Havre Chamber celebrates 112 years with return of annual meeting

The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 112th anniversary with its annual meeting Wednesday afternoon at the Duck Inn where members honored each other and the volunteers who make events and programs around town happen.

Chamber President Matt Wertheimer lamented that the event couldn't be held last year, and thanked NorthWestern Energy for sponsoring this year's event, Triangle Communication for providing equipment, and the local-, state-, and national-level officials who showed up including Hill County Commissioners Jake Strissel and Mark Peterson, Havre Mayor Doug Kaercher, and Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, as well as a representative from the office of Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont.

Wertheimer said he moved to Havre 18 years ago and knew he would never leave, especially after finding a wonderful employer in Independence Bank.

He said his experience at the Chamber has allowed him to see what it takes to run events like Festival Days, Havre's parade and this year's Bear Paw Marathon, and the incredible work of the people who make it happen.

"To sit back and look at those events from afar, to watch the smiles on people's faces when they watch the parade, when they watch the (Christmas tree) lighting, it's wonderful," he said. "And it's wonderful to be a part of."

Wertheimer said events like this do not happen without volunteers like the ones in the room and they need recognition, as they make things like this happen.

He said in his time at the Chamber, which he has been a part of in various capacities over the years, he's met a lot of great people from farmers to attorneys and the networking opportunities it has afforded him have been great.

He said those present should encourage young people to get involved in their local organizations including the chamber.

Chamber Executive Director Julea Robbins also spoke at the event, providing details on what the Chamber did in 2021.

She said they managed to raise $80,000 in tourism grants, promoting safe traveling through the pandemic, providing things like hand sanitizer stations, masks, personal care kits and electrostatic foggers to businesses to keep the their customers safe.

She said it was great to see so many events like Saturday Market, Sounds on the Square and the parade come back or even expand after 2020 when so many events had to be canceled.

"We missed our parade so much," she said.

Robbins said the tree lighting went especially well, this year featuring a glow run that maxed out its 50-participant limit in its first year.

She also talked about the inaugural Bear Paw Marathon, a new event that attracted 300 runners, many from outside the community, and went exceedingly well, requiring a tremendous amount of work for everyone in a labor of love that she hopes will get bigger next year.

She also thanked the incredible number of sponsors that contributed to events like this, even during hard times.

"I have never met such a generous community," she said.

Robbins also celebrated the Chamber's 14 new members and wished them all well.

Wertheimer said that is the biggest increase in businesses the chamber has seen in a long time, but in 2022 they're hoping for even more.

He said their goals for the next year are to grow the marathon, increase their presence in the community and social media, and implement a shop-local campaign at least once a quarter.

"Anything you want, anything you need in life you can get in Havre, Montana. I really believe that," he said.

Past President Melissa Kapperud also honored the Chamber's outgoing Past President Bethany Chinadle, whom she praised for her work over the years.

She said Chinadle has been involved with a several areas in the community that have impacted the lives of everyone in the room as a behind-the-scenes presence that has been an incredible asset to the community.

"She's the person you want near you when the ship is sinking," she said. "She will have a plan to save everyone on board, the ship itself, all of the cargo, and she will also remember that the captain has a shellfish allergy."

Kapperud also honored former Past President Curtis Lineweaver, whom they were not able to recognize last year for his years of service.