WILSON — Community members gathered Feb. 6 to discuss the future of the Wilson Chamber of Commerce.

“We have five of the seven executive board positions vacant,” Kayla Cullins said. “There’s not interest in being an executive board member.”

The evening’s conversation centered around what the future could look like for the town’s chamber.

Chamber member Renee McGaffic said the organization helps when businesses open in Wilson “We offer scholarships for Kansas Czech Queen,” Cullins said. “We have to do fundraisers for those.”

Cullins, the Co-Secretary/ Treasurer of the chamber, estimates the nonprofit organization has about 50 members. Meetings are typically the first Wednesday of the month.

“We have only two fundraisers a year we need help with, and then as activities come up,” Cullins said.

Wilson has a variety of organizations to help promote and grow the community, including Wilson Pride, Wilson Czech Opera House Corporation, Wilson Economic Development Corp. and the Wilson Tourism Hub.

“We’re all having trouble,” Allison Ford with the Wilson Czech Opera House Corporation and Wilson Economic Development said.

David Criswell, who works with Wilson Pride, suggested cooperation could benefit all entities.

“One thing the chamber could consider is being like an umbrella organization,” he said. “Lucas does it. Their Lucas Pride is under the umbrella of the chamber. There’s another organization that’s under the umbrella.

“They have a meeting where they’re all there — there are some general discussions and break into committees — they benefit each other in that a lot of things are at the same time and it’s good information sharing; a good collective sharing of the minds.”

“We all care about the same thing: We all care about Wilson,” Ford said. “The more we could get together, the stronger we could be. Our 5-year plan includes the chamber and egg. I think it’s something we need to look at.”

Cullins said she is open to discussing options with other organizations in town.

“I think the mission of the chamber includes serving, representing the business people in the community,” Criswell said. “Maybe we could do a survey and ask specific questions to get ideas what businesses would like the chamber to be. We could even talk to other chambers and find out what are things your members value the most, so we’re sure we ask the best questions.”

Cullins and McGaffic plan to attend the next Wilson Economic Development Corp. meeting to discuss possibilities with that board during the March 7 meeting at 5:30 p.m. at city hall in Wilson.