Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce meets

HOT SPRINGS - Over chicken alfredo and salad, the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce held its monthly meeting last Thursday.

The meeting itself lasted close to an hour and a half, and over the luncheon, varying topics were discussed, ranging from simple matters of chamber website design to more pressing issues of event dues.

Once April 9th’s meeting’s minutes were reviewed, the chamber commenced with their first discussion topic, the Facebook and web page.

Regarding Facebook, the only issue was maintaining constant updates with chamber news.

The chamber’s website was a bit more of an issue to discuss. The chamber was concerned that the site is not getting enough traffic, and subsequently felt that it needed a new “local designer” and general overhaul of the whole design. As of right now the chamber is looking for a new designer, and further discussion of the matter is being tabled to next month.

After website design, the chamber moved onto discussion about a historic event that was about to take place. After what was called a labor of 10 years, the chamber announced that work on a Highway 93 sign will be put up, advertising Hot Springs and some of its commercial attractions.

It was reported that $1,275 has already been raised for the sign. To rent the sign spacing, it will cost the chamber $1,500 a year and the cost of the sign is $500. Talk of a possible sign fundraiser was mentioned as a way of raising more funding for the sign, but it is not on the books yet.

Without much talk, the chamber moved onto a quick diversion from its normal affairs for a special raffle drawing. What was called the, “Happy Healthy Hot Springs Weekend Getaway,” was a drawing held by the chamber over April to attract people to visit the businesses of Hot Springs. Sent over the airwaves by a broadcasting agency, people were told about the raffle taking place in businesses in the town. Once they shopped in the store they could enter the raffle for a $500 prize package.

A name was pulled and the person will be called shortly.

A quick report about how the chamber will be working a fair concession stand and how it will split the cost of the stand was quickly discussed.

Homesteaders Day issues then became the chambers topic and quickly it became a slightly heated talk. The main issue was that bands, financial requirements and chores were decided for some businesses without too much prior talk. Despite it working for many years as announced by numerous chamber meetings, some members who have a bit of a bill to pay felt that they did not have enough say in their expenses when it came to housing a band for a night or two. They felt that they would not be able to turn a profit after the cost for splitting the bill for the street performance and then the cost of a band. Eventually, emotions were eased and the chamber progressed into talking about supporting the rodeo that would occur during Homesteaders Days.

A motion was quickly passed to give $500 to the rodeo association.

There was then quick discussion of starting a quarterly Chamber social hour, where the chamber would invite the other business owners to have food and talk businesses and any possible issues.

Announcements were read that the “Spud Dinner” the Hot Springs Museum held was a success and in its six years of running, it was the most profitable so far. It was also announced that it was cataloguing a large collection of photos and will be putting a float in the parade. During Homesteaders Days it will also be giving a free meal to the original homesteaders and alone it donated $300 to the Homesteaders dinner.

It was announced that the city council was planning a meeting to explain to the public about new ordinances and changes to the library board. The meeting date is tentative.

The chamber then commented on an eight page laminated flier that will have all of Hot Springs events in it. The fliers will be sold in the businesses around Hot Springs.

To close the meeting, the Chamber heard from a local citizen about a project he has been working on for the community.

David Max, a radio enthusiast, has been working on setting up a low power 100 watt FM radio station in Hot Springs. He hopes to create a community radio station that can involve high school students, the tribe and artists from the community to all work together to run the station.

Max has already helped set up stations in Missoula and feels he can do it in Hot Springs as well. He also feels that in case of an emergency it could also be a valuable asset to the community as a means of communication. He states that he has already put $800 into the project and has talked to individuals for a possible place to put the actual station. It is his belief that he needs to raise another $7,500 to $10,000 to get the station up and running.

The station will be called 101.9 KJFK-LT.

Once Max had concluded his talk, the chamber passed a motion to close.