Board Minutes
March 2008 Board Minutes
PRESENT: (Board Members) Dave Neupert, Earl Fullingim, Larry Williams, Mark Madsen, Jim Jones, George Schoenfeldt, Russ Veenema, Betsy Schultz, Ed Bedford, Jim Hallett, Rob Onnen, Sean McDonald, Randy Riggins, Jackson Smart, Edna Petersen, Mary Hunchberger, Willie Nelson, Dennis Williams and Helen Elwood.
Absent: Ronda Curry, Terry Roth, Jack Harmon and Randy Riggins.
Staff: Louann Yager and Vanessa Shearer.
1. MINUTES: ***Jim Hallett moved to accept the minutes as presented. Betsy Schultz seconded. Larry Williams asked for clarification on #7, Presentation Regarding Partnership Forum, was it discussed or not. Russ suggested we highlight that it was changed to a general discussion. The motion carried. Russ stated that enough votes had been received on the By Law changes for them to take effect. He will email a copy of the new By Laws to the board members.
2. FINANCIAL REPORT: Russ reviewed the financial report as treasurer Randy Riggins is out of town. The balance sheet shows quite a bit of money in the bank, which is from membership dues. A report on the auction will be later in the meeting as well as a discussion on accounts receivable during the membership report. ***Sean McDonald moved to accept the financial report. Helen Elwood seconded and the motion carried.
4 SCHOOL DISTRICT PRESENTATION RE: TECH LEVY: Superintendent Gary Cohn introduced Jeff Heinz, Mary Hebert and Jeff Clark. They spoke on the Technology Levy that will be presented to the voters on May 20. This election will fall under the newly approved simple majority rule. The previous tech levy received 53% of the vote, but was before the simple majority. The levy will be for 4 years starting in 2009. They are asking for one million per year with the rate descending each year. The committee is looking for donations and they can be made to PACE. Gary Colley is their treasurer. The money from the levy will be used to replace workstations in the schools. Some of the existing computers are 14 years old including the teachers and in administration. The students and teaching computers will be upgraded first. Jim Jones spoke to the time frame for schools to take levies to the voters as it has a bearing on the school budgeting time frame. The committee asked for the chamber to support the tech levy and to allow them hand out packets of information to chamber members. ***Jim Jones moved for the chamber to support the school districts technology levy. Helen seconded. Russ will work with the PACE group to get the information to our membership. The motion carried. Russ stated we would also do a press release this afternoon.
3. AUCTION RECAP: The revenue from the auction was over $19,000. The Vintage Auction will be coming up later, and hopefully bring in another $1,000. Russ had budgeted expenses around $1,000 and actual expenses were a few hundred dollars so all together we should come in pretty close to budget on the auction. Betsy suggested that if we want our auction to be big we should have a professional auctioneer. Professional auctioneers have access to items such as trips that we do not, which help boost your revenue, interest and attendance. She suggested Kip Auctioneers. They have their own staff and go by a set rate. Edna feels it would help both attendance and enthusiasm and even donated items. Jackson heard comments on the minimum bids on the live auction. Betsy stated that last year they had to back track on the starting bids and that is why they started lower this year. Vanessa thanked all the board members that helped, especially Edna, Betsy and Jackson.
5. MEMBERSHIP REPORT: Louann asked for approval of the seven new members for February. ***Rob Onnen moved to accept Port Angeles Marine, Eric Neurath Photography, Bill Price, Welcome Home Vacation Rental, Gilgal Oasis RV Park, Studio Bob and Olympic Artisans as the new members for February. Jackson Smart seconded and the motion carried. Louann then asked for approval to archive A & R Insurance and Olympic Peninsula B&B Association. ***Helen Elwood moved to accept the archive report. Sean McDonald seconded and the motion carried. Russ asked everyone to look at the aging report, as those members who are at the 120-day level will be dropped. He asked that if any of you know them, please talk with them and let them know that we would like to retain them and are willing to work payment arrangements.
6: K-PLY LAND USE: Russ stated with the closure of K-Ply, here is a great opportunity to change the face of the downtown. Whether this land would become commercial, retail, residential or stays industrial and opened the issue for discussion. George, personally, feels it should stay industrial. Larry, speaking for himself, stated that everything west of the Estuary Park is industrial. Everything east of the Estuary is commercial, retail etc. That area has a different makeup than the Rayonier site. Ed spoke on the history aspect of the industrial area. Helen complimented Russ for thinking out of the box on this issue. Rob addressed the employee issue with loss of the jobs. Russ stated the college, the Incubator and EDC have stepped into help. ***Edna Petersen moved that Russ write a letter to the various groups that the chamber endorses the plan that the K-Ply land stays industrial. Willie Nelson seconded and the motion carried. Earl Fullingim placed a nay vote.
