Fulton Chamber of Commerce
Minutes from December 12, 2006

Attendance:  Linda Hollis, Heather Bennett, Shirl Wierenga-Huber, Lynne Loerop, Chuck Dykstra, Patti Housenga, Sue Mannix, and Steve Owen.  The December/Holiday board meeting was held at Red Dog Steakhouse & Saloon. 

Minutes:  A motion was made by Loerop and seconded by Hollis to approve the minutes from November 14, 2006.  Motion carried.     

Treasurer’s Report:  Hollis reviewed report noting expenses and income for the month of November:  $3,261.77 revenue and $2,743.99 expenses, leaving a balance of  $15,628.98.  A motion was made by Wierenga-Huber and seconded by Dykstra to accept the treasurer’s report.  Motion carried.  Bennett provided a year to date budget report.  

Executive:  Nothing to report.  By-laws review committee to begin after January 1, 2007.  By-laws review committee:  Linda Hollis, Chuck Dykstra and Heather Bennett.
           
Tourism & Promotions:    Copies of the November advertising were provided.  As a reminder, the Tourism & Promotions Committee meets the 3rd Monday of every other month, the next meeting is scheduled for December 18 at 2pm.  Bennett reported the Group Tour Workshop was very educational and was well attended from people throughout the four counties. 

The board reviewed the Christmas Walk and several board members participated in the event.  Despite the heavy snowfall and some cancellations (reindeer, ice sculptor, and kettle corn) the event was still well attended and several of the downtown retailers reported good sales and foot traffic.  It was noted a few retailers were closed and it is hoped that next year they will consider being open since it is only two extra hours and good publicity.  If shop lifting is a concern for some, a few board members have offered to do free “security patrol” in some of the stores.  A motion was made by Dykstra and seconded by Mannix to continue the Christmas Walk in the evening on the first Friday in December.  The 2007 Christmas Walk will be held Friday, December 7 from 5pm to 7pm.   

The board was provided additional information regarding the international wooden shoe museum and Dutch pewter maker.  Next summer, the city/chamber/windmill volunteers would like to provide a cultural exchange and a new tourist attraction to Fulton.  The wooden shoe museum in the Netherlands has offered to ship 50 pairs of international wooden shoes, with Fulton absorbing the shipment cost.  Joop Andriessen, pewter maker, has offered to come to Fulton and teach the art of pewter making as well as providing an original mold for Fulton.  Fulton would need to cover Joop’s airfare, lodging and meals.   The Millers of the Windmill will donate $1,000 towards the project.  The Friends of the Windmill will be approached in January.  Bennett requested the chamber board consider donating $500 towards the project.  A motion was made by Loerop and seconded by Wierenga-Huber to approve donating $500 towards the cultural exchange.  Motion carried. 

Government Affairs:   From the input received from the on-line survey and planning session, the chamber will be scheduling Donuts & Discussions with various taxing bodies.  The board would like to schedule the first one with the Fulton Fire Dept. and Fulton Police Dept. – public safety.  Based on the results from the on-line survey, a majority of respondents prefer having these sessions during the lunch hour.  Bennett will work on scheduling this forum for the latter part of January or sometime in February. 

Member Relations:  Spotlights continue to be recycled in the Fulton Journal by Paula Rogis and Heather Bennett.  Many of the spotlights have been updated and new photos taken.  A ribbon cutting/Biz After 5 for Sweet Woodruff was held December 8.  A ribbon cutting/Biz After 5 for Red Dog Steakhouse is scheduled for December 14, 2006.  Bennett provided a list of non-renewed memberships for the board to discuss.  Board members are currently following up with some businesses. 

One business asked if the chamber would consider a dual family membership discount and payment plan.  Based on a detailed discussion and this being the first time for this kind of request, the board decided not to provide dual family membership discounts or a membership payment plan.  It would be difficult to follow-up with a  business if they only made one quarterly payment and were already listed on a brochure or participated in an event and then decided they didn’t want to pay the rest of their dues.  It would not be fair to full paid members.  In addition, if the chamber offered a payment plan there may be other businesses that would follow suit, and it would make for more bookkeeping and budgetary constraints.  There are only a few businesses in town that have family running separate businesses; and in speaking to one of the families, they did not see a need to have a discount in their membership dues because they are two separate businesses and want to be treated as such.  Again, because this is the first time the chamber has heard of this type of request, they did not view this as an issue.  Bennett and some of the board members will attempt to visit with some chamber members that do not participate in events/activities, or ever contact the chamber; just to gauge their satisfaction and if there is anything more the chamber should be doing.

Downtown:  The Fulton Retail Development Group currently has $217,000 invested, with 48 investors.  The building is not currently listed with a realtor.  The façade grants are nearly complete with two final reimbursements pending:  Susan’s Calico Creations (awning) and Country Orchids (awning). 

Old/New Business: 
FACE (Fulton Association for Community Enrichment) recently sent out information to chamber members, Fulton organizations and local press.   The group is an official organization recognized by the State of Illinois, but is currently in the process of filing for their tax exemption. 

The board presented Bennett with a $200 Christmas Bonus. 

A motion was made by Mannix and seconded by Loerop to adjourn meeting.  Motion carried. 
Meeting adjourned at 1:10pm

The next meeting will be held Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at noon.