Fulton Chamber of Commerce
Agenda
January 13, 2009

Noon - meet at Golden Wok

Note:  No Board meeting was held December 2008

Call to Order

Minutes  (following pages 2 & 3)

Treasurer's Report 

November Treasurer's Report (see Excel attachment)

December Treasurer's Report (handed out at meeting)

Budget Update (see Excel attachment)

Audit Review (letter handed out at meeting)

Executive

Planning Session - January 29, 11:30am - 1pm, Masonic Lodge

Tourism & Promotions

Christmas Walk Review

City Tourism Committee - has not met yet

Bridal Walk - scheduled to meet in February

Government Affairs

Candidate's Forum - Discuss (mid to late March)

Springfield Lobby Trip - Discuss

CCI Update - Public Meetings

Member Relations

Membership Drive Update (see MW attachment)

Ribbon Cutting Updates - Total Comfort Massage, McDonald Funeral Home, & Interiors Antiques

Quickbooks Workshop - TBA

Downtown

Fulton Retail Development Group Update

Old/New Business

Other

Next Board Meeting: February 10, 2009, Noon - Chamber Office

Adjourn

Fulton Chamber of Commerce
Minutes from November 11, 2008

The November Chamber Board meeting was held at Golden Wok Chinese Restaurant

Attendance: Bill Stoermer, Linda Hollis, Lynne Loerop, Greg Naftzger, Paula Rogis and Chuck Dykstra

Absent:  Patti Houzenga, Steve Owen and Bill Wilkin

Minutes:  A motion was made by Loerop and seconded by Rogis to approve the minutes from October 14, 2008.  Motion carried.

Government Affairs - CCI Presentation:  Larry Russell, Co-chair and Bill Stoermer, member, of the Competitive Communities Initiative committee updated the board on the committee's progress.  Russell explained that CCI is a program offered by the State of Illinois free of charge to cities to aid in long term planning.  The state provided a mentor (Tom Becker) who will assist the committee throughout the project.

Surveys were sent to all the households in Fulton in order to identify the issues most important to people and the results were analyzed by the committee.  The committee decided to form 4 teams to concentrate on those issues.  The committee recommended the following teams: Community Center, Downtown Development, Annexation/Rezoning and Senior Services.   The first two teams will be formed immediately and the latter two will be formed in 2009.

The CCI committee has been renamed FOCUS 2010 committee.  They have scheduled two meetings for Saturday, November 15, 2008 at Fulton City Hall.   The first meeting "Establishing a Community Center" will be from 8:00 to 9:30am and the second meeting, "Future Downtown Development" will be from 10:00 to 11:30am.  The purpose of the meetings is to solicit public ideas, visions and comments.  There will be a notice in the Fulton Journal this week inviting the public to attend.    

Treasurer's Report:  Hollis reported October receipts of $6,536.05 and expenditures of $5,904.30, leaving an ending balance of $12,662.57.  A motion was made by Naftzger and seconded by Loerop to accept the October Treasurer's Report.  Motion carried.

Executive: Stoermer will send out reminder letters to businesses who have not yet renewed their chamber memberships.

Tourism & Promotions:  Naftzger reported on the Tourism Committee worked on their by-laws and goals for the next 2 years.  The Friends of the Windmill, the Millers, and the Early American Crafters were all pleased with the Fall Festival numbers.  There was some discussion about changing the Fall Festival date to avoid conflict with other nearby cities' festivals and whether or not to keep 4th Street open during the event.  Safety was a concern due to the traffic and cars going too fast

There is a tour group from Sioux Center, IA scheduled for June 24, 2009.  They will stay at the Comfort Inn, tour the windmill and downtown, have lunch at Manny's, visit the lock and dam and attend a show at Timberlake Theater in Mt. Carroll.  Dykstra said he will be the "step-on" bus guide.   Stoermer said the group has scheduled a tour at the nuclear plant.

Bennett has been working from her home, (while caring for her new son, Marcus Christopher, who arrived on October 25, 2008) on the Christmas walk press releases and getting the events lined up.  She has reported some problems reaching a few of the participants.  No live reindeer will be available this year.  Bennett wrote a press release asking for donations to Traci McQuistion's Boy Scout troop to purchase luminaries for the dike.   It was agreed that if not enough donations are received the chamber would pay the difference.

Member Relations:  A ribbon cutting was held for Pet Styles Grooming on October 29, 2008 from 5pm to 6pm.  Bobbie and Bobby Miller, the owners were very pleased with the event.  Total Comfort Therapeutic Massage, owned by Dawn Temple, will have a ribbon cutting on Monday, November 24, 2008 from 5pm to 6pm.

Downtown:    The Fulton Retail Development group shareholders will have their annual meeting next week.   Dykstra said the theater renovations are almost completed. Larry Russell was the engineer on restoring the tin ceiling in the building.  Dykstra invited the board to visit the theater after the meeting and his new store, Interior Antiques which he recently purchased and opened.

Old/New Business:  The board decided to meet in December on the 9th, at a location to be named.  Dykstra recommended the board meet to review membership. 

The board will have their annual planning session January 29, 2009 from 11:30am to 1:00pm at the Masonic Lodge. Stoermer said he would be willing to facilitate the session.  Loerop will contact Dale Thayer to reserve the date. 

Adjourn:  Meeting adjourned at 1:07pm.