Wasilla chamber plans to send out formal requests for donations

WASILLA — Members of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce still feel in the dark after being asked to donate $20,000 in emergency funding.

The request came at Tuesday’s luncheon when chamber president Chris Abernathy asked for a donation of $61 from each of the 328 members. The money would fund a third-party audit, liability insurance for the new board of directors and a review of their by-laws and human resource practices by a consulting firm.

Those three actions were deemed necessary by the new board of directors, six of whom are replacements for board members who resigned amid controversy surrounding executive director Cheryl Metiva. However, the chamber is currently running a deficit and does not have sufficient funds to begin any of the three actions.

Abernathy thought the request for donations was received well and said the members-at-large reiterated that they want to give their support at Tuesday’s luncheon.

“But then again, when you ask for money for anything, it’s always hit or miss,” Abernathy said.

He said the chamber has received donations already but declined to say how much. He said he is comfortable the chamber will raise the $20,000, and that figure is an estimate based on worst-case scenarios.

Cheryl Combs, the president of the board who resigned, said she was at the meeting on Tuesday and she is planning on donating money. She thinks an audit is what needs to be done, and the membership will do anything to see it happen, she said.

Abernathy said the board is considering sending out a formal request to the membership for donations, but he did not know the time frame at this point.

David Nyberg, owner of All I Saw Cookware, did not attend Tuesday’s luncheon and said he is undecided about donating beyond his membership dues. He said he’s still not sure what is happening with the chamber and doesn’t know anything beyond what he’s read in the papers.

“If they give me something in writing, I might think about it,” said Nyberg.

Representative Wes Keller, himself a member of the chamber, echoed this statement. He said all his interactions with the chamber have been great, and he thinks they are a very vibrant group. But because he knows so little, he was not inclined to say if he will donate at this time or not.

Bonnie Quill, executive director of the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau, said they trade out memberships with the Wasilla chamber. Even with the nontraditional membership, she would not rule out the possibility of giving a donation. However, she said, she feels in the dark about what’s going on.

“We haven’t got a membership communication yet,” Quill said. “You’d want someone to communicate that to you.”

Jillyan Webb, executive director of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, said any financial donation will have to come from a decision by the board. She said the Palmer chamber’s budget is just as tight, but it is something they are going to take into consideration.

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.