Long Beach, WA

Long Beach Merchants Association  |  Regular Meeting
Friday, December 4, 2009, 8:00 am
Benson’s by the Beach Restaurant; 504 S Pacific in Long Beach; 642-3300

CALL TO ORDER 8:10 am

INTRODUCTIONS
Sherry Hash, Ruth Ann Hocking, Troy Rodenbaugh, Rick Schimelpfenig, Bob Andrew, Ragan Andrew, Judy Andrew, Dian Barker-Sayce, Steven Linhart, Keith Schwartz, Keleigh Schwartz, Craig Smith, Paula Mraz, Jane Holeman, Wendy Murry, Holli Beller, Brandy Ferguson, Dennis Roberts.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve as written by Dave Little, 2^nd by Ragan Andrew. Unanimously approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT Sherry Hash gave a verbal report (attached).

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Election of Officers.  Written ballots were used to elect the following slate of officers:  President Steven Linhart, Vice President Merry Scharfe, Treasurer Craig Smith, Secretary Paula Mraz, Board Member Sherry Hash.

Appointed by President Steven Linhart were Ruth Ann Hocking (1-year Board seat), Kay Buesing (Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau Board), Jerry Phillips (Liaison to Long Beach City Council), Dave Little (Liaison to Ilwaco and Ocean Park Merchants).

NEW BUSINESS

Rick Schimelpfenig gave a presentation on QR Codes, which will be showing up on points of interest around town.  Some will include information while others will be part of a tour of Discovery Trail.  Merchants should contact Rick http://www.qrable.com or Keleigh http://www.beachdog.com for more info.

Sherry Hash distributed “Tri-Power”, a newspaper of the Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association, which includes information on the group’s cleanup on our beach.

Steven Linhart reported there is an event on January 14^th at the Peninsula Senior Center, 11 am – 3 pm, a volunteerism fair organized by Ernie Henson.  LBMA will have a booth and events chairs are requested to attend.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

• LBMA After Hours.  Ruth Ann Hocking reported on a fun party last night!  Thanks to Kay for letting us use the Kite Museum.
• Blue Grass Festival.  Ruth Ann Hocking reported that advertising is going out over the radio and in publications, all free.
• Beach To Chowder Run/Walk.  Sherry Hash reported she is transitioning leadership to Paula Mraz.  Paula and Jeff Harrell have been working on t-shirts and logo, registration software and donations.
• Doggie Olympic Games.  Brandy Ferguson reported she has contacted all her volunteers (25) and has heard back from 7.  She’ll be putting an article in the paper to see if she can drum up more help.
• SandSations.  Becky Johnson.  No report.
• Jake’s Birthday.  Wendy Murry.  No report.
• Kite Festival.  Jane Holeman reported that Nancy Campiche is not doing posters this year, so the committee will take on the 30^th Annual poster this year and then they will decide if poster competition will be annual in the future.  Foreign guests are set.  Applied for matching grant with BELO for TV advertising.  Advertising space commitments happening now.
• Holidays at the Beach.  Holly Beller reported on a very successful event.  Donations were received.  About 200 kids pictures were taken with Santa.  Attendance for Frosty’s birthday was the best seen.  Holly would like to bring back the raffle next year; stay tuned.  10 of the 13 coloring contest winners were present for the trolley ride.  Keleigh received an email from an out-of-town family who come every year and have volunteered to help next year.  Anecdotally, there are a lot of people who commented they come back every year.  Bob Andrew reported that he got bids back for lighting the Boardwalk and initial numbers came in at about $75,000, making it not plausible.  Now investigating decorating the pocket parks.  Jane Holeman recommended that volunteer groups could bid for the right to decorate, with funds going to charity.  Ruth Ann asked about the white lights downtown and the need for them to be brighter and last longer; Bob has put that challenge out to the City’s vendor; there are technical issues but they are still working on it.

OTHER REPORTS

• Kite Museum.  Kay Buesing noted January and February are very busy months at the Museum with the Indoor Kite Fly on Jan 16-17.  We are the longest running indoor kite fly in the nation at 9 years.  February brings John Freeman to the museum.  John has taught at the museum for several years. 25 kites will be made this year, making it a BIG event on February 13-14-15.  Come watch!  Asian New Year is the following weekend with a focus on the Singapore area, which is one of the first places to ever have kite festivals.  Spring Fling is a 3+ week event over Spring Breaks.
• Loyalty Days.  Judy Andrew noted that applications are in the works; Midway Printery sustained about $25,000 in damage during the last power outage so things are a bit behind.  This year is the 60^th Annual Loyalty Days.  Coast Guard is being honored.  Coronation will be in April.
• Surf Perch Derby.  No report.
• SummerFest.  No report.
• Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau. Kay Buesing reported on further discussion, at the last meeting, on having conversation with the State to control some of the chaos around fireworks/Independence Day.  Other news was primarily updates from Board members representing all parts of the Peninsula on holiday activities, and a presentation on QR codes.
• Liaison to Long Beach City Council. Steven Linhart reported the budget process has been finished.
• City Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Ragan noted the next meeting will be December 15^th.  Sherry Hash reported that QR Coding is the group’s focus at the moment.
• Liaison to Ocean Park, Ilwaco.  Dave Little reported on Ilwaco’s holiday festivities this weekend; see http://www.funbeach.com/events/holidays/ilwaco.html for details.  Peninsula Players holiday presentation opens tonight.  Apron Auction at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum raised approximately $3,000.  Ocean Park saw 94 visitors last month, plus phone calls.  Lots of response from the Woodall’s Camping Guide.  Ocean Park Area Chamber office is now open 7 days a week, 4 hours per day, which has had a good response.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• LB City Council Meeting: Dec 7, 2009, 7pm, City Hall
• LBMA Board Meeting: December meeting canceled
• LB City Council Meeting: Dec 21, 2009, 7 pm, City Hall
• LB City Council Meeting: Jan 4, 2010, 7 pm, City Hall
• LBMA Meeting: Jan 8, 2010, 8am, Benson’s

ADJOURNMENT 8:58 am