Hank Froese wrapped up his tenure as president of the Winkler and District Chamber of Commerce last week.
At the organization’s AGM Feb. 20, Froese handed over the reins to incoming president Doug Eidse.
But first he reflected on some of the chamber’s accomplishments of the past year.
“It’s been a good year marked by several achievements and milestones,” Froese said, pointing to highlights like the new Your Region, Your Voice community discussion event held in partnership with the Morden chamber.
“We also spend a good time strengthening relationships with our regional partners,” he continued, “and it was a banner year for grand openings and ribbon cuttings. We’re proud to be a part of this thriving business community.
“As my term in this position ends I just want to say I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served as chamber president,” Froese said. “I‘ve always known the Winkler business community was thriving, but it’s given me a new appreciation of how it happens. Businesses working together and helping each other out, even if they’re competitors. The growth in the existing businesses from new ideas and products, and just a wide variety of products and services.
“I could go on, but I think you understand the positive business environment that thrives in our community that many other communities envy.”
Froese sent thanks out to his fellow board members, the chamber’s staff, sponsors, and volunteers, the membership, and the City of Winkler for their ongoing dedication and support.
“You are the backbone of our chamber, and the reason we exist.”
Reflecting after the meeting on his past few years in the president’s chair, Froese shared he feels the chamber is in a good position right now to support our ever-growing business community.
“Strategically, we got together … to refocus on what the community needs,” he said of the board’s mandate in recent years. “It’s changing, and we try to stay abreast of what the community wants from us as far as the networking events and the type of events that they’re looking for and what they need help with. So I think we’re in a good space there, and we’re getting good feedback from the community and from the City.”
Stepping into Froese’s shoes as president is Eidse, who joined the board last year. Being part of a governing board has been a new experience for him, and he’s enjoyed learning the ropes.
“I’m really busy with my current job, but I felt like I had time to give a little more,” he said on his decision to get involved. Eidse is the director of operations for Meridian Manufacturing Inc. “It’s just something I felt good about doing and trying to help the community.”
Eidse shared he’s spent the past year getting a handle on what all the chamber does for its members—helping new businesses promote themselves, hosting networking events, celebrating achievements with the annual awards program, advocating with multiple levels of government for policy changes, and so on.
“It’s very impressive, and I’m just looking to add to it from a big business standpoint,” he said.
In the year ahead, he looks forward to connecting with chamber members to hear their stories.
“It’s very exciting to interact more with the other businesses,” Eidse said. “We’ve always tried to be a good community member [at Monarch], so this feels like more of a personal opportunity to be a better community member and business member. I look forward to doing anything I can to enhance that.”
Reflecting on the economic uncertainty many area companies are facing when it comes to the prospect of tariffs being put in place by the U.S., Eidse noted Winkler businesses are well versed in making the best of difficult situations.
“There’s huge things that come up every day and you just deal with them one at a time,” he said. “Tariffs may be bigger than some other things, but certainly, as we’ve seen, they may or may not happen the way we think they will. Nobody knows the future, so it’s about putting your best foot forward with optimism and making good business decisions.
“Just go forward with optimism and there’s nothing you can’t handle.”
Financially, the chamber reported a deficit of nearly $19,000 for 2024, owing mainly to the fact their annual business awards gala wasn’t held.
For 2025, the chamber is projecting $234,200 in revenue and expenses of $235,330.
