Minutes of LBMA Regular Meeting, 3/7/08
The regular monthly meeting of the Board of the Long Beach Merchants Association was held on Friday, March 7, 2008, at 8:00 am at Castaways Restaurant.
CALL TO ORDER. The meeting was called to order at 8:05 by President Mikel Burns.
INTRODUCTIONS: Mikel Burns, Steven Linhart, Sherry Hash, Keleigh Schwartz, Jane Holeman, Dian Barker-Sayce, Keith Schwartz, Kay Buesing, Jill Grey, Ragan Andrew, Sondra Eaton, Ruth Ann Hocking, Denise Jones, Lori Buckwalter, Cathy Russ, Laura Price, Brandy Ferguson, Gina Kolhage, Joyce Ranglia.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Motion to approve: Ragan Andrew. S: Jane Holeman. Unanimous.
TREASURER’S REPORT was given by Sherry Hash.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. BUDGET. Sherry Hash presented the proposed budget for 2008. Motion to approve: Ragan Andrew. S. Denise Jones. Unanimous.
NEW BUSINESS
1. The Board requested approval on the following board-approved motion: “LBMA-Sponsored events must obtain approval from the LBMA Board for vendors of any kind. Event attendance must be great enough to close the approach before vendors will be considered.” (Current estimate is ~4000 attendees to close the approach). Motion to approve Board’s proposal made by Jane Holeman, second by Jill Grey. After considerable discussion, it was decided that the motion would be put aside until next meeting.
2. Gina Kolhage from Flannery Publications made a brief presentation regarding advertising available in their Visitors Guide.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Blue Grass Festival, 03/28-30/08. Ruth Ann Hocking reported that this year’s event is expanded and will include a tent at Chautauqua Lodge. She’s been able to obtain additional, free, radio coverage throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Beach To Chowder Run/Walk, 06/21/08. Sherry Hash reported that Don Nisbett is doing t-shirt and brochure art. Steven Linhart showed the new timing machine purchased for the event.
Doggie Olympic Games, 06/21/08. Jill Grey reported that their next meeting will be March 11, 5:30 pm @ the PUD. All are welcome. Tri-fold brochure and web page are both in development.
SandSations, 07/25-26/08. Sondra Eaton reported that volunteers are needed. The City can no longer give cash to the event and last year’s weather has left the committee with a $3000 deficit problem to solve. SandSations is $1,500 overdrawn going into the event this year and Masters fees are traditionally about the same amount. The committee is rethinking the event; Masters may not be paid to come this year. Sondra will notify Keleigh of the next committee meeting and an announcement will go out to the LBMA e-list.
Jake’s Birthday, 08/09/08. Ragan Andrew reported that Gayle Borchard has stepped up to chair and some exciting surprises are in the works.
Kite Festival, 08/18-25/08. Jane Holeman reported that brochures are in development. Merry Scharfe has been receiving vendor applications. There will be no ad sales for the program this year. Only kite stores and Peninsula events will be offered advertising. This is because of the work involved in selling ads and the costs of developing and laying out the ads, along with printing a larger document.
Holidays at the Beach, 11/28-30/08. Steven Linhart. No report.
LBMA After Hours, April 24, 2008, 6:00 pm @ the World Kite Museum. Mikel Burns reported that the event will be held at the Kite Museum for $100. The focus of the event’s activities is FUN. Ideas and committee members are requested. Contact Mikel. Event Chair are requested to bring display materials for their event.
OTHER REPORTS
City Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Mikel Burns reported a production company has not been chosen and that LTAC has not met since the last LBMA meeting.
Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau. Mikel Burns reported that the Annual Meeting went very well. Jill Grey requested all event information be forwarded to the office as soon as possible. Keleigh Schwartz reported that Guest Directory ad sales open this month and have a strong return on investment. The Guest Directory is the Visitors Bureau’s 3-ring binder, placed in hotel, motel, B&B and Vacation Rental rooms, as well as at RV Park, Port and other public front desks.
Liaison.
• Steven Linhart passed around cards so Long Beach Merchants can invite potential members to join our meetings.
• Ocean Park Area Chamber: All businesses north of Cranberry Road will appear on the opwa.com website, whether they are members or not. The 63rd Annual Rodeo will be chaired by Nancy Campiche; ad sales for the chute are in progress. Seafood Festival in Nahcotta, chaired by Taylor Seafoods, will be held the last weekend in May. The Ocean Park sign has been refinished and looks great.
• Brandy Ferguson reported on Ilwaco’s Black Lake Fishing Derby, outlining changes in this year’s program. Sponsored t-shirt, new logo (designed by a local child), more prizes, pancake breakfast at New Life Church (across from Black Lake), search and rescue dog program. Flyers were distributed.
• Denise Jones reported on the recent, highly successful Women’s Heart Health event, which was at maximum capacity. Ocean Beach Hospital has hired Joe DePaulo as their new CEO, beginning in May. He is from rural New York.
National Heritage Area. No report.
Kite Museum. Kay Buesing showed Oregon Coast Magazine’s excellent coverage on the Kite Festival and Kite Museum. She also showed AKA (American Kite Association) Magazine, which did a nice article on the Windless Kite Festival. There are 23 people in town today and through the weekend for an event.
Loyalty Days, 05/3-4/08. Ruth Ann Hocking reported that April 18-19 coronation activities are on track. “Betsy Ross” will be here for the Loyalty Days festivities. The Navy will be honored this year; the banquet will be on May 3rd.
Surf Perch Derby, 05/17/08. No report.
SummerFest, May-August. Ragan Andrew reported that new chairs and a new tent have been purchased. Sundays will have “Art in the Park”, including make-and-take children’s art activities.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Festival Chairs Meeting re Marketing. March 14, 8am, Anchor Restaurant.
2. Board Meeting: Thursday, March 27, 8am, Anchor Restaurant.
3. Next General Meeting: April 4, 8am, Anchor Restaurant.
4. Bylaws Committee to begin mid-May. To participate, contact Keleigh
5. Cathy Russ passed out “You Spoke We Heard”, the Pacific County Economic Development Council newsletter.
ADJOURNMENT. The meeting was adjourned at 9:17 am.