AGM News - May 2009 Issue

In this issue

• Things you need to know – important AGM reminders
• BC Chamber Governance Focus Group – Thursday Morning
• Speaker’s Spotlight
• Registration
• Live & Silent Auctions
• The Conference Program
• Event Sponsors

Things you need to know – important AGM Reminders

• Locations:  All of the sessions and meals will be held at Chances Convention Centre, with the exception of Policy Session II, which will be held at the Highliner Plaza Hotel.  The Thursday night Social Function and the Hospitality Suite will be held at the Crest Hotel.

• Dress:  In general, the dress code for the AGM is business attire.  For the Friday Night Social Event you will need warm casual clothing (think layers).  At the Chair’s Inaugural Dinner, most delegates will be dressed in formal attire.

• Registration Deadline:  The deadline to register through the BC Chamber of Commerce office is May 15, 2009. You may register at the BC Chamber of Commerce registration table at the AGM on May 21, 2009.

• Registering at the AGM:  All delegates must register upon arrival at the AGM.  The Registration Desk is located in the Chances Convention Centre Foyer.  Registration begins Thursday, May 21, at 8:30 am.  Depending on when you arrive, you can register anytime Thursday before 5:00 pm, Friday between 6:30 and 11:30 am, and between 2:00 and 3:30 pm, or Saturday between 7:30 am and 10:00 am.

• Inspired! A Forum for Creative Chamber Solutions – Come prepared:  Don’t forget to bring your best ideas, and be ready to share them at the open mic session for chambers and their members on Saturday morning at 9:15

• Thursday Morning Program Change: This is a reminder that the Thursday morning Policy Prep. Session has been changed to “BC Chamber Governance Focus Group” with Vince Battistelli, and will begin at 10:30 am. (see details below)

• Fairview Container Terminal Tour: The Prince Rupert Port Authority is offering AGM delegates a tour of the Fairview Container Terminal on Wednesday, May 20 at 3 p.m. If you will have arrived in Prince Rupert by that time and would like to participate, please email the Prince Rupert Chamber office manager@princerupertchamber.ca or call (250) 624-2296.

If you have any questions regarding the AGM & Conference, please do not hesitate to contact the Chamber office at 604.683.0700 or bccc@bcchamber.org

BC Chamber Governance Focus Group – Thursday Morning

Thursday morning at 10:30 am, join Vince Battistelli for a Focus Group, examining the governance of the BC Chamber of Commerce.  The Chamber has been going through a governance review exercise to ensure its structure meet the needs of the organization.  Member Chambers who have arrived in Prince Rupert on Thursday morning are strongly encouraged to attend this Focus Group and share their input.  The Chamber has been contacting a random sampling of its Member Chambers to ensure member input into this important process, but would like to extend the invitation to any chamber staff and volunteers who are available on Thursday.

Note: This session replaces the Policy Prep. Session on Thursday morning and will be held at the Chances Convention Centre in room 103, from 10:30 am to noon.

Speaker’s Spotlight

Aleisha Cline

Canadian ski cross world champion, and Team Canada Olympic athlete Aleisha Cline will be sharing her inspirational story with delegates at Saturday’s luncheon.  Aleisha is a four-time ski cross champion at the Winter X Games (1999, 2001-03), has won three FIS World Cup ski cross races (Pozza di Fassa, ITA - 2004, Naeba, JPN - 2004, Cypress Mountain, BC - 2009), and has reached the podium at a FIS World Cup ski cross event on seven occasions.You can visit Aleisha’s homepage at www.aleishacline.com, and view her career history and stats here.

Registration

The deadline to register through the BC Chamber office is May 15th, 2009.  Delegates can register at the AGM Registration Desk at Chances Convention Centre starting at 8:30 am on Thursday, May 21st.
If you require a Registration Form please contact bccc@bcchamber.org, or you can download a form in the Members Only section of the BC Chamber site.

Registration for additional individual events can be purchased by members and guests at the AGM Registration Desk in the Chances Convention Centre Foyer

The fees for the 57th Annual General Meeting and Conference are as follows (prices do not include 5% GST)

Delegate Registration

• First Delegate $550.00
• Additional Delegate $500.00

Companion Registration (no voting privileges)

• $500.00

Cancellation Policy

All registration cancellations must be received in writing: by email, fax or regular mail. Registration cancellations received (email/fax) or postmarked (regular mail) after April 30, 2009 will be subject to a $50.00 (plus GST) administration fee. Cancellations received or postmarked after May 8, 2009 will not be refunded. Registrations are transferable without additional charge.

Live & Silent Auctions

The Thursday night Social Function: AGM 2010 Vancouver will feature a silent auction, a brief live auction for large ticket items, as well as a chance to win a door prize.  Come ready to bid on some of the fantastic auction items on the block this year.

Additionally, the coveted statue generously donated by Rio Tinto Alcan (this year a swan), as well as a state of the art Terasen Gas barbecue, will be auctioned at the Chair’s Inaugural Dinner on Saturday night.

The Conference Program

Event Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

• Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines
• Graham Barnes & Associates Chambers of
• Commerce Group Insurance
• Rio Tinto Alcan

Gold Sponsors

• Association for Mineral Exploration British
• Columbia
• Certified General Accountants of British
• Columbia
• BC Transmission Corporation
• Plutonic Power Corporation

Terasen Gas

• Silver Sponsors
• BC Lottery Corporation
• Merck Frosst
• Spectra Energy

Bronze Sponsors

• BC Ferries
• BC Hydro

Contributors

• Deloitte & Touche LLP
• IKON
• Old Dutch
• Orca Printing Ltd.
• WorkSafeBC

Visit our sponsors’ page here.