Minutes of LBMA Regular Meeting, 04/04/08
Long Beach Merchants Association
Regular Meeting
Friday, April 4, 2008, 8:00 am, Anchor Restaurant
CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 8:11 am.
INTRODUCTIONS. Kimberly Armstrong, Hillary Dr Roof, Jane Holeman, Gayle Borchard, Diane Barker Sayce, Ragan Andrew, Ruth Ann Hocking, Jeff Harrell, Steven Linhart, Mikel Burns, Sherry Hash, Laura Price, Jill Grey, Una Boyle, Jim Neva, Denise Jones, Martha Murfin, Pat Iverson, Larkin Stentz
APPROVAL OF MINUTES motion to approve: Linhart, second: Andrew. Approved unanimously.
TREASURER’S REPORT Report given (and handed out) by Sherry Hash
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Board requests 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.” (estimate is ~4000 attendees to close the approach) (2nd Month of active motion). Motion to approve: Boyle Second: Holeman. Approved unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Martha Murfin and Larkin Stentz made a brief presentation on the Boys & Girls Club of the Long Beach Peninsula. They are in the process of hiring an executive director. Goal is to have that person in place July 1st. They plan to use school facilities initially and then to build in Long Beach. To be chartered, they need the 2nd year’s budget pledged. The first year’s budget is roughly $100,000. They have ~$140,000 banked and therefore need pledges of ~$60,000. To join the Founder’s Club, pledge $1,000/year for 3 years.
2. Ragan reported on attendance at the NW Festivals and Events Conference, where she met Carol Lail, trainer on volunteer attraction, maintenance and retention. Carol will be putting on a workshop here in Long Beach at the end of April or early May. Motion by Schwartz to contribute $100 to the City of Long Beach for co-sponsoring the training. Second by Holeman. Approved Unanimous.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
• Blue Grass Festival, 03/28-30/08. Ruth Ann Hocking reported on the event, following a round of applause by the room. The weather was rough and the professionally rented tent turned out to be a great idea. Attendance was slightly off because of the weather; there were an estimated 575 participants. Booking for 2009 has begun. Ruth Ann reported that her volunteers stay with her a long time, some as long as 20+ years. She also has more volunteers than she needs and much gratitude is extended for that! Also, she was able to get coverage on NW Cable news!
• Beach To Chowder Run/Walk, 06/21/08. Sherry Hash reported the event is well on its way. She showed the 2008 poster, which was drawn by Don Nisbett.
• Doggie Olympic Games, 06/21/08. Jill Grey showed the “Lewis and Clark Seaman Award”, which goes to the dog/family that has traveled the furthest to the event. She also showed a cooler/gift bag which will be stuffed with an event shirt and dog-related products for the event winners. All participants also receive a bag of goodies. LBMA members are invited to give ad-specialty items for the gift bags; they will not be solicited. Nutro and Merial corporations will be donors. Mike Campellone will be this year’s emcee. 2009 date: June 20th.
• SandSations, 07/25-26/08. Diane Barker-Sayce reported that she, Mikel Burns and Sondra Nash met this week. Budget is set and includes a goal of repaying the LBMA account arrearage. Selling hooded long-sleeved t-shirts and sweatshirts. 3 Masters teams have been confirmed. Motion by Ragan Andrew to sell pre-packaged kettle corn out of the SandSations trailer, purchased from a local vendor. Second by Una Boyle. Decision that a motion is not needed. Approved by consensus.
• Jake’s Birthday, 08/09/08. Gayle Borchard reported that they will be pre-selling t-shirts this year. Last year 144 were sold in 1 hour. Ragan is distributing posters in Portland Metro. Events include piñata contest, pin the tail on the lizard, haiku, story contest “Who’s Your Daddy, Jake?”. The only FREE items will be cake and ice cream. Committee includes Gayle, Ragan, Wendy Murry, Merry Scharfe. More committee members are needed. Jake will be kidnapped prior to the event with a build-up campaign in the paper. Una volunteered media support.
• Kite Festival, 08/18-25/08. Jane Holeman reported that the brochure is just about ready, as is the rules book. T-shirt design is set. Poster is online at kitefestival.com.
• Holidays at the Beach, 11/28-30/08. Steven Linhart: No report.
• LBMA After Hours. Mikel Burns reported the event will be April 24th, 6pm at the Kite Museum. Theme will be “white elephant”. The concept is to choose something you want to get rid of and wrap it elaborately. Participants will take turns opening items and it is a fun ‘getting to know one another’ activity. Food will be provided.
OTHER REPORTS
• City Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Mikel Burns. Next meeting will be next week and will firm up details regarding the tv ads.
• Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau. Una Boyle reported that the Board of Directors sent an email to all members. The deadline will be April 15; all are strongly encouraged to reply. SW Airlines May issue will have a half-page ad and one paragraph of advertorial on the Peninsula. 61,500 Beach Vacation Planners were printed; 1/3 have been distributed. Several Seattle area magazines have visited recently. Guest Directory ads are in process of being sold right now, for Memorial Weekend distribution. Una will be going to Seattle next week to meet with WA Tourism to finalize the state tourism plan. Food purveyors are now meeting on the Peninsula to create food-centric cross-marketing. Jill sends event information to a variety of media annually. AAA Magazine pulled a charter fishing photo for use on a Black Lake Fishing Derby article. Please spread the word that the magazine did this without the VB’s help! All are welcome to review the new press kit at funbeach.com/pressroom. An eagle scout is working with the VB to develop a child-centered handout of things to do locally. DOT is collecting information on pedestrian walkways and State Parks is collecting information on how to best use area State Parks.
• Liaison. Steven Linhart reported that this weekend is the Peninsula Arts Association’s spring show. Artist’s reception April 5, 6-8 pm at the World Kite Museum. LBMA Board discussed putting up a sign-in at events where visitors could put their zip code so we can track from how far they came. Black Lake Fishing Derby April 26th. Nautical Renaissance May 14-19 and June 6-8. No pirates; working toward a more historical presence.
• National Heritage Area. Gayle Borchard reported on 17 meetings the first week of March, from Cannon Beach to North Pacific County, to assess assets and support. Big question was regarding property rights. The Heritage Area will not affect property rights. Report will be packaged and put on website as well as in Chinook Observer.
• Kite Museum. Sherry Hash reported there will be a cleanup on Saturday, April 12, to work on the outside of the building.
• Loyalty Days, 05/3-4/08. Steven reported there are 54 registrants so far. April 18 is Jr. Miss Loyalty. The following day is Miss Loyalty Coronation. Ruth Ann reported that they will be honoring the Navy this year. Tables for the banquet are sold out. Betsy Ross will be the keynote. Ragan reported the Jr Miss court is selling raffle tickets to raise money toward their goal of $2007 for the food banks. The drawing will be held on April 18th at the Jr. Miss Coronation (need not be present to win).
• Surf Perch Derby, 05/17/08. No report.
• SummerFest, May-August. Ragan Andrew reported that schedule of events is nearly confirmed. Budget was increased this year so there will be music nearly every weekend this summer.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Board Meeting: April 18, 8am, Anchor Restaurant.
2. Regular Meeting, May 2, 8am, Anchor Restaurant.
3. Bylaws Committee to begin mid-May. To participate, contact Keleigh
ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 9:27 am.