Community spirit was high as approximately 60 people gathered on Thursday night for the Morris Chamber of Commerce’s AGM and puzzle competition.
The event brought together locals for an evening of fellowship and food. Meant as friendly competition between chamber businesses and an opportunity to network, 14 teams, many wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, represented a mixture of companies, non-profits, and friends vying for puzzle winner bragging rights.
Cheryl Crick, administrative assistant, spoke to the light-hearted aspect of the evening.
“[The board] wanted to bring back some old-time Christmas: the traditional potluck, wearing your Christmas sweater, and a fun game night. Combine all that and you have a wonderful and fun evening.”
The AGM part of the evening was short, with president Cheryl Demarcke sharing highlights of the last year, including an income increase following a jump in board memberships, the Rings of Influence networking event held during 2023’s 16th annual Dekalb Superspiel Curling Tournament, several “tried and true community campaigns,” a revitalized spring Job Fair, $500 awarded to a graduating student at the Morris School entering an entrepreneurial or business field, and the hosting of Stampede Kick-Off in July.
A renewal of annual memberships is currently underway, as are two community drives. One is the annual residential and business Christmas light decorating competition in Morris (free to everyone who would like to participate). The other is a December incentive of buying $100 Chamber bucks for $90. Chamber bucks are cash certificates used to encourage local spending.
Board members moved to change two by-laws during the AGM: allowing that the treasurer need not be in attendance at monthly meetings and that meetings would be held at various venues and different times to better accommodate more businesses and shift schedules to increase attendance.
Three positions were up for renewal, with Demarcke accepting another term as president, Michelle Harms being nominated and voted in as vice-president, and Shelley Stupnisky overseeing the board’s tourism role.
Following a potluck meal, including catered meats and lemon potatoes from Santa Lucia Morris, the puzzle competition got underway with a concentrated hush falling over the room.
The 500-piece double-sided matte-glossy puzzle of succulent plants was a challenge, with no teams finishing within the 1.75 hour timeframe.
This reporter joined Destiny Klassen, Abida Ishaq Isaac, and Khalida Khan in winning the competition by just one piece, managing to get 273 puzzle pieces completed.
Of their win, Klassen, a settlement worker with Regional Connections, spoke to the symbolism of each person in a community being a piece of a larger puzzle of success.
“I was thankful to be a contributor to our [team’s success], even if it was just one small piece that made a different in claiming first place. At Regional Connections, our goal is to partner and work together with other organizations and community members to contribute to a successful future [for newcomers]. ”
Winning team members each won $20 in Chamber bucks and framed awards of their win. Runner-ups were Ashley, Rose, Brittany, and Colleen, a group of friends from Rosenort.
*Ed note: Siobhan Maas sits on the chamber’s executive board.
