By Lyonel Doherty

Oliver Chronicle

A new board of directors for the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce is just what the business doctor ordered for change within the organization.

And that change will come from Marnie Dirksen, Kendi Clearwater, Aimee Grice, Dermott Hutton, Wallace C. Murray, Kevin Primeau, Alberto Veintimilla and Brian Highley (president).

These members were elected to the board on Saturday during the chamber’s annual general meeting in the Oliver Legion hall.

“You guys are the ones to bring about change . . . change can only happen with new people in the chamber,” said director Eileen McGinn.

Mike Campol, who attended the AGM, said this year is a real opportunity to look at some exciting opportunities for the chamber. He noted the importance of being a collective voice for business by bringing business together.

“This organization should be an organization of power, influence and impact,” Campol stated.

Executive Director Veronica Vinge said the focus is engaging the membership, which now stands at 272. She noted that membership was once 500 strong in Osoyoos alone.

“Numbers are important but engagement is equally important,” she said.

Highley noted that they have doubled their following on social media, “blasting out” engagement opportunities with members.

He said the chamber’s networking nights are booked solid for the next year, something they’ve never done before.

Highley said 2017 was a “building year” for the chamber, noting they handed off the Festival of the Grape to the Oliver Tourism Association, which allowed the chamber to do more.

New board member Wallace C. Murray from Osoyoos said he sees the chamber and the South Okanagan in transition and he wants to be a part of it.

He noted the potential is there to do more with sustainable energy and solar power. There are also “new ways of doing agriculture,” he pointed out.

Murray said a lot of people are moving to the Okanagan, bringing different perspectives.

Marnie Dirksen, who runs two home-based businesses, said she surprised herself by joining the board, noting she’s going in blind.

“I hadn’t planned to get involved until 45 minutes ago,” she laughed.

Dirksen said she wants to get her name out there and get to know new people.

“I’m looking for positive results. I want to get out and be involved.”

The empty nester said she’s always looking to better the community.

“I don’t want to see empty storefronts,” she stated.