"Be the change you wish to see in the world." This was the message motivational speaker Peter Legge had for Burnaby Board of Trade members at Tuesday's annual general meeting at the Delta Burnaby Hotel and Conference Centre.

Legge, who is the chair and CEO of Canada Wide Media Ltd., spoke following the regular order of business at the meeting. Legge shared his experience of being fired from a job at a radio station early in his career, and being inspired by Scarlett O'Hara's famous quote in Gone with the Wind, "Tomorrow is another day."

Along with that defining moment, and the above quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, Legge also talked about his other inspirations and mentors, such as businessmen Joe Segal and Jim Pattison.

Legge has published 14 books including The Runway of Life, Make Your Life a Masterpiece, The Power of Tact, The Power to Soar Higher and, most recently, The Power of a Dream.

Legge was the first guest speaker to appear at one of the board's annual general meetings, asked by the new president and CEO, Paul Holden.

"Peter Legge brought me here in the first place," said Holden in his introduction. "He's built a veritable publishing empire here."

Holden, who is originally from England, was also a publisher prior to his new position, which began in May.

The rest of the meeting was business as usual, with the passing of the last meeting's minutes, reports from the chair and treasurer, the nomination committee's report, and the swearing in of the 2011/12 board of directors.

The chair's report - by Dick Kouwen-hoven - was read by Leeza Muir of Pacific Blue Cross, who heads the nominations committee. It focused on the board's centennial, which was in 2010, and the growth the board has had over the past 100 years.

The board is also developing a comprehensive environmental pledge for member businesses, Kouwenhoven wrote, as well as a "made-in Burnaby plan to end homelessness in the city."

But the primary focus of the board is the economy, he added, mentioning targeting international markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

Simon Chen from KPMG read the treasurer's message from Dirk Odenwald.

According to Odenwald, the board's membership revenues increased by four per cent last year, and overall net revenues increased by six per cent.

"Due to prudent management during difficult times, the Burnaby Board of Trade reported a bottom line excess of revenue over direct costs and expenses of $90,052," the report stated.

A handful of board members came forward to be sworn in as the board for 2011/12 by acting mayor, Coun. Anne Kang. There was one new director - Sandy Sigmund of Encorp Pacific - and one director who stepped down - Frank Baily of Baily McLean - this year.