longbeachmerchants.com

BY- LAWS
of the
LONG BEACH MERCHANTS’ ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I Name

The names of this organization shall be Long Beach Merchants’ Association.

ARTICLE II Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Long Beach Merchants’ Association shall be January 1 to December 31.

ARTICLE III Purpose

The purpose of the Long Beach Merchants’ Association is to promote tourism, improve the economic climate, and to promote local activities that will stimulate the new business in the area of the City of Long Beach.

ARTICLE IV Membership

Section 1. Eligibility: The membership of the Long Beach Merchants’ Association is open to any merchant or business in Pacific County, Washington, who does a substantial business by, through, or in the city of Long Beach who has paid membership dues to the Long Beach Merchants Association. No person shall be excluded on the basis of race, creed, sex or national origin.

Section 2. Voting: privileges shall be extended to all members of the Long Beach Merchants’ Association. Individual businesses shall be entitled to cast one vote.

Section 3. Regular Meetings: Regular meetings of the membership shall be held on the first and third Thursday of each month, unless otherwise ordered by the Long Beach Merchants’ or by its Board of Directors at such time and place as membership shall from time to time prescribe and shall be published to the membership.

Section 4. Special Meetings: Special meetings of the membership may be called by the President, the Board of Directors, or upon the written petition of not less than ten (10) members. Anyone wishing to present political or sales speeches or any topic that is in duration five (5) minutes or longer will be handled at a special meeting. Anyone wishing to address the regular meeting will have to request in advance that they be on the agenda.

Section 5. Quorum: Expect as herein otherwise provided, ten (10) voting members and two (2) officers shall constitute a quorum.

Section 6. Honorary Membership: The Long Beach Merchants’ Association, in keeping with its objective, reserves the right by public display, resolution or certificate, to honor members of the Association or citizens of the community.

Section 7. Annual Meeting: The first meeting in January shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of installing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.

Section 8. Members in good standing: Members in good standing are defined as those members who have completed all requirements for membership in the organization and whose dues are not delinquent. Only members, or designated representatives of members, in good standing shall serve as officers or directors of the Association, except as may otherwise be set forth in these By-Laws.

ARTIVLE V Dues

Section 1. Membership dues shall be due on the first day of September and each Anniversary date of membership. Dues shall be payable in full. Dues shall be in such amount or amounts as shall be fixed by a majority vote of the members in attendance.

Section 2. Any member whose dues remain unpaid as of the due date shall be delinquent, and after ninety (90) days in such delinquent status may be dropped from membership by majority vote of members in attendance.

ARTICLE VI Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Long Beach Merchants’ Association shall be President; Vice President; Secretary; and Treasurer.

Section 2. The President shall be present at all meetings, enforce the By-Laws, and have general supervision of the interests of the Association. The President shall have the power to appoint all new special and new standing committees, and shall appoint an agenda coordinator.

Section 3. The Vice President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating or election committee, and shall be the chairman of the membership committee. The Vice President shall be responsible for countersigning checks.

Section 4. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the association and of its Board of Directors. The Secretary shall be responsible for membership dues billing and membership records, and notifying members of all meetings, time and place.

Section 5. The Treasurer shall receive all monies of the Association, excepting monies donated exclusively to specific festivals by benevolent societies or foundations, and to disburse the same in accordance within an approved budget or upon proper orders of the Board of Directors. He/She shall keep itemized balances, and render a financial statement at each meeting. At the end of each fiscal year, at the end of the treasurer’s term of office, and at such other times as may be ordered by the Board of Directors.

Section 6. In the absence of the President, the officers shall serve preside in order previously listed.

Section 7. The term of office shall be for one year, and no officer shall serve more than two consecutive terms in one office.

Section 8. The Board of Directors shall submit a budget to membership.

Section 9. Any member in good standing may present a motion to the Association for the recall of an officer, board member or otherwise elected official. The Association may, by majority written ballot, recall any officer, board member or otherwise elected official of the Association.

ARTICLE VII Board of Directors

Section 1. The Board of Directors may act in an advisory capacity in the formulation of policy, plans and programs for conduct of affairs of the Long Beach Merchants’ Association. The Board of Directors shall have final approval authority over the proposed budget.

Section 2. The Board of Directors may provide for an annual review of the Long Beach Merchants’ Association’s financial affairs and for an annual financial report to the general membership.

Section 3. The Board of Directors may ensure that the Treasurer files appropriate Federal and State tax forms and statements required of non-profit corporations, when these are appropriate. The board shall audit the Treasurers accounts at the annual meeting.

Section 4. There shall be five (5) directors. Three of the directorships are to be filled by election from the membership at large for terms of three years, with one directorship to open each year. Two of the directorships are to be filled by immediate past-presidents of the Association for terms of two years each. Whenever there is an unscheduled vacancy in the Board of Directors, the remaining term of the vacant directorship is to be filled by election from the membership at large. Only current members of the Association may be directors.

ARTICLE VIII Elections

Section 1. The President shall appoint an Election of Officers and Board Members nominating committee of six from the members at large at the first meeting in September each year. The Nominating Committee shall report at the first meeting in December at which time nominations from the floor shall also be called for.

Section 2. Written ballots will be mailed to the full membership prior to the next meeting, and the new Officers and Directors shall assume their duties at the first meeting in January.

Section 3. A Vacancy in the office of President shall filled by the Vice President, who shall become President. A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by action of Board of Directors until the next annual election.

