|
Fulton Chamber of Commerce
Agenda
August 11, 2009
Noon @Golden Wok
Call to Order
Welcome New Board Member - Deb Schaver
Minutes (pages 2 - 3 )
Treasurer's Report
July Treasurer's Report (handed out at meeting)
Budget Update (attached)
2009/2010 Proposed Budget (handed out at meeting)
Executive
Executive Director Meetings Report (attached)
Election of Officers - President, Vice President, and Treasurer (effective Sept. 1)
Membership Dues
Board Photo - September
Tourism & Promotions
City Tourism Committee Report
Lincoln Buy-Way Sales Event Report
Springfield/Lincoln Museum Bus Trip Report
Celebrate: Fulton Summer Nights
July 23 - Fulton Presbyterian Church
August 13 - Fulton Chamber of Commerce
August 27 - Immaculate Conception Church
Fall Festival Committee Report
Government Affairs
Focus 2010 (CCI Committee) Update
Riverfront Corridor Action Team
The Complex (private group)
Senior Services Advisory Team
Member Relations
Member Ed Committee
Speaker & Lunch - Bill Davis, November TBA
Facebook Page Update
Hazardous & E-Waste Pick-Up Day - September 26, 9am-11am, former fire station - volunteers needed
Ribbon Cutting Report - Heartland Hospice, July 22, 5pm-6pm
Ribbon Cutting - Tree of Life Chiropractic, August 19, 5pm - 6pm
Seniors vs Crime Luncheon - August 25 at Noon
Downtown
Fulton Retail Development Group Update
Old/New Business
Follow-Ups: Letter FHS Reagan & Letter Dutch Days Bounce House
Other
Next Board Meeting: September 11, 2009, Noon
Adjourn
Fulton Chamber of Commerce
Minutes from July 14, 2009
Present: Paula Rogis, Chuck Dykstra, Heather Bennett, Lynne Loerop, Linda Hollis, Phyllis Housenga, Kim LaShelle, Greg Naftzger, and Bill Wilkin.
Absent: Bill Stoermer and Steve Owen.
Welcome: New Board Members Kim LaShelle, Lockhart & Law Insurance and Phyllis Housenga, 1st Gateway Credit Union were both welcomed.
Minutes: A motion was made by Loerop and seconded by Patti Housenga to approve the minutes from June 9, 2009. Motion carried.
Treasurer's Report: Hollis reviewed the June Treasurer's Report: revenue as $4,232.27 and expenditures of $542.33, leaving an ending balance of $8,458.04. A motion was made by Naftzger and seconded by Loerop to accept the June Treasurer's Report. Motion carried. In the budget to actual report, Bennett noted the chamber operates on a zero balanced budget; however, there may be a deficit this fiscal year because donations were down for the Executive Director position by nearly $3,000. While expenses for Fall Festival exceeded the budget, revenue from Fall Festival also exceeded the budget, so the event was still within the $1,400 budget range.
Executive: Sue Jobin, Best Buds, resigned from the Board due to her business closing. A motion was made by Dykstra and seconded by Loerop to ask Deb Schaver (first), Bill Brinkman (second), or Ed Kolk (third) to serve on the board. Motion carried. Chuck Dykstra offered to contact Deb Schaver.
Annual Dinner: The annual dinner was well attended and the meal provided by the Fulton Meat Market was good. It was noted a nicer meal like prime rib may be better suited for the annual dinner. If the dinner would be held at Agri-King again, perhaps the chairs could be moved around the tables, rather than on one side. A motion was made by Naftzger and seconded by Patti Housenga to give a $50 tip to Tom Maus and his wife for the service. Motion carried.
Bennett reported Exelon Corp. has funded the retractable sign.
Bennett provided a copy of her monthly meetings report.
Tourism Director/Chamber ED - Bennett, Bill Stoermer, and Randy Balk reviewed the job description of the Executive Director. With the opening of the new Windmill Cultural Center and increasing tourism events and activities organized by the Chamber, a part-time assistant is needed to assist the City Tourism Director/FCC Executive Director. More discussion will occur between the Windmill Cultural Center steering committee and city administrator.
