Though often the Chamber is thought to simply support the community at events and direct tourists to the hotspots of the valley, the work done at the Meeker Chamber of Commerce goes far beyond that. The Chamber has obtained nearly $40,000 in grants just in this past year, largely thanks to Chamber executive director and “grant guru” Stephanie Kobald. Creating much excitement is the most recently obtained marketing grant through the Colorado Tourism Office that will fund the creation of a guidebook unique to the White River Valley. This will not be any old booklet promoting tourism, the staff at the Chamber see an opportunity to educate both visitors and our own community with this new publication.
During a camping trip in the White River National Forest last summer, reporter Adrienne Wix witnessed the kinds of issues Meeker’s Chamber of Commerce hopes to educate visitors about in its new publication, funded by a grant from the Colorado Tourism Office. | ADRIENNE WIX PHOTO
As members of the Care for Colorado Coalition through the Colorado Tourism Office, the Chamber’s tourism coordinator, Trudy Burri, has been privy to the wealth of educational resources they offer. These classes and conferences inspired Burri and she realized this booklet could be both an informative guide and an educational resource to help people understand responsible ways to recreate in the White River Valley without harming it.
Additionally, the Chamber has started their own Care for Meeker Coalition. Like the Care for Colorado Coalition, any individual, business or group can join this coalition and help take what Burri calls “baby steps” toward caring for Colorado in our own backyard. The Town of Meeker, the Forest Service, the BLM, as well as some private business owners are already members of this newly formed coalition. The coalition has given the Chamber the opportunity to hear directly from entities who are seeing the influx of recreators and the damage they can cause firsthand. It’s hoped the new guidebook and other information shared by the Chamber will be proactive in helping reduce common problems seen in our backcountry. Some issues the booklet will touch on include packing out trash, burning cans, not properly extinguishing fires, burying human waste in plastic bags, and not acknowledging wilderness boundaries.
The booklet is being designed and printed by the Herald Times. It is set to be completed by the end of May, and will be available for free in both print and digital versions with interactive QR codes that will help the Chamber track its success. Initially 2,000 copies will be printed and distributed throughout Meeker. If you are looking for information before that, go to visitmeekercolorado.com. The Chamber hopes to get input for this booklet from the public and challenges our community to help them find a slogan that embodies the idea of caring for the White River Valley through responsible recreating practices. If you have an idea please share it on the Meeker Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page or email it directly to [email protected]
By ADRIENNE WIX – Special to the Herald Times