ARTICLE IX Committees

Section 1. A Membership Committee shall be appointed by the President promptly after each annual meeting. This committee will normally be chaired by the Vice President and shall consist of four additional members. It shall be the duty of this committee to solicit additional members from all eligible persons, including past members.

Section 2. New Festival Committee consisting of at least three members of the Association; one of which must be an officer or Board Member of the Association, shall be appointed by the President promptly after the annual meeting. Standing Festival Committees Shall have at least three members of the Association; The committees shall be responsible for budgeting, planning, promoting and carrying out all activities required to produce and direct the festival. The committees shall submit to the Treasurer a detailed budget prior to any disbursements by the Treasurer. Mailing lists compiled by the committees and the Long Beach Merchants’ Association and shall not be used for non-association purposes.

Section 3. A Tourism Committee may be appointed by the President promptly after each annual meeting. The composition and number of members of this committee shall be as deemed appropriate to generally review, research and/or initiate ways and means of promoting tourism in and around the City of Long Beach. In the event this committee promotes, conducts, or participates in seminars, conferences or meeting events that involve (require) extensive budgeting or disbursement of funds, prior to commitment of funds.

Section 4. Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President as deemed necessary to carry on the work of the Long Beach Merchants Association.

ARTICLE X Copyrights

Section 1. Whenever the Association, or any committee thereof, purchase or otherwise acquires art work or material is to become the sole property of the Association, by copyright whenever applicable, to use and dispose of the Association, copyright whenever applicable, to use and dispose at its own discretion or that of the committee.
ARTIVLE XI Rules of Order

Section 1. In all matters of parliamentary practice, the latest edition of “Roberts Rules of Order” shall be used as authority.

ARTICLE XII Indemnification

The Association may, by resolution of the Board of Directors, provide for indemnification by the Association of any and all of its directors, officers, committee members, or former directors, officers or committee members, against expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in connection with the defense of any legal action, suit, proceedings in which they or any of them are made parties, or party, by reason of having been directors, officers, or committee members of the Long Beach Merchants Association, except in relation to matters as to which such director, officer, or committee member shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceedings to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of duty and to such matters as shall be settled by agreement predicated in the existence of such liability for negligence or misconduct.

ARTICLE XIII Amendment of By-Laws

These By-Laws can be amended by any regular meeting of the Long Beach Merchants’ Association by a two-thirds vote, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting.

These By-Laws, replacing all previous By-Laws, were adopted as amended this 17th day of February 1994.

<Signed: Nadine Mead>

Present: President Mikel Burns, VP Steven Linhart, Secretary Keleigh Schwartz, Treasurer Sherry Hash, Una Boyle, Karen Brownlee, Mark Harebottle, Judi Andrew, Rainier Hauser, Gayle Borchard, Jerry Phillips, Dian Barker-Sayce, Merry Scharfe, Chris Stephens, Cara Ciaramella, Vin Ciaramella, Jill Grey, Wayne O’Dell, Eve O’Dell, Jennifer Johnson.

Meeting was called to order at 8:07 am.

Roll Call

Minutes. Read aloud as many had not visited longbeachmerchants.com to review. Corrections noted:

• There are 73 paid memberships of LBMA
• Old Business; Jennifer Johnson moved we accept the slate of officers.
• Other Reports; Judy Beezley is Secretary of the Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce
• Other Reports; Gayle Borchard clarified that the $32,000 raised is for the feasibility study.

Moved by Steven Linhart seconded by Jennifer Johnson, to accept minutes as corrected.

Treasurer’s report. None available due to officer change. Mikel Burns will get to Keleigh Schwartz for the blog. Jerry has heard that local merchants have taken counterfeit $100 bills. He would like to get his hands on those so he can further investigate; please contact Jerry at the Bank of Pacific if you have any information. Jerry will send Una information to distribute to Visitors Bureau membership and to Keleigh for the LBMA blog.

Old Business
None
New Business

1. Jerry Phillips noted that Ragan Andrew is putting together bags for cruise ship operators and is seeking donations of ad specialty or other items. Deadline is January 22nd. She is NOT looking for brochures but rather items stamped/tagged/stickered with your business name. Contact Ragan at the City of Long Beach, 642-4421.
2. Chris Stephens from the Pacific County Auditor’s office, made a brief presentation regarding the upcoming election process. All voters must choose a party to vote in the primary. Doing so allows you to vote in the primary but does not keep your affiliation with the party; data is expunged after 90 days. If you don’t want to affiliate with a party, you can vote the non-partisan ballot but not the Presidential Primary. Any questions should be directed to the Auditor’s office.
3. Rainier Hauser, Superintendent of Ocean Beach School District, along with Karen Brownlee, Citizens for Better Education, speaking on behalf of the school levy. There will be 2 propositions. One is the Maintenance and Operations levy, which happens approximately every 3 years and is needed to keep basic operations in place. This is because the state does not fully fund our schools. It is not a new tax; it keeps the existing tax going so as to maintain the current service level. The second levy is a new piece, a Technology levy, 15, 17 and then 19 cents per $1000 over 3 years. Our kids aren’t keeping up with others throughout the state in terms of technology and it takes more and improved equipment to turn that around. The two pieces added together net a total of $1.44 per $1000 (assessed property value); surrounding districts range $3.19 -$4.08. Because the building levy is dropping off now, the combined total is less than the per $1000 rate in 2005. Q & A regarding construction project and misinformation in the community. Articles in the Chinook Observer can be reviewed for more information, else call the District Office
4. LBMA/City After Hours being planned for April at the World Kite Museum. Date TBD. Volunteers requested; contact Mikel Burns.

Committee