7. APRIL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH & BEAUTIFICATION AWARD: Russ recommends for business of month, a new member that the board just approved, Studio Bob. His enthusiasm in promoting the artist community in downtown, his promotion of the Second Saturday Art Walk, his growth in exactly what we have been talking about, which is creating artist lofts and studios. He has recently purchases more of the area where he holds his Friday Night Studio Bob show and will be putting in a wine bar, larger studio and showroom space. ***Ed Bedford moved to award Studio Bob with the April Business of the Month Award. Jackson Smart seconded and the motion carried. Russ stated that we have been pretty high profile behind the scenes helping Bob with Avenue of the People, which he has been very appreciative. Russ met with Bob this morning and in order for Avenue of the People to happen, he needs to get private donations to match the money from the city. Russ offered Bob the use of the chambers 501-C6 for the donations from businesses or individuals to receive their write-off. They money will come in here and we will pass it along to Bob. Sean asked if this needs to have board approval. Russ stated this would be handled just the way Heritage Tours funds are, which is through the miscellaneous category, funds in and funds out. No beautification award for April.
8. EXECUTIVE DIRETOR REPORT: Russ referred to the monthly report that was handed out at the beginning of the meeting. He pointed out that the February occupancy was up 36% from last year and is mainly due to the construction workers that are in town. Website visitation is flat or down and that has him worried about. He is working with InsideOut to get higher on the search engine list. We are still the most visited website on the Peninsula. He is hoping this will pick up soon as TV ads are starting, the Victoria big screens at the airport are in place and Marni is working on blogs on our website. Staff took a class with InsideOut a few weeks ago to learn about bloging. The use of blogs is increasing dramatically. Very soon there will be quite a few short videos on the website which will help with awareness of the area. Russ has been transferring over to a new computer and trying to get all the bugs out has been time consuming. Regarding the field house (the bubble building), we are involved with the group trying to figure out where it will be located and how it will be funded. There are public meetings and committee meetings coming up in the next few weeks that Russ will be attending. The OMC letter regarding their attempt to get a grant for electronic medical records connection project is in your packet. There was a very short time frame to get the letter in to their packet that went to Washington DC that he wrote the letter on the chambers behalf. ***Rob Onnen moved to ratify the action Russ took in writing the letter to OMC. Edna Petersen second and the motion carried. May 5 the program for chamber lunch will be on the town’s mayoral election process. Jim Hallett and Larry Williams will be involved with the presentation. Russ gave an update on the Jazz in the Olympics, which is very taxing on staff. The transition has not gone as smoothly working with the previous group. Russ complimented Vanessa on her composure in dealing with them. We love doing the event as it bring people into town and is a great revenue filler for the hotels but is not a fun event to do. Sean asked if it could be due to the first year transition. Russ feels that is a great part of it. Betsy stated she was asked to get advertisers for the program and has run into transition issues with previous advertisers that are hesitant and yet has gotten 27 new advertisers. Russ will review the contract we have with Gary and JITO’S to see what can be done this next year. The general consensus is that this festival is a huge economic boost to the whole community.
9. NEW/OLD BUSINESS: Russ read a letter from Jack Harmon resigning from the board due to attendance requirements per out By Laws. Betsy asked for volunteers to serve on the Nomination Committee to find a replacement. Rob Onnen, Helen Elwood and Edna Petersen volunteered to serve. Jackson Smart stated that previously he and Andrew were instrumental in getting the welcome sign on the east entrance to town and now he has the opportunity to do an entrance sign on the north side of the Coho ferry building. It will be a historical scene. Jackson will be asking for contributions toward the sign. Russ suggested he inquire about the cities capitol tax fund. Edna mentioned there are people eating lunch that are not paying for at the Monday meetings and the Red Lion is losing money. Russ did address the issue last year with an article in the newsletter. Jim Jones suggested they give a different color chip for food or beverage and have people leave it at their place setting. Russ suggested he and Dennis get together and discuss the issue. Willie announced there would be an estate sale at Lee Embrees this weekend.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted, Louann Yager
