Chamber delivers on promise

by Peter Jakey – Managing Editor

Members of the Onaway Area Chamber of Commerce couldn?t have been more transparent in how they spent county taxpayer dollars on the Onaway Sportsman?s Show.

Executive director Bev Brougham went before the board of commissioners Wednesday night to provide financial statements and a letter of thanks.

The chamber received $2,000 from the county, which was used as seed money to promote the return of the event to Onaway High School.

?Attached is an accounting of funds received and dispersed with a net balance, after expenses, of $4,088,? she said, standing at the podium of the commission meeting room in Rogers City.

Bringing the financial information before the board was a requirement of the contract the chamber signed October 17. It stated they would provide statements and supporting documents of cash controls at the door.

Brougham offered to provide copies of bills and check receipts upon request.

THE CHAMBER was interested in bringing back the Sportsman?s Show from almost the moment the Presque Isle County Tourism Council decided to move it to Gaylord a year ago.

?Gentlemen, on behalf of the Onaway Area Chamber of Commerce, thank you for your generous gift of $2,000,? said Brougham. ?Without your donation the show could not have been acco

mplished in such a short amount of time. Thank you for helping us bring the show back to Onaway.?

Brougham told board members there was countywide support from vendors and attendees.

The date for next year was to be voted on at the their board of directors meeting (last night, past press time). ?All the vendors who were part of this year?s show have asked to be included next year.?

In return the chamber has pledged to keep their booth space prices the same. With 11 months ahead to plan, and not six weeks, next year?s show should have a lot more for visitors to see and do, said Brougham.

Commissioners Mike Darga of Rogers and Bob Schell of Onaway both commended chamber members for their efforts in getting the show up and running again.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.