We had a great turnout at the Chamber for our Small Business Saturday kickoff party!

Thank you to all who joined us and to the participating businesses who work hard all year to make Big Sky the best place to #shopsmall! Click Here to view more photos.
  CHAMBER CHAT
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
MEMBER NEWS
Welcome NEW Members!
Harvey's Plumbing & Heating - Harvey’s has your project covered! Whether it’s a design-build custom home, remodel, or service call, Harvey’s will manage your job from inception and design to install and service, all under one roof. Specializing in complete comfort systems for residential and commercial projects, custom sheet metal fabrication, and providing fast and reliable service for any plumbing or heating emergency in Big Sky and the Gallatin Valley.

Spanish Peaks Property Services - Spanish Peaks Property Services provides personalized worry-free management of your personal second home retreat or investment property.

Hoplite Industries - Founded in 2013, Hoplite Industries Inc. provides cyber risk solutions to Fortune 500s, Government and Partner organizations around the world using patented technologies to deny, disrupt, and defend against advanced cyber risks. Hoplite’s patented technologies and methods allow customers to enhance their existing security investments and substantially harden their defenses, ensuring network operations are sustained at the highest level of effectiveness. Hoplite delivers real results that make a true difference.
Thank You Renewing Members!
Non-Profit Leadership Rountable Series Continues Tomorrow
The community of Big Sky has a thriving group of non-profit organizations with hundreds of volunteers that fill in the gaps of community services which are not currently addressed by either Big Sky’s “public” or private sectors. It is this vital Third Sector which has oftentimes helped drive economic development in Big Sky, and allowed it to grow as a community. The Non-Profit Leadership Roundtable Series aims to provide a more formalized educational forum for our community’s non-profit leaders and their board members.

As a board or staff member of a non-profit organization, do you know what your responsibilities are as they relate to an organization's annual Form 990? 
 
Did you know this form can be more than just a compliance document for the government?
 
Join us as Dan Miller, CPA and Shareholder of the accounting firm Anderson ZurMuehlen, leads a discussion about the often misunderstood Form and helps you gain a better understanding of what it says and how it can be used.

DATE: Wednesday, December 5, 2017
TIME: 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
LOCATION: First Security Bank Conference Room (78 Meadow Village Dr.)

Thank you Underwriting Sponsors: First Security Bank & Bozeman Audi

Big Sky Young Professionals 2018 Kick Off Party Tomorrow
Join us as we celebrate our first year of the  Big Sky Young Professionals   and look forward to the year ahead! The event is free and open to anyone aged 21-39 or who identifies with our mission to strengthen community and business relationships, create opportunities, and foster community belonging to grow and succeed. Come network with other young professionals and learn about the programs and events we'll be offering in 2018 and how you can be involved. We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you Annual Sponsor Buck's T-4 !

Your Input is Needed for Big Sky's Future!
Two important surveys need your voice today!
 
 
Visit Big Sky, the official destination marketing organization for Big Sky, is excited to invite you to take the Destination DNA survey! Having embarked on Tourism Master Planning for Big Sky this fall with Destination Think!, Visit Big Sky now needs your help. You may have heard about the DNA Workshop hosted in October on a smaller scale, but now, our goal is to get as much feedback as possible from you – the residents of Big Sky – about what makes our destination unique. Please take the 8 minute survey and encourage your co-workers and/or employees to do the same.
 
As an incentive, anyone interested in being entered in to a drawing to win Big Sky Resort lift tickets can elect to provide contact information at the end of the survey. The drawing is optional, and names will not be connected to survey results.
 
Thanks in advance for your help in shaping the future of Montana’s best destination to WORK, LIVE, PLAY, VISIT and DO BUSINESS!
 
CLICK HERE to take the Big Sky Destination DNA survey today!
 
 
The Resort Tax Board, with the Big Sky Community Housing Trust/HRDC and the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, has funded a study to better understand the housing needs of residents and workers in Big Sky and to develop solutions to address those needs.
 
