Althoff: BACC board considers changes to its composition

By George Althoff

Executive Director

At its October 16 meeting, the Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors will be considering a significant change to the composition of the board, which was recommended by the Executive Committee. Currently, the board is composed of 17 directors as stipulated in our bylaws. The breakdown of those positions is two hoteliers (City of Baraboo and Village of West Baraboo, as required by our room tax agreements), two Tourism representatives, two Retail, two Professional, one Manufacturing, one Agribusiness, and seven At-Large seats.
Since it has been several years since the bylaws have been updated, the Executive Committee decided it was time to review them and make appropriate recommendations. The consensus of the Executive Committee was that the Board of Directors was too large and needed to be right-sized. In addition, the Committee decided that a new membership classification should be created for Financial Services businesses, which comprise a very important segment of the Chamber’s membership base.
The recommendation that will be considered by the full board in October is to reduce the size of the board to 11 directors, broken down as follows: two hoteliers, one position appointed by the Ho-Chunk Nation, one Tourism representative, one Professional, one Retail, one Financial Services, one Manufacturing, one Agribusiness and two At-Large positions. The reduction to 11 directors would occur over time through attrition as current directors’ terms expired or through voluntary resignations.
If you have questions or feedback about this proposal, please contact me at 608-356-8333 or director@baraboochamber.com before the October 16 meeting. Or feel free to reach out to any of our board members, a list of which can be found here.

2nd annual Oktoberfest was a great success
Our 2nd annual Oktoberfest is in the books and what an event it was. More than 700 people flocked to Circus World for the festivities, which featured performances by Big Griffy Jim and the Polka Dots, a local favorite, and Gold Dust Women. Plenty of great local craft beer and an assortment of food trucks made for an enjoyable afternoon and evening.
By our account, attendance was up about 75 percent over the

inaugural Oktoberfest, and beverage sales were up 50 percent. And we didn’t run out of beer! (In case you don’t remember, last year, yours truly had to make three urgent beer runs to a local liquor store to keep the thirsty masses at bay.)
A big thank you to our title sponsor, Fairfield Inn & Suites Baraboo; to our dozens of other business sponsors; to our fest royalty, Mike and Bonnie Palm; to Circus World for hosting the event; to our dozens of volunteers; and to the Chamber’s Tourism Committee for helping plan the event – Shelley Mordini, Julie Hearley, Nellie Schmitz, Beth Anacker and Tom Patel.
The good news is we had a very successful event. The even better news is planning is already under way for 2024!