03/06/2025 - Meeting Minutes

AGENDA NOTES

The meeting opened at 12:05 as Richard Varela welcomed Chamber Members. Thanks to Smithfield City for allowing us to use the Senior Center and to Costa Vida for catering.

Business Reviews

Schreiber Foods (Scott Nelson) - They are expanding and hiring (looking to hire over 150 people over the next few years). Great for college students and graduates. Eat more cheese.

Stonefire Pizzeria (Andrew Hansen, Josh Nuckles) - introducing a sourdough crust (free upgrade this week and a slight upcharge starting next Wednesday). All dough is made locally by Old Grist Mill. Next Saturday will be a St. Patricks party with karaoke and unlimited apple/root beer. See them for catering.

Second Act Literacy Foundation (Steve Cook) - Help immigrants and refugees learn English and they help high school dropouts get their GED.

Summit Elementary (Aimee McNeil)- Parent Teacher Conferences today and tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for their support.

Sunrise Elementary (Shellie Healy) - Lots of mud and water on the playground. Gearing up for Parent Teacher Conferences, Literacy Night and Sunrise Reads.

Birch Creek Elementary (Trudy Wilson) - Getting ready for the golf tournament so thank you for your support.

Birch Creek Golf Course (Eric Kleven) - Closed today with the snow! Opening soon. Please support the Tri School Golf Tournament.

Preston Watts Collision and Glass (Josh Watts) - Be extra careful with the snow. Be safe. If you are in an accident, be sure to get a police report!

Stapley Accounting (Terri Stapley) - file your taxes early to avoid any issues with fraudulent tax issues.

Zions Bank (Tarissa Gwilliam) - Will be leaving the bank soon. SBA loans are a good deal now.

Sprinkler Master (Dave Gwilliam) - Getting lots of calls for bids so if now is the time to get on their schedule. They have a maintenance plan so they have a $255 plan (Chamber discount is $240 for the same package) to turn on your system, test, minor adjustments, maintenance check mid-summer and blow out in the fall.

Alpine Cleaning (Wayne Moore) - Starting to see roof leaks and ice dam issues. They can do a free estimate to see if you can go through insurance.

Learning Turtle Preschool (Anita Gerber) - They follow the Cache County School District calendar so they are also having parent teacher conferences. They are looking for field trip opportunities so let her know if you think preschoolers might enjoy a trip to your business.

Cache Valley Bank (Danny Hansen, Katelyn Mason) - Doing more loans. Happy to be involved in the community.

Evolution Design (Ronnie Love) - We are able to work with just a few month lead time but now is a good time to get in earlier than that. They do remodel and new constructions - granite or natural stone slabs.

Farmers Insurance (Lily Knudsen) - Seeing lots of auto claims without police reports so be sure and get one! Youthful drivers definitely increase your rates but they have options to keep them lower. They also have Key Employee Insurance (think long term disability) for an employee in your business.

Yardmaster Services (Trish Ybarrondo) - Now is the time to schedule lawn services for early spring (aerations, humates) and they do bug sprays and sprinkler work as well. They also do one time snow removal if needed as well.

Smithfield Recreation (Richard Varela, Devin Rencher) - Health Days is May 3rd - 10th - the Health Days race will kick things off on May 3rd at 8:30 am. Other activities will be throughout the week, culminating in the parade on Saturday. You can register through their website or in person at the Rec Center (deadline on May 4th to register). They have a new youth sports director as well to help things go more smoothly. Also looking for new sponsorships. Information is included in the minutes and email from the Chamber. They can be very flexible with any sponsorships so let them know what you are interested in. Starting comp basketball and youth soccer soon.

Antics Comedy Troupe (Trevor Larson) - Now at Coconut Cove - they have a dedicated theater with a stage. Show starts at 7:30. All shows are family friendly except for one show a month at 9:30. They have family packs and memberships to get you in the theater.

USU Credit Union (Riley, Sam) - Auto loans have gone down and now is the time to refinance those high rates and easy to keep them down. CD rates have stayed steady so let them know.

Host Huski (Andrew Davis) - They offer any website services you could want. Also, all chamber members are invited (use huski.link/bni to register) to a free BNI networking event next Thursday, March 13th.

Kim and Jim Tippetts - Visiting for a family event; leaving tomorrow to go back to South Africa to help with Resource Centers in 16 countries. Also will be involved in Achievement Realty once they come back later this spring.

Cache Valley Light and Sound (Paul Jenkins) - in training for his new job but still involved in the Chamber. He was able to get a sponsorship to get the ambulance wrapped. He is working with Huski’s marketing team to put together a campaign for suicide prevention that will provide 10,000 tshirts and the pledge to lift 10 people and create 10,000 positive messages on social media.

Additional Items

  1. If you have paid your membership dues for the year, we have your window cling. See Nicole to grab it. She can also deliver to your business.
  2. Next newsletter is in April; the deadline is March 15th. An ad is $100.
  3. Easter Egg Hunt - April 19th - let us know how many eggs you would like stuffed. We provide the eggs, you provide a prize. The prize could be a coupon for a product at your business (Lee’s usually will provide coupons for donuts, for example). If the coupon will fit in a plastic egg, we will just put them directly in the egg if you would like us to. If not or if you would like to provide a fun toy or activity, we put a tag with your business name in the egg and the participants come to your table at the Easter Egg Hunt and redeem the tag for their prize. Let us know if you have more questions. We need a pretty firm number by our March meeting so that we have enough eggs and we have time for the Smithfield Youth Council to stuff them for us.
  4. The Tri School Golf Tournament is finalized for Wednesday, May 7th. A letter will be going out to the schools to help them as they contact businesses to participate. There is no charge for Chamber Members to be a hole sponsor and it is a great way to talk to golfers and publicize your business.
  5. Pancake Breakfast on May 10th. Please mark your calendars and sign up to help if you can as we get closer. Proceeds go towards our scholarship program. We aim for $500 or $600 for each scholarship recipient.

Calendar Items for 2025

  • Easter Egg Hunt - April 19th
  • May 7th - Tri School Golf Tournament
  • May 10th - Health Days Pancake Breakfast
  • December 6th - Night of Giving

Next Meeting - April 3rd, Stonefire Pizzeria