Good luck to all the chamber directors

This week marks a bit of a milestone for me.

Last night I sang my swansong at the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. After four years on the board of directors, three-and-a-half of those on the executive committee, I am no longer on the board.

It was by choice, however I did have to deliver a financial report last night, so after that my decision to not run again might have been timed perfect. As former Chilcotin author, columnist, newspaperman, and MP Paul St. Pierre used to say about his political career: “I retired, by popular demand.”

My time on the Chamber board, like everyone else before me and those yet to come, was interesting, challenging, and very rewarding.

I was involved in some very interesting things … from developing a strategic plan for the Chamber to purchasing the building that houses the Chamber.

It almost goes without saying, though, that the best aspect of sitting on the Chamber board is the people you meet and work with. There are few new faces on the Chamber board every year, and that’s by design. So you get to meet and work with people from different sectors of the community, and that’s exciting. Everyone brings their own perspective and the goal the Chamber board, any board for that matter, is discuss the issues of the day and then come to some sort of agreement. The Chamber isn’t a consensus board so votes aren’t always unanimous and if I have any advice to new board members, be prepared that the vote might not always go your way.

That is how a democratic board works.

One of the misconceptions, and apprehensions, about joining the Chamber board was that, as a business organization, the corporate world would rule the day. That just didn’t happen.

One of the most memorable debates I participated in at the board table was a call from the Williams Lake Chamber to support Taseko Mines’ highly controversial Prosperity Project in the Chilcotin.

We had a really lively debate and, in the end, a motion to give support passed by one vote.

To all the new board members who are waking up this morning wondering what they got themselves into, congratulations, you got yourself into a wonderful adventure. It will take some of your time, your energy, your smarts, and your will to make things better. Good luck.

And to all the board members and staff who have endured my comments over the past few years, thank you. It has truly been a wonderful experience.