Rosetown Chamber recruits new board, faces $20,000 gift certificate problem
By Ian MacKay
A plea for new Rosetown Chamber of Commerce board members brought results during the organization's annual general meeting last week.
Outgoing president Courtney Rye has moved to Saskatoon and only two board members were on hand when the meeting opened last Tuesday evening. Veteran chamber member Kat Simpson told about a dozen people in attendance that the organization needed more help.
The chamber "really needs renewed energy, engagement and community involvement," Rye said, taking part by telephone. She called for "passionate people willing to step forward and help build the future of Rosetown's economy together as a team."
Eight people volunteered. They include Tyler Wynnyk, who had many questions and whom Rye tabbed as a potential president early in the meeting. Wynnyk accepted the position.
Other board members include returnees Kerry Pelletier and Simpson, who remains vice-president, Elan Kidd and Kimiko Otterspoor, who've served on the board in the past, Jazmine Guinan, Joe Spratt, AJ Nichols, Kendall Bacon and Trevor Clark.
"I cannot wait to see what you guys are going to do," Rye said near the end of the meeting, saying she'd continue to help.
One concern they face is trying to convince people to spend the over $20,000 in outstanding chamber bucks by buying goods or services from chamber members.
The gift certificates have no expiry date and provincial legislation forbids the organization from cancelling those bought years ago or that have either been misplaced, discarded or gone through a washing machine, Simpson indicated.
She asked for promotion ideas that would encourage people to find and spend them.
Rye suggested contacting those who bought them and urging them to spend them, or encouraging the people who have them now to either use them or donate them to a local cause.
The financial statement showed that the chamber ended 2025 with revenue of over $25,700, up about $600 from 2024, mostly from selling memberships and insurance.
It spent over $17,600, down over $5,000, and registered a profit of almost $8,100. It has net assets of almost $44,300.