The East Lewis County of Chamber of Commerce (ELCCC) Board of Directors now has a few new members, the chamber announced in a news release, with the new board members bringing “a diverse array of expertise in finance, marketing and community advocacy to help steer the organization into its next chapter of strategic impact.”
New board members aren’t the only change, as the ELCCC is preparing to move to Randle, “so we can better serve our members, visitors, and the broader East Lewis County community,” the ELCCC announced on its official Facebook page.
These ELCCC moves come as business owners in the region have been focusing on growing tourism revenue by attracting those interested in the many outdoor recreational opportunities East Lewis County has to offer, as previously reported by The Chronicle during the annual Packwood Mountain Festival in May.
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome this group of dedicated professionals to our board," ELCCC Board President Rhonda Cornwell said in the release. "Their combined experience and passion for our mission will be invaluable as we scale our programs and deepen our impact in the community. We have been working very hard to re-structure the chamber, and we are very pleased with the changes that have been implemented.”
Along with Rhonda and her husband Bill Cornwell — who together own The Shaker Craftsman in Randle — the rest of the ELCCC’s Board includes:
• Mark Fisher, vice president, retired, of Morton
• Wendy Stewart, treasurer, co-managing partner of KM Resorts in Randle
• Matt Johnson, secretary, pastor of the Morton Community Bible Church
• Rebel Miner, board member, manager of KM Resorts
• Marcus and Alissa Read, board members, co-owners of Nerd Pros in Morton and Chehalis
• Kelly Anderson, board member, owner of Junk and Joy in Morton
• Isabella Drayven and her son Zack Pierce, board members, co-owners of Jan’s Thrift Store in Morton
On top of modernizing the ELCCC, board members recently adopted official articles of incorporation and new by-laws, the release added.
“When we came in as a new board, we took stock and began brainstorming ways that we could be of better service to our members and our local communities. We found the chamber was a bit behind the times, and we found several things we could implement to become more efficient, offer clearer transparency to our local business owners, and improve our service to our members,” Alissa said in the release.
Pierce has been vital to the modernization efforts as well, working with Johnson to help update the computers and software the ELCCC had been utilizing.
“I am new to the chamber, but am very excited to see the direction that they are going,” Johnson said in the release. “There is a new board and we are all united in the goal of helping local businesses thrive. When we all work together, we all win."
As for the ELCCC’s new office, the move will take it from its current office suite by the Chevron gas station in Morton, to 210 Silverbrook Road in Randle — on the doorstep of state Route 131 leading to Windy Ridge and Mount St. Helens, and closer to Packwood.
“Our new facility will offer larger event and meeting spaces, improved collaboration areas, greater accessibility, and a new gift shop designed to welcome visitors, tourists and Sasquatch enthusiasts from across the country,” the ELCCC stated on Facebook.
The new office will also be a visitor’s center, with maps and informational brochures. The ELCCC hopes to attract more cryptid hunters too, as they are partnering with Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) to once again host the Sasquatch: Beyond the Footprint festival starting Sept. 25.
While the schedule with speaker times has yet to be released, speakers at the second annual Sasquatch: Beyond the Footprint include BFRO President and host of the Animal Plant show Finding Bigfoot Matt Moneymaker along with other field researchers Nathaniel Bronis, Shane Corson, Shelly Covington, Jonathan Easley, Aslec Solunac, Dave Hill, Tim Lund, Jimmy Toungate, Rebel and Wendy Miner and Marc Myrsell.
Aside from speakers, the festival features camping, food and craft vendors, live music, games and more. Tickets are currently available online at https://tinyurl.com/mt394bk3 and are $20 for daily general admission or $50 for a three-day pass, along with $50 to reserve a camping spot.
For more information on the second annual Sasquatch: Beyond the Footprint festival, visit its website at https://www.beyondthefootprint.com/.
But the BFRO is going beyond just being involved with the ELCCC’s festival, as plans are in the works to have someone from the BFRO at the new ELCCC Randle office to help guide inquisitive Bigfoot enthusiasts visiting the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and surrounding areas throughout the rest of the year.
“Expert speakers will be available several times each month to share their knowledge of the legendary Sasquatch,” the ELCCC added.
With office renovations still ongoing, the ELCCC will announce when the move to Randle is finally completed, and a grand opening will be held.
For East Lewis County business owners interested in becoming an ELCCC member, they can still visit its office in Morton, located at 250 Westlake Ave., Suite C. The next member meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, at the Morton office, starting at noon.
To learn more about the ELCCC, visit its website at https://elcchamber.org/, follow it on Facebook or call Rhonda, board president, at 509-985-6844.
