February 2024 Minutes

Baker Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture General Meeting

Thursday February 1st, 2024 at The Frosted Flour Bakery 

Members Present: Alissa Miller (President), Karol Zachmann (Treasurer), James Parks, Tammy O’Donnell, Marty Asay, Darcy Wassmann, Lisa Hastig, Steve Zachmann, Jodi Varner, Dean Wang, Jennefer Wheeler, Melissa Rost, Roy Rost, Josey Madler, Vaughn Zenko, Linda Howard, Stacy Zinn

Staff Present: Mariah Miller (Executive Director/Rec Director)

Alissa called meeting to order at 12:13pm

James made a motion to move January minutes with amendments, Karol seconded, all in favor, motion carried

Executive Director Report:

The Chamber is working on getting the Job Fair planned. Thank you to everyone who has sent in their memberships, there is still time to get memberships in! Please reach out to the Chamber Office at 406-778-2266 with any suggestions you would like to see for the 2024 year. 

Rec Director Report:

Three programs are getting ready to start, Preschool Music and Dance, Kinder-6th grade Dance, and Kinder-6th grade Martial Arts. Baker Jam has registrations coming in but we are still looking for teams

Guest Speaker: Stacy Zinn

Stacy Zinn is a retired DEA agent for Montana,and private security expert. The DEA has three offices in Montana located in Billings, Great Falls, and Missoula.  She started her career back in 2001 on the Southwest border. Stacy lived on the border dealing with border issues while doing undercover work. Stacy got selected for a tactical team and was relocated to Virginia, she went to Afghanistan and ended up doing 4 tours, her duties there were to go against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda because they were moving heroin and selling to other foreign countries, they were using the money to buy bombing material to use against American troops. Stacy then relocated to South America for five and a half years where she helped teach how to make cocaine cases and to build wire interception programs. She was then moved to Montana to deal with drug problems. When she joined DEA Montana, she wanted to be as transparent with the communities and walk along the communities and help people get help with mental illnesses that can be caused by drug use. Stacy spent a lot of time talking to schools about drug problems, talking to schools was a big passion of hers to help educate the younger generation. Stacy reached mandatory retirement in September. She is still focused on helping fix issues Montana faces. Stacy is focused on bringing a voice to smaller communities, securing the southern border as well as the northern border, delivering tax relief to Montana families, ranchers, and employers, ending the catch and release of dangerous criminals and illegals, cracking down on drug dealers and human trafficking, restoring America’s confidence and strength, balancing the budget and ending the wasteful spending, and mental health issues. Stacy Zinn will only run for congress if Matt Rosendale decides to run for Senate.   

Old Business:

Pictures for 2025 Ag Calendar: The Chamber will have Facebook post soon for pictures for the 2025 Ag Calendar

Baker Jam: The Rec Department is looking for anyone willing to help with Baker Jam, a sign up sheet will be passed around

Other Old Business:

New Business:

Job Fair: Date is set for April 25th 8:30-12:00pm will be time, set up starts at 8:00am, business can donate for door prizes for the students who fill out questionnaires

Other New Business:

Reports from Members:

Karol Zachmann- Health fair will be Wednesday April 24th 6:00am-12:00pm, Murder Mystery is on saturday February 10th, contact Karol to purchase tickets. Lunch and Learn with Mary Twitt will be Tuesday February 6th at 12:00-1:00pm at the Fallon Medical Complex in the small dining room

Steve Zachmann- the City forgot to solicit nominations for citizen of the year so will be doing that in February. The Americanism program is 7:00pm February 6th, the Baker High School band and choir, Plevna School choir, and O’Fallon men's choir will be performing the event is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.   

Jodi Varner- Historical Society with the O’Fallon Historical Museum got a grant to do the preliminary architectural report for the addition onto the Museum. Letters will be going out for donations.

Jennefer Wheeler- The Fallon County Fairgrounds will be having a dinner party called “Lasting Impressions” featuring Mike Walker an impressionist. Mike has mastered the art of impressionism and impersonation with recreating sounds and personalities of the big stars in show business. Dinner will be Bogey’s BBQ. Tickets are required, they can be bought at the Fallon County Fair Office or by phone at 406-778-2451. The event is set for February 24th, doors opening at 5:00pm, dinner served at 6:00pm, and music beginning at 7:00pm.

Melissa Rost- The O’Fallon Historical Museum will be taking part in “MOMSI” which is Measurements of Museums Social Impact, Ekalala will be partnering with the museum as they have already done this. Requirements are for people of the public to visit the museum three times and do a survey. They would like 40 people from different households to visit the museum. This will take place between May and October. The Historical Society has approved some incentives for this event with 10% off in the gift shop and everyone who completes a survey will be entered into a drawing for a gift card. 

Josey Madler- Getting ready for Valentines Day. Galentines special on February 13th, Free beef sticks are given out if a certain amount is spent on flowers. 

Vaughn Zenko- SMART is still working on a pocket park and visitor center, they are still hoping for the visitor center to be done in April. When the visitor center is open the Chamber will be moving into one of the rooms. The Childcare center is facing a delay, as they have to put out an official bid, this will push back the opening by several months, they are still hopeful on having it opened before the new school year. SMART has been chosen for the Montana Nonprofit Association for southeastern Montana, this means SMART will be working with other nonprofits in Baker trying to activate the nonprofit sector in Fallon County. SMART has generously donated $500 to Mental Health Council, this in association with Mrs. Gustaed composition class at Baker High School. The Composition classes will be writing grants for the Mental Health Council. The students will devise a program that they think deserves $500, SMART will choose one per class and grant $250. 

Alissa Miller- After prom party committee is seeking donations, about 100 kids show up. They will also be having a soup and salad luncheon on February 20th from 11:30- 1:30pm at the Fallon County Fairgrounds. 

Adjournment:  Vaughn motioned to adjourn meeting, Steve seconded, all in favor, motion carried