visitor Guide and Summerland Telephone and Business Directory have been delivered to residences around Summerland.  Copies of both publications can be collected from the Visitor Centre. 


The best Employee Benefit Plan 
for small business
The team at Brown Benefits facilitates the Chamber Insurance Plan for Summerland Chamber members.

Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan has been protecting Canadian firms for over 40 years. Across the country, more than 25,000 small to medium-sized businesses use the Chambers Plan to protect their employees with comprehensive group benefits including dental and health insurance - making it Canada's #1 employee benefits plan for small business.

 

Thousands of small business owners join the Chambers Plan each year because it's the simple, stable, smart choice for their business: combining accessibility, flexible options and pooled benefits that add stability to their employee benefits. 

 

For more information, contact Brown Benefits at info@brownbenefits.ca or 1.866.685.8366.

 Summerland Business Buzz

Summerland agri-businesses Mazza Innovation has added another award to their list - the Most Innovative Ingredient, as part of the 2015 Editors' Choice Awards at Engredea - the premier annual event for the global nutrition industry. 

 

 

It's been a whirlwind of announcements from Okanagan Specialty Fruits. In February, the US deregulated the company's non-browning Arctic® Apple. Days later it was announced the company had been sold to the Intrexon Corporation for $41 million. Most recently, Health Canada has approved OSF's Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny.

 

 

 

Michael Bechtel is the new General Manager for Summerland Varieties Corporation (SVC). Formerly known as the Okanagan Plant Improvement Company (PICO), SVC is a variety rights management company that licenses new varieties of tree fruits and berries domestically and internationally.

 

 

 

 

Summerland wine maker Tyler Harlton has been named one of Western Living's "Foodies of the Year" and is featured in a recent interview.

 

 

 

 

Huan Pham and Annelore Wuensche are the new owners of Lakeshore Fitness & Health. Huan holds a Bachelor's Degree of Kinesiology and Health Science from UBC, and prior to moving to Summerland, worked with one of Vancouver's leading Personal Training Studios. The couple are looking forward to putting their own stamp on the 2100 sqft gym, located above the Summerland Racquets Club. 

 

 Reading Room
Penticton Indian Band wins economic development award: The PIB Development Corporation was named the 2015 winner of the Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation Award by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

More changes to Facebook: Facebook is planning changes to Messenger, allowing brands to offer shoppers the options of interacting directly through Messenger, signing up for direct updates, receiving receipts and shipping info. Facebook has also launched a new 360-degree video feature. Users will also be able to embed Facebook videos on websites, similar to Youtube.

Design eye-catching rack cards: Summerland Chamber members can rack their business cards/rack cards for free at the Visitor Centre. Members in the tourism industry may be particularly interested in this article about creating effective rack brochures for your business.

Rise of food trucks impact food tourism: New surveys show that  Millennial consumers (generation born between early 1980s and early 2000s) love new food experiences. Many cities in North America have seen a marked increase in the number of food trucks, with creative entrepreneurs looking to tap into this market. 

The power of small business:  Small businesses employ 90% of the private sector is Canada. This article notes why all political parties need to pay attention to entrepreneurs .  
New members
Welcome
A sad loss

   We are sad to announce that Valerie Utigard, a long-standing volunteer at the Summerland Visitor Centre, passed away on March 14. Val welcomed hundreds of visitors to Summerland during her years as a summer volunteer, and we will miss her kindness.  A celebration of Val's life will be held on Saturday, April 4 at 2:00 PM at Silverbirch Club House, 8408 Jubilee Road East. 
Member Hosted Events

Every Tuesday

MLA Dan Ashton's office is available each Tuesday for drop-ins from 9am-noon at the Summerland Chamber Board Room, 15600 Hwy 97.

 

Friends of the Summerland Gardens are hosting a number of educational workshops and events through the spring.

 

March 26

The Sweet Tooth Cafe hosts Purple Day for Epilepsy.

 

Now until May 2

Summerland Art Gallery new show Expressions: Travel Inspired Paintings by Irene Gray.

 

Saturday, April 4

Easter Train- Kettle Valley Steam Railway.

 

Tuesday, April 7

Summerland Food Bank & Resource Centre AGM. 7pm.

 

Tuesday, April 14

SADI Youth Club's annual dinner fundraiser at Zia's Stonehouse Restaurant. Tickets $35.

 

Saturday, April 18

Women Who Mean Business Spring Trade Show. 10am-3pm at the IOOF Hall, Main Street.

 

Sunday, April 26

South Okanagan SPCA host their annual "Burger and Beer" fundraiser.

 

Sunday, May 3

VE Day Candle Lighting Ceremony at Canyon View Cemetery 1:30PM. For more info, contact the Summerland Legion.

  

Tell us about your event: Email us to submit an event to the Community Events Calendar.
Healthy Living Cycling Research Survey

Do you cycle in Summerland and Penticton? What do you feel are some of the barriers to cycling in our communities, and how can our local governments encourage more cycling? 

Take the survey

DoS 2015-2019 Strategic Plan
DOS Logo

 Summerland Council approved the District's 2015-2019 Strategic Plan at the March 23 Council Meeting. Click here to read the plan online.

2015 Summerland Earth Week

 Summerland Earth Week runs April 20-26 and there are a number of events going on around town. Join the Facebook Page for full details.

LNG Energy Seminar
March 30-31

The BC Government is hosting a 2-day LNG energy seminar  in Kelowna March 30-31. 

Highlights include panel dialogues, energy demonstrations and WorkBC's Find Your Fit Career Experience.
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