Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce expect large turn out for free Earth Day Fair

President of the Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce, Rhea Verbanic is expecting the free Earth Day Fair to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 23, at Boundary County Fairgrounds to be another huge  success.

“We have over 30 vendors who will be set up at the fairgrounds this year,” Verbanic said.  “It's growing so rapidly that plans for next year's third annual event will be expanded to two days.”

There are so many events taking place on Saturday that a number of local merchants have decided to keep their doors open until 7 p.m. on the eve of the fair, Friday April 22.

Verbanic is also excited about the new quarterly meetings that will be more like events.  

In the past the chamber met monthly and sometimes it was hard for business owners to attend.

“We will be having a short business meeting, then food, drink, and interesting speakers on subjects that will  reach our business and community goals,” Verbanic said.

By meeting quarterly Verbanic hopes to gain more attendance by making them at a time after closing hours and making the meetings more fun.

The first chamber quarterly meeting was held April 15, at Mugsy’s Tavern and was well attended filling every seat in the room.  

Their first speaker Mary Wilford spoke about the importance of great customer service to local business owners and their employees in Boundary County.  Wilford’s presentation was interactive and informative.

She also announced that this year's Crazy Dayz festivities will take place on Saturday, July 23, the week following Bonners Ferry’s three on three street ball tournament, Swish.

Verbanic thinks this goal can be reached and is optimistic about the upcoming year and some of the new things the chamber is doing to serve their community.

“We have opened the door to have members bring their ideas and goals and would like to encourage more businesses to join,” said Verbanic.

The chamber officials  include, Therese Osborne vice president, Erika Thiel secretary, Brenda Liermann treasurer, directors Mike Sloan, Shelly Kramer  and Christine Callison, visitor center director Colet Allen and Tina Wilson who is in charge of government affairs.

The chamber has one employee, Brittany Kresavage,  who Verbanic said is a wonderful go getter who has been diligent about getting information out into the public.

Kresavage answers questions from the web site, puts together the monthly newsletter, and makes sure members know what is happening around town.  Her position is supported by membership dues and Verbanic said she is enthusiastic and a vital part of the chamber.

The chamber of commerce web site was overhauled two years ago and the chamber hopes to continue making improvements.  Now on the web site businesses have their own page they manage themselves and in  the future will be able to add photos to their page.  She also said soon members can pay their due through pay pal right on the web site.

“It is little things like that we want to do to make it beneficial and easy to be a member,” Verbanic said.  “It also helps to go green saving on postage, envelops and paper, just another way to make membership convenient.”

In addition Verbanic said the chamber and its members would like to show off the year around tourism in Bonners Ferry and get the word out that it is not just a summer destination.

For information on the Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce go to the web site at http://www.bonnersferrychamber.com or call, 267-5922.