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Marisa Robertson speaks Wednesday in the Duck Inn Olympic Grand Ball Room during the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce annual luncheon. Robertson's mother, Chamber Executive Director Jody Olson, was not able to attend the meeting due to an illness in the family.
Former Havre Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg speaks Wednesday during the Chamber's annual meeting as the president of the Chamber, Havre Daily News Publisher Stacy Mantle, hugs retired Chamber administrative assistant Shari Robinson.
Outgoing Havre Area Chamber of Commerce President Joe Ross speaks Wednesday during the Chamber's annual meeting.
Retired Havre Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg speaks Wednesday at the Chamber annual meeting.
Local community and business leaders gathered at the Duck Inn Olympic Room Wednesday for the 109th Havre Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting.
People at the meeting celebrated the Chamber's achievements of the last year, recognized Chamber board members and spoke about the organization's plans for the coming year.
The luncheon was the first for the Chamber under the leadership of Executive Director Jody Olson, who took the helm in July after the retirement of former director Debbie Vandeberg.
Olson was unable to be at the meeting after her husband Brian was hospitalized with the flu, said Marisa Robertson, Olson's daughter.
Robertson gave a brief PowerPoint presentation about Olson, a Minnesota native. Olson and her family moved to Havre in the late '80s or early '90s. Brian's job with BNSF eventually led the Olsons to move to Texas. After Brian's retirement, the couple returned to Havre in 2010.
"When the job at the Chamber opened she looked at that and said 'that is my dream job,'" Robertson said.
She added that her mother applied for the post because it is something she could imagine herself really loving.
Chamber Past President Joe Ross gave a short presentation on the new community events online calendar in Havre at http://havreareaevents.com.
Havre Daily News Publisher and Chamber President Stacy Mantle presented outgoing board members Nick Turner and former Chamber President Shawn Holden with plaques and thanked them for their service.
New board members Maia LaSalle of BNSF and Shea Carroll of Hi-Line Rental and Julea Robbins, the Chamber's new office manager were introduced.
Mantle and former Chamber President Joe Ross presented Vandeberg and former Chamber office secretary Shari Robinson with handmade signs as recognition for their work on the Chamber.
Vandeberg and Robinson both joined the Chamber in 1994.
"Through their tenure together, Debbie and Shari have led the Chamber to be one of the best," Ross said. "Both have put countless hours of their own time, ensuring every project was the best that it could be.
"Debbie and Shari have left the Chamber in a better place with a strong membership, great community projects and excellent education opportunities for our businesses," he added.
Vandeberg said that her time with the Chamber was a great journey and that she misses seeing Chamber members every day since she retired.
She added that she is the healthiest she has been in 18 months and is now enjoying her morning coffees at home rather than at her desk.
"I am very appreciative of the effort that all past board members and current board members do for this community and the time that all of you have volunteered to make Havre such a great place to be," she said.
USS Montana Committee Chair Bill Whitsitt gave a short presentation on the construction of the nuclear submarine USS Montana. See separate story in today's Havre Daily News.
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