One Sunday morning while returning from church, walking to our boat at Elkins Resort, Al Elkins called to us asking if Dad had a couple minutes to talk. Al Elkins stated that the resort and business owners had several meetings and wanted to establish a Priest Lake Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Elkins additionally stated that the Resort Owners had discussed the subject and would like you, Carroll Martell Sr. to be the first Chamber of Commerce President.
Dad responded, “The Chamber of Commerce is an organization of local businesses. The organization sets policies for the promotion of their business. I don’t have a business at Priest Lake.”
Al went on to say that they had discussed the fact that dad did not have a business at the lake. The Resort Owners concluded that they did not have the background to form the organization. They also recognized that you have experience working with Federal, State and County Governments as well as businesses. You also understand how seasonal our resort business is. We (the resort owners) don’t have the breadth of business experience and need your help. For the first year or two we would be working to establish the Chamber of Commerce organization. With your guidance the resort owners would handle the actual business matters, but we need someone to preside over and guide the development of the organization. We feel that you have the breadth of knowledge and experience to best help us do the job.
In those early years a significant amount of the Resort Business was generated by Lessees that launched, rented or kept their boats at the resorts. The resorts also supplied gasoline, bread milk and other staples to campers and lessees in the summer months of July and August. The East Shore road was a deep and dusty road full of potholes North of Coolin. The farther North you went the deeper the dust and the deeper the potholes. Access to the East Side lots mostly was by boat.
Carroll Martell Sr. responded, “If the organization only wants to only promote increased business I am not interested. However, if protecting the Priest Lake Basin would be the first priority I would consider participating. The Priest Lake Basin is a “Rare Gem.” The unique combination of beautiful mountains, fresh water and fishing brings the people here that support your businesses. If you join together to protect this “Rare Gem” your businesses will continue to prosper. Talk to the other Resort Owners and let me know if they all agree that protecting this “Rare Gem” would be the first priority of the Chamber of Commerce. If they agree then we can discuss my participation in establishing the Priest Lake Chamber of Commerce.”