We need your help! A necessary part of this study is to understand your housing needs and preferences as employees and/or residents of Big Sky. Whether you are presently a resident of the area or in-commuting from a home outside of Big Sky, your input is critical! The information from the survey will help define and address housing needs in the area for years to come.
 
We ask that you take a few minutes to complete this questionnaire. The information gathered will be presented only in aggregate; individual responses will remain confidential.
 
As a thank-you for filling out this survey, you may also choose to be entered in a drawing for one of five $100 gift cards.
 
Your participation in this effort is greatly appreciated and needed. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this study, please contact the independent consultant assisting us with this study: Wendy Sullivan (WSW Consulting) at (303) 579-6702 or wendy@wswconsult.com . Thank you in advance for your help.
 
CLICK HERE to take the Housing Needs & Preferences survey today!
 
We greatly appreciate your time and consideration of these important issues to our community.
BSCO Closes on Beehive Trailhead Property
On November, 28, 2017 the Big Sky Community Organized (BSCO) closed on the purchase of 7.5 acres on which the Beehive Basin Trailhead and trail reside. With an already existing 83.5 acres of parkland, the BSCO now owns and manages a total of 91 acres of parkland on behalf of the Big Sky Community. All parkland owned by BSCO is a restricted asset for the purpose of public use and access. This particular parkland parcel is the first the BSCO will own in Madison County boundaries within Big Sky.

BSCO plans to design trailhead improvements and open space parkland features over the winter months, while making the improvements as early as Fall of 2018 after funding is secured through private donations and public grant opportunities. Visit www.bscomt.org to stay up to date on the plans for the trailhead and park space over the winter or to donate to the project.
Moonlight Lodge Update
Below is a statement from the Moonlight Lodge:

As the season begins at Moonlight Basin, there is much to celebrate, and we want you to know about important changes coming this winter to ensure everyone is aware of the operational changes as they begin to take place. 
 
Moonlight will continue to be one of North America’s most popular and celebrated mountain resorts for both the local community and visitors. But in order to provide Members and their guests with a heightened level of service and attention to detail, beginning December 15, 2017, the Moonlight Lodge will be available exclusively to Moonlight Basin Members and their guests (including lodging guests renting a Member’s home). Lodging guests renting a Member’s home will also be able to access the Moonlight amenities for a daily access fee per family.
 
The snowshoeing, hiking, and biking trail building efforts will continue and public access to the trails located within the ski terrain will remain open. Moonlight also offers dogsledding and horseback riding for visitors and locals to enjoy.
 
Big Sky Resort’s improvements at Madison Base Area are some of the most exciting things happening this winter. This includes a children’s program that will exceed anything Moonlight has had before, more ski programs, a new magic carpet for beginners, and continued plans to make Madison one of the best spots on the mountain. The Moonlight team looks forward to working with Big Sky Resort on the future improvements and making it even better for all to enjoy.
 
Moonlight Basin remains committed to continuously improving the resort and making it the premier ski and recreational community in the Rockies. Their team looks forward to seeing everyone on the mountain this winter!
Gallatin Big Sky Weed Committee now Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance
The Gallatin-Big Sky Weed Committee has announced a new name and logo to reflect their re-branding as the Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance.

Centre Sky Architecture Receives National Recognition
Centre Sky Architecture has been on Mountain Living Magazine 's "Top Mountain Architects" list for the third year in a row.

Peers Homestead, located in Spanish Peaks Mountain Club, is a recently completed Mountain Modern Home by Centre Sky Architecture. The design of this home drew upon historical styles, preserving the essentials of the original movement while updating these elements with clean lines and modern materials. The architectural design was based on several factors: orientation with views and connection to seasonal water elements, glass cubes, simplistic form and material palette, and steel accents with structure and cladding. See the entire project here .
The mission of the Big Sky Chamber is to support the development of a world-class resort community as Montana's premier location to work, live and play.