SANDPOINT — BNSF Railway’s regional director of public affairs, Courtney Wallace, will be speaking at next week’s Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce meeting.

The general membership luncheon will be held Thursday, Aug. 10. The luncheon will be held from noon-1 p.m., with registration starting at 11:45 a.m. at the Community Room of the Columbia Bank Building, 414 Church St., Sandpoint.

Wallace will provide a general overview of BNSF operations in Idaho and the greater region as well as discuss rail safety. For more than a century, BNSF Railway Company has played a leading role in North Idaho’s economy. The tradition remains strong today as trainloads of products are shipped in or out of the state on its 32,500-mile rail network. Idaho is part of the Great Northern Corridor which spans the northern United States between the Pacific Northwest and Chicago, as well as reaching key southern points in Canada.

BNSF is proud of its role in helping Idaho’s agriculture, timber and other industries grow in today’s global economy. They link them to domestic and international markets, and support them by delivering materials vital to their operations. In addition, BNSF helps deliver to Idaho retailers and businesses a wide variety of consumer products including packaged goods, clothes, appliances, electronics, and automobiles. In all, BNSF moves more than 1.4 million carloads of freight in Idaho annually.

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce would like to encourage everyone in the community to attend the luncheon. Cost is $15 for chamber members, $20 for non-chamber members and includes lunch catered by Tango Café. Please register online at www.sandpointchamber.com or call 208-263-2161 to reserve a space.