Election of Officers - Current officers include Bill Stoermer, President; Paula Rogis, Vice President; and Linda Hollis, Treasurer. Several board members suggested alternating Presidents from one year to the next has seemed to work well for the chamber the last four years. Greg Naftzger was asked if he would consider being President of the chamber in 2009/2010. Naftzger agreed to the offer, but noted as long as everyone was agreeable and if someone else would rather be President he would have no problem stepping aside. Bennett noted Bill Stoermer would also consider being President, but Bill too, had mentioned if someone else is interested he would step aside. Wilkin noted change was good and would encourage Greg to consider being President in 2009/2010. Rogis was asked to serve as Vice President and Hollis as Treasurer for 2009/2010. Both Rogis and Hollis seemed agreeable to the nomination. While general consensus was reached, no official vote was taken as officers are elected at the August board meeting.
Tourism & Promotions: The City Tourism Committee did not meet in June, the next committee meeting will be held July 16, 2009. The new visitor guides have been printed, 15,000, and will be distributed throughout the area at various visitor/tourism points.
Bridal Walk - 38 bridges registered for the event. Many of the vendors were pleased with the new punch card program and would consider participating again. Many of the registered brides and their friends and family commented on how nice the event was and how impressed they were with Fulton.
Celebrate Abe - Bus Trip - we have 45 people signed up.
Lincoln Buy-Way Sales Event - Bennett is working with the Fulton Wa Tan Ye Club on promoting and organizing the event. The Wa Tan Ye Club is handling the registration and the Chamber will create, print, and distribute the maps and promote the event with the area media.
Fulton Summer Nights - The events have been going very well - attendance has been wonderful and the organizations are doing a great job putting the activities together. An evaluation meeting will be held in September for each of the sponsors to discuss dates, times, and locations for next year.
Fall Festival - committee members will include Linda Hollis, Heather Bennett, Paula Ensinger, and Rhonda Moeller. If any other board member or chamber member is interested in being on the planning committee, they are welcome to contact Heather Bennett. Bennett would like to add a beer garden to Fall Festival this year hosted by Johnnie's Tap. Board members seemed agreeable to a beer tent. Due to increased safety concerns and the growth of Fall Festival several board members felt 4th street should be closed and the event moved downtown. A motion was made by Dykstra and seconded by Wilkin to move Fall Festival to 4th Street between 12th Avenue and 10th Avenue. Motion carried. Bennett will contact property owners and make an official request at the August city council meeting.
Tour Bus - Dykstra reported on his role as a step-on guide for a bus group that came to Fulton. Dykstra said the group spent the night at the Fulton Comfort Inn & Suites, toured the windmill, downtown area, and ate at Manny's Too. Dykstra is friends with the tour group leaders that coordinated the trip to Fulton. Dykstra may attend an exhibition with his tour group leader friends in Des Moines to seek additional bus groups to Fulton.
Government Affairs: No report.
Member Ed Committee - The Member Ed Committee is still trying to firm up a date and time with Bill Davis for a luncheon speaker. Bennett requested to create a Facebook page for the Fulton Chamber of Commerce. Facebook is an excellent social media networking opportunity and it is free. General consensus was for Bennett to proceed with creating a Facebook page. The Chamber and FACE will host the household hazardous and e-waste clean-up day on September 26 from 9am to 11am at the former Fulton Fire Station. Betty Wiebenga, FACE, is contacting the local taxing bodies to help supplement the disposal costs. The ribbon cutting for Cuttin' Loose With Style was nice, but not many chamber members or board members were present. The next ribbon cutting will be held on July 22 for Heartland Hospice.
Downtown: Chuck Dykstra reported the Fulton Retail Development Group (FRDG) has finished exterior painting on the former theatre building. The group plans to list the building on FSBO.com.
Old/New Business: The Fulton Historical Society and Dutch Days Committee have not responded to letters sent to them regarding the Ronald Reagan 2011 Celebration or the bounce house. Naftzger shared an advertising promotion KROS is running, titled "Think Positive Be Positive." The Clinton Chamber is sponsoring several ads so perhaps the Fulton Chamber would like to be a part of the campaign.
Next Meeting: August 11, Noon, at Golden Wok.
Adjourn: A motion was made by Patti Housenga and seconded by Dykstra to adjourn the meeting at 1:00 p.m. Motion carried.
|
