I would begin by thanking the membership of the Sundre & District Chamber of Commerce for allowing me to serve as President of your Association for the past year. It has been a rewarding experience in which I have met many community members who have expressed an appreciation and optimism for this Sundre Area. Many have also expressed a willingness to work for the betterment of this community. Our challenge is to make the Chamber of Commerce a powerful mechanism for creating a better community.

To accomplish this there are a number of areas that need attention:

1. A common vision for the future of this community.
2. Communication with our members
3. Communication with the general public
4. Communication with our political partners
5. Our signage, including the Chamber Website, the Post Office bulletin board, and all highway signs.
6. Staffing and maintaining of the Visitor Information Centre.
7. The promotion of the sentiment that this community is the best place in the country to live and work.

As with any organization there are many administrative details that require continuous attention. While we need a core of willing volunteers to attend to these, we should also involve the larger community to make the Chamber a force to generate positive change. This organization has an opportunity to effectively represent our collective interests and bring together the tremendous resources found within this community.

I am proud of this community and the role the Chamber of Commerce plays in it. Three activities from this past year may serve to illustrate why I feel this way:

1. The Sundre Rodeo Parade, sponsored by the Chamber, spearheaded by Bill McGhee, proved to be a great event showing our community spirit.
2. The Beef Rally of last August served almost 5000 people and was perhaps the most successful event of its kind held in Alberta.
3. The Community Awards Night celebrates the good people of Sundre. This note from Grant Schwartzenberger represents the feedback from this event.

Thank you once again for your patience and for your contributions through this past year.