Minutes: January 2011
 

Fulton Chamber of Commerce
Minutes from January 11, 2011

Present:  Greg Naftzger, Patti Housenga, Jami Smith, Tim Wright, Deb Schaver, Phyllis Housenga, Steve Owen, Kim LaShelle, and Heather Bennett.

Absent:  Bill Stoermer.

Minutes:  A motion was made by Patti Housenga and seconded by Schaver to approve the minutes from December 14, 2010.   Motion carried. 

Treasurer's Report:  The December Treasurer's Report was provided:  revenue as $2,411.90 and expenditures of $3,946.15 leaving an ending balance of $16,072.50.  Bennett provided a year to date budget to actual report - total revenue received $25,697.22 and total expenditures of $15,674.26 leaving a balance of $16,627.78.  A motion was made by LaShelle and seconded by Owen to approve the Treasurer's Report.  Motion carried.

Executive:  The Executive Director's monthly meetings report was provided.  Currently, 11 members have not renewed.  Board members made personal contact with the businesses and most stated they were going to send in their membership dues.   The Annual Planning Session will be held January 27 from 11:30am to 1pm at Manny's Too.  Dr. Norm Walzer will facilitate the session and review the results from the business survey.    

Tourism & Promotions: 

•·         City Tourism Committee - no meeting was held in December. 

•·         Fulton's Greatest Love Story - Jami Smith shared the advertisement the Clinton Herald will provide to help promote the project.   The board believed the story should also include engaged couples.  Bennett will send out press releases and fliers. 

•·         Reagan Marker Application - was mailed December 29 to the Illinois State Historical Society.  No word, yet.

•·         Highway 84 Sign Update - the sign is now up and has been raised 2 ½ feet on the posts and the wording has been changed from "shopping" and "dining" to "historic downtown" to meet IDOT guidelines.

Government Affairs:    

  • City Council Elections - April 5, 2011. All positions are unopposed and Second Ward has no candidates running.
  • Legislative Luncheons - Bill Stoermer was going to contact/invite Senator Jacobs and Representative Morthland to Fulton sometime in March or April. 

Member Relations:  The January E-Newsletter was emailed out to all chamber members, but is also available online.  The USDA/NIU Grant is still accepting grant applications for website development.  The committee is also finalizing workshops topics for February and March.  A site tour of Drives will be held February 15 from 8am to 9:30am.  Invitations will be mailed soon.

Downtown:  The Fulton Retail Development Group had nothing to report.  Nancy Kolk's downtown newsletter can be found online under the "Shopping" tab at http://www.cityoffulton.us/. 

Old/New Business:  Tim Wright announced the Fulton branch of Wagner Pharmacy will be moving to the former KFC site along 2nd Street in Clinton.  Tim hopes to one day open a pharmacy again in Fulton.  Tim noted the Fulton community had been good to his business and he would like to stay involved in Fulton. 

Next Meeting:  February 8, 2011 @ Noon @ Cousins Subs. 

Adjourn:  A motion was made by Phyllis Housenga and seconded by Smith to adjourn the meeting at 12:45 p.m.  Motion carried. 

No Meeting was held February 2011.