Long Beach Merchants Association | Regular Meeting
Friday, November 4, 2011, 8:00 am
Benson’s by the Beach Restaurant; 504 S Pacific in Long Beach; 642-3300
CALL TO ORDER 8:00
INTRODUCTIONS
Keith Schwartz, Holly Beller, Laura Price, Lacie Dewitt, Ragan Andrew, Stefanie Grober, Mollie Christianson, Patrick Weros, Gayle Borchard, Natalie Hanson, Ruth Ann Hocking, Steven Linhart, Merry Scharfe, Jim Tweedie, Craig Smith, Keleigh Schwartz
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes had not been read by the membership and so approval was moved to next month.
TREASURER’S REPORT given by Craig Smith and attached. Craig also presented the Board’s draft budget for 2012, which will be voted on at the December general meeting. Questions are welcomed by Board Members. Event year-end report showed all festivals in the black.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Nomination of officers for 2012. Merry Scharfe and Steven Linhart were nominated to swap positions for 2012 and accepted. Treasurer and Secretary positions are open. Craig Smith and Holly Beller indicated interest in sitting on the Board but not in officer seats. Jane Holeman was nominated as Treasurer (in abstentia).
NEW BUSINESS
Food4Kids. Natalie Hansen of the Elks Club and Jim Tweedie of the Presbyterian Church gave a presentation on a program begun by Martha Murfin, “Food4Kids”. The program gives kids that aren’t fed over weekends a backpack of food to take home. Long Beach Elementary identified 139 students by need. The program is seeking ongoing food and cash commitments as well as for higher traffic merchants to host donation bins. For more information, contact Natalie at 642-8244 or Jim at obpc@oceanbeachpres.com.
The Board proclaimed Tuesdays at “Long Beach Merchants Night at the Neptune”. Please support your local theater so it can continue to carry first-run movies, which rely on attendance counts.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Holidays at the Beach. Holly reported that it’s time for merchants to decorate for Christmas! Watch for flyers by email this coming week. New this year will be a tree auction. The Cottage Bakery, Re/Max Long Beach, Neptune Theater and beachdog.com, have volunteered to decorate and display trees this year. The auction will be on Dec 10th at 1pm as part of “Peninsula Presents!”.
White Elephant Shindig. Ruth Ann passed out flyers for the event, which will be held Thursday, December 8th at the Kite Museum beginning at 5:30 pm. Potluck. White elephant exchange. Beer & Wine provided. Details in a flyer which is posted to longbeachmerchants.com and our facebook page.
Bluegrass Festival. Ruth ann reported there will be no event in 2012 and she will make the 2013 decision by May 31st. The problem is that Chautauqua is the only venue that works and they are remodeling and having challenges. The event needs a venue that holds 600 people, 2 stages, jamming rooms and rooms for the bands at half price.
Beach to Chowder Run/Walk. No report.
Doggie Olympic Games. Mollie Christianson was introduced as the new chair of the event. She reported one addition this year will be a dog surfing clinic by Skookum Surf of Seaview.
Sandsations. Mollie may have someone who would co-chair with Becky; TBD.
Jake’s Birthday. No report.
Kite Festival. No report.
LBMA Volunteer Recruitment. Merry passed around a sampling of ads that will be going into the Chinook Observer and are available for viewing at longbeachmerchants.com and on facebook.com. The Observer may also be doing a feature story on volunteering, to coordinate with the ad campaign.
OTHER REPORTS
World Kite Museum. Merry reported that Bob Milne will again be playing at the Museum on Sunday, November 6th at 2pm. Tickets are $25. Support the Museum while enjoying the educational and talented Bob Milne, who is a member of the Library of Congress. Appropriate for all ages.
Loyalty Days. Ragan reported this year’s theme will be “Gone, but not forgotten” and will be honoring Special Forces. No Loyalty Day Court this year.
Surf Perch Derby. No report.
SummerFest. Ragan reported she is working on budget for 2012.
Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau. Keleigh reported the Pocket Calendars are available for pickup.
Liaison to Long Beach City Council. Steven noted a new event to take place August 4-5, 2012, “Tinkertown Throwdown”, a personal watercraft event. This is a race course, with buoys, for wave runners, etc. The City is in the budget process and meets with Lodging Tax Advisory on Monday, Nov 7, 5-7pm for a workshop. All merchants are encouraged to attend. The Depot building has been re-sided. The new playground equipment is installed and getting good feedback. Mayor Andrew has collected money from Merchants and purchased 40 pre-lit snowflakes to hang on the light poles downtown.
City Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Note budget workshop mentioned above.
Liaison to Ocean Park & Ilwaco. Laura gave a comprehensive report on the goings on at the Ocean Park Area Chamber and Ilwaco Merchants meetings.
Membership. Pay your dues! Steven sent out 320 invoices and letters. We are currently at 50 paid members; goal this year is 75. Dues are to be paid by Dec 31st.
EDC Business of the Year. Merry reported on a great evening and extended congratulations to our LBMA Business of the Year, Peninsula Golf Course / Jim and Sondra Eaton.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
LB City Council Budget Workshop: November 7th, 5-7pm, City Council
LB City Council Meeting: November 7th, 7pm, City Council
LBMA Board Meeting: November 18th, 8am, Benson’s
LBMA Meeting: December 2nd, 8am, Benson’s
ADJOURNMENT 9:11 am
Respectfully Submitted,
Keleigh Schwartz, beachdog.com