Members of the Summerland Chamber of Commerce will elect or re-elect three people to the board of directors next month.
The election will be held on Tuesday, March 11, during the chamber’s annual meeting at Summerland Seniors’ Village.
The list of nominees will be compiled by Feb. 25.
Those nominated must be business licence holders. Chamber members will elect the directors.
Last year, Thor Clausen, Connie Denesiuk , Arlene Fenrich and Maged Said were re-elected to two-year positions on the chamber board.
Jason Embree and Darin Fair are at the end of their latest two-year terms. Christine Coletta, who was appointed last year to replace Brett DeWitt on the board, is also at the end of her term.
Chamber manager Christine Petkau said the new chamber board will have some challenges to face in the near future.
Two of the biggest challenges are the need for succession plans for small businesses and the changing face of retail in North America.
Succession planning is needed for those business owners looking to leave their businesses, often as a result of retirement.
“Succession planning is becoming a bigger and bigger issue,” she said.
In Summerland, with an older median age than elsewhere in the province or the country, plans must be made for business owners looking to retire.
Retail changes are also affecting businesses in the community.
These include the rise of big box stores and the increasing popularity of online shopping.
“Many towns are being affected by these same concerns,” Petkau said.