Steamboat Pilot & Today

Volunteers on the Hayden Chamber Association are "burned out" and there is no consistency or tangible organization to the group, according to minutes from the Feb. 21 meeting.

Because of that, town of Hayden staff is recommending the events that the Chamber typically organizes be handed over to the Economic Development Commission, Parks and Rec-reation Board and the Centennial Committee.

"It has just been in disarray," said Jack Giessinger, who has been a Chamber member for more than 20 years. "It has just been floundering."

The purpose of the Hayden Chamber Association is to promote business in Hayden, but the group decided it needs to "start clean with some strategic planning and goal setting" and "focus on itself and its mission before focusing any more energy on events and tasks that 'have always been done.'"

Those events include the Hayden Clean-up and Hayden Appreciation Barbecue and participation in Colorado Days.

The Hayden Town Board is expected to discuss the Chamber's decision at Thursday's 7 p.m. Hayden Town Board meeting.

"I think the issue is more about communication and re-establishing the lines of communication," Town Manager Russ Martin said. There are some personality issues involved, he said.

"I don't want to get involved with the politics," Martin said. "We'll let that take shape Thursday night."

Russ said the Chamber has been having some problems in the past couple years, but he hopes the reorganization will attract more business members and involvement.

"There is nothing better than a good, functional Chamber. Look at Steamboat. There is event after event. That's a product of a healthy Chamber. That's what we need to do on a smaller scale."

-- To reach Matt Stensland, call 871-4210 or e-mail mstensland@steamboatpilot.com