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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Kirby Groat has tendered his resignation as the president of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce.

Groat said his commitments to Deh Cho Suites, the business he runs together with his wife Wendy, no longer allows him enough time to give the chamber the attention it deserves. Groat contemplated resigning for a few months before making his decision public during a chamber meeting on Jan. 3.

"I'm here to resign," Groat said minutes into the meeting.

Only three people were present to hear Groat's announcement. The low attendance at the meeting illustrates the secondary reason for Groat's resignation.

Groat said he's grown frustrated with the lack of participation in the chamber from the 36 paid members. Despite receiving reminders through phone calls and emails few members come to the chamber's regular meetings.

"I don't like chasing people and browbeating them to come out," he said.

There has also been a lack of interest in the chamber's executive positions. The last time the chamber had a full board, including a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and four directors, was in 2007. Last year the chamber had a shortage of directors and when he signed his resignation letter Groat was the only person occupying a position.

"It becomes a one man show and I don't have the time for it any more, I don't," he said during the meeting.

Groat, who's been the president for a little more than two years, doesn't think that his resignation will spell the end of the chamber. The chamber has peaks and troughs but always continues to operate, he said.

Groat's resignation doesn't take effect immediately. He will continue to work with the chamber to prepare for the organization's annual general meeting. Groat said he'd like to hold the meeting and have a new president and board in place by the end of the month.

As a volunteer organization the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce isn't the only group finding it hard to retain members, said Groat. Ann Marie Tout, the president of the NWT Chamber of Commerce, agrees.

"There's no question that, as volunteer organizations, the chambers face challenges in recruiting and retaining members," Tout said in an e-mail.

There are a total of eight active chambers of commerce in the territory. In addition to Fort Simpson and the NWT Chamber of Commerce there are chambers in Norman Wells, Fort Smith, Behchoko, Hay River and Yellowknife as well as the Northern Aboriginal Business Association.

Activity levels in all the chambers have gone up and down over the years, said Tout. In order to ensure long-term survival the chambers have to have active boards and members, she said.

The NWT Chamber hopes to soon be able to offer community chambers additional tools and resource to further engage their boards and members, said Tout.

Although Groat's resignation is a loss, Tout said she hopes to quickly see someone step forward and take on the role of the president for the Fort Simpson chamber.