The mission of the Kalkaska Area Chamber of Commerce is to improve the quality of life of its members and the community in general, by promoting the economic, civic, commercial, cultural, industrial and educational interests of the Kalkaska area, as well as to maintain the natural resources. 

The Chamber’s top four priorities are: 1. Promoting business development and growth;  2. Promoting private enterprise; 3. Providing services to help businesses prosper; and 4. Enhancing our community image.

Chair:  Diana Needham

Vice Chair:  Rob Barnard

Secretary:  Sue Cornell

Treasurer:  Don Kessel

Directors: Tina Banko, Patrick Dewey, Matt Shepherd,

Becky Muma, Ken Waichunas, Pam Modos, Matt Cairy, Lee Sandy, and Jim Austin.

Board of Director meetings are held the first Thursday of  every month at 4:30 p.m. and all Chamber members are welcome

Office hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Web site at www.kalkaskami.com 

Email: chamber@kalkaskami.com

Phone: 231-258-9103

Fax: 231-258-6155

The Board of Directors of the Greater Kalkaska Area Chamber of Commerce supports this action and encourages a “yes” vote from Chamber members.

Some key points to keep in mind:

·        The Chamber’s name will remain the Greater Kalkaska Area Chamber of Commerce;

·        There will continue to be a Board of Directors elected by business members in Kalkaska County;

·        The Chamber building ownership will not transfer to the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce;

·        All Chamber members will automatically become members of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce as part of their membership in the Greater Kalkaska Area Chamber, with full member privileges in both chambers;

·        By virtue of the merger, the Kalkaska staff will essentially increase to 14 full and part-time staff providing a multitude of programs, benefits, and services not otherwise available in Kalkaska;

·        Sharon Coppock, office manager of the Chamber, will be retained after the merger;

·        Chamber dues will increase beginning in 2008 to match the Traverse City Area Chamber dues schedule.  However, Kalkaska members will be given up to three years to move to the new schedule, which is currently $50 more per year than Kalkaska’s minimum dues;

·        This process was initiated by the Greater Kalkaska Area Chamber of Commerce – it was our idea to pursue this course of action – in the best interest of growing business and building community in and around Kalkaska.

Your vote is very important!  Without at least one more than 50 percent of the members actually submitting a ballot – one ballot per member-company – in favor of the Board’s action, it cannot proceed.