Speech delivered to Lloydminster Rotary & Lloydminster Chamber Members 
Business Week Luncheon 2004.

by Chamber President Michele Gustafson.

Good afternoon, fellow Rotarian, fellow Chamber members, guests and ladies and gentlemen. It is my pleasure to talk to you this afternoon at the launch of the 2005 Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce Business Week. Today I want to talk to you about the work of your Chamber this year! We've made strides and had some great successes. It's my pleasure to "toot our horn" a little and share the pride I feel in our community and in our Chamber of Commerce.

This year we got a fresh new image! Our logo changed and we adopted the slogan "Achieve Results; A Stronger Voice." As in life and in my business, you see that sometimes when you change the appearance on the exterior, something changes on the insides as well. It seems we as a Chamber are no different. We've become a power that is getting noticed not only provincially but nationally - our voice is stronger and we're achieving results!

The political work of any Chamber is the most important vehicle for change in business policy and we've made exciting strides this year. Our strong political voice resulted in change for the agricultural industry that will make an impact for many of our members. Our resolution presented 2 years ago regarding the movement of live Cervids within Alberta impacted change in provincial policy. The Government of Alberta has established a protocol for importing live cervids (elk and deer) from across North America, for production use on Alberta farms. Another protocol, exclusively with Saskatchewan, allows cervids into Alberta for immediate slaughter at federally registered processing facilities. These protocols are a key first step to providing increased marketing opportunities for elk and deer processors and producers in Alberta. The province has not allowed generalized import of cervids since 1988. 

Shirley McClellan, Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development said these protocols will give the industry increased flexibility. They will provide a balance between allowing trade, while still protecting Alberta's excellent health status of both our wild and farmed cervid populations.
She said "Our industry needs these protocols. Like other livestock producers, BSE has impacted the elk and deer sector by limiting capacity and their ability to move product." 

This change comes as a direct result of our lobby efforts with the Alberta Chambers of Commerce for fair and competitive business practices not only in our own community but also as citizens of our provinces and country. 

Also notably, we proposed a resolution that was presented and passed at the Alberta Chamber of Commerce for support for the agricultural industry in Canada with respect to resources to support marketing ideas and initiatives. Glenda Elkow, a dedicated board member and seasoned advocate for issues regarding the agricultural industry, successfully and passionately presented this resolution which passed uncontested at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM and will now be presented to government. This resolution that implores government to support producers with REAL marketing ideas and initiative to develop new markets and is a major success and a "feather in our cap" as a Chamber from somewhere between Saskatchewan and Alberta. We are on the political map and fast becoming a Chamber known as a solid advocate for business policies. I am so proud.

Our voice on a provincial level has impressed both, Alberta and Saskatchewan, provincial chambers of commerce. After almost losing the opportunity, Lloydminster will be the host city for the 2005 Centennial Bi-Provincial AGM for the Alberta and Saskatchewan Chambers May 11 - 13 of 2005. This opportunity came thanks to the efforts of our past president Heath Gabrysh, and a contingency of influential Lloydminsterites that convinced conference organizers to let Lloydminster show what it can do to be a "destination" city. I attended the 2004 Alberta AGM in Canmore and am convinced that Lloydminster's sense of hospitality, our world-class venues and history of hosting first-rate events will be enough to impress the most discriminating delegate of this conference. Conference committee organizers, lead by chairman Graham Brown recently hosted provincial conference organizers and they were impressed. Impressed with our facilities, impressed with our community involvement and backing, impressed with our business community, in short, they were impressed with Lloydminster! I am so excited for this conference because it is our opportunity to showcase our community. Delegates from all over Saskatchewan and Alberta will descend upon our fair city to be thoroughly impressed with our "destination spot."

Recognizing our need to achieve high level results as an organization, we've focused on member benefits that give our members an edge. The Marketplace website is just one way that our services are giving our members a stronger voice. With the ability to have a webpage completely customized for your business, we are giving our members a presence on the web that they may not have ever had. Now, potential customers who are surfing for products and services in Lloydminster can come in direct contact with our members' businesses. I would say an audience of millions on the world wide web is quite a strong voice.? Value-added features like online coupons and quoting allow business and customers to interact and do business online. Have you checked to see if your favorite supplier or store has a coupon on line? Our newsletter is another service that is delivering more impact and wider reach for our members. The quarterly chamber newsletter is distributed to over 1200 business in the Lloydminster area. It serves two purposes. If you are a member, it serves to update you as to what your Chamber is working to do for you, benefits afforded to you as a member and great opportunities to take advantage of as a member. If you aren't a member, it serves to inform you about all that you are missing!

Now it is the time of year when we see the accomplishments of the business that excel in Lloydminster with the Business Week Awards Gala. It's a chance for us as a Chamber to recognize the excellence of our members. Praise and recognition are sometimes the most forgotten motivators and this our opportunity as a chamber to be inspired by businesses. Businesses that exceed expectations, that excel in service, that encourage our community to pull together. These are powerful values and values to celebrate! This year, recognition will be awarded in 10 categories. Nominees will be featured in a tribute vignette before the winner is announced. It is an evening of stars! To compliment this evening of stars, we have a treat for our evening entertainment. Alex Wells, Two time world champion
HOOP DANCER, will join us! Alex is a member of the Interior Salish First Nation of Mount Currie, B.C. Alex has performed internationally including the Vancouver bid for the 2010 Olympics, the Worldskills 2009 bid presentation in Hong Kong, as well as within Canada and the US. Alex has appeared in videos for Tom Jackson and "Crash Vegas" and played as an extra in Jackie Chan's "Shanghai Noon." He also has worked with Country Music Artists, Paul Brandt and Chris Cummings. Alex also works with Aboriginal foster youth and inner city youth at risk, in an Aboriginal Dance Program. He is a star and we are so excited to have him join our evening. If you have not yet purchased your tickets. This is the perfect opportunity.

Continuing to build the strength of our Chamber is what affords us the opportunity to be influential municipally, provincially, and nationally. The good of Chamber work resonates each year we work keep the playing field level for good competition and ripe for business growth. Our membership is now over 400 strong and our board is committed to ensuring long term sustainability as an organization by implementing fail-safe measure like our sustainability fund that is intended to ensure that the Chamber's services are available to our members in ANY economy. Beyond our local involvement, the Chamber of Commerce movement is an integral part of how business in Canada is heard in Government chambers. With the voices of many chambers across the provinces and territories, your best interests as a business, whatever the industry, are represented. We are always looking for strong voices to play a role in the Chamber movement. You can be a part of it by simply deciding to become involved. There are volunteer opportunities at all levels from casual to board member. Diversity on a Chamber board is essential to a well-rounded view of the business environment and for the fostering of new ideas and policy. If you've ever thought you should get involved. We are waiting for you!

In closing, we're an organization that is built with each individual business member we represent. Each and every member is the key to our success and it is with great pride that we as an organization serve you with new services to help you network and find new business, with education opportunities, with policy development and a fellowship that puts business first. The Chamber will continue to raise its voice in the coming years and you have the opportunity to be a business that reaps all of the benefits. If you are a member, rest assured that your Chamber membership is working for you. If you aren't a member, rest assured you're missing out. 

Thank you for attending and I hope to see you at the Business Week Gala Awards!