The Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce announced its slate for election of directors at its Monday, April 16 meeting.
Nominated are currently serving, appointed directors Bill Gorski (Suburban Propane), Lanny Hardy (The Creek House Restaurant), Gary Taylor (Fern Valley Inn) and Chris Titus (Idyllwild Vacation Rentals). Also nominated are Curtis Hanshaw (Angels in the Cottage) and previous Chamber President Mimi Lamp, representing the Art Alliance of Idyllwild. Since there will be seven vacancies to fill for the upcoming fiscal year 2012-2013, all six nominees will be elected, according to election committee member Steve Moulton. “The top four will get three year terms,” said Moulton.
Elected directors remaining on the board are Mike Lackey (with a balance of two years to serve beginning July 1), David Jerome (one year), Peter Buhl (one year) and Don Strunk (one year).
Moulton corrected a report given last month that current chamber business memberships number 85. “Actually that number should have been 78, but with the gain of five [renewals or new — Idyllwild Town Crier, Grandpa’s House of Jerky, Hidden Village Restaurant, Pacific Hypnotherapy, and the Quiet Creek Living Room Gallery] and loss of one, the Idyllwild Help Center, we’re at 82.”
Director David Jerome, serving as board secretary and treasurer noted the slump in business memberships is to some degree due to renewal notices not going out in a timely manner. “We’ve been remiss in sending out the renewal notices,” he said. “I though it was the second vice president’s responsibility, but the bylaws state that it is mine,” said Jerome, promising to expedite sending out renewal notices.
Jerome reported that he had met with Marshall Hawkins, talent promoter of the in-town jazz concert that runs on the Saturday night of the Jazz in the Pines Festival, and that plans for this year’s concert are forming. “This is a major undertaking,” said Jerome of the chamber’s role in taking over management of the event. The event helps to fund Hawkins’ program for introducing jazz into Southern California elementary schools.
In other business, Lackey reported that long-popular chamber mixers would begin again. Jerome reported that he is working with Don Raridon of Omni Web on updating membership lists on the chamber’s website.
Lastly, Mitchell Witt, Internet consultant for WSI Marketing, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, spoke to the board about services his company could provide local merchants in effectively using Internet videos to promote and vend their products.
