Don Ricci to head RR Chamber

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Sixteen people gathered at the Rainy River Legion last Monday evening to conduct elections for the Rainy River and District Chamber of Commerce (RRDCC).
Gord Armstrong was appointed acting chair as outgoing president Susan Carpenter declined the chair. Armstrong immediately opened elections by asking for nominations for president. The only nomination was for Don Ricci. He agreed to let his name stand as long as the term of office was limited to one year. He was acclaimed.
Armstrong then asked for nominations for vice-president. Martin Dufresne was asked but he declined as did Deanie Lunyk. Dufresne’s wife, Jacquie was then nominated. She let her name stand and once nominations were closed she was acclaimed.
As in the past the chamber’s banking has rotated between the Northern Lights Credit Union and CIBC. Whenever one has had the banking they also provided a treasurer for the RRDCC. Being that it is CIBC’s turn president Ricci noted that Jerri Irish of CIBC will be filling that position.
Two applications for a paid secretary’s position have been received. Ricci said he and his new VP would review them and come back to the RRDCC at the next monthly meeting with a recommendation for the job.
Ricci thanked past-president Carpenter and outgoing secretary Melanie Murray for their years of dedication to the RRDCC and encouraged them to continue coming to meetings and being involved with RRDCC activities.
Ricci noted that he has been researching via other chambers to see how they work and noted that he hopes to create job descriptions for all positions.
Ricci plans to meet with Dufresne and set some goals for the chamber. At the next meeting of the chamber he plans to ask for members to serve as directors; creating committees based on the RRDCC’s goals for 2009-10. “All of us need to be involved or this won’t work,” said Ricci.
Ricci said he will chair the Rainy River Trade Show which is scheduled for Apr. 24-25 this year.
He also addressed the fact that Mayor Deb Ewald and Councillor Gord Armstrong were present and said, “I hope that the chamber can work hand in hand with the Town’s economic development committee.”
Ricci and Dufresne both said they would also be coming up with a different meeting day as Monday’s seem to be a problem for a number of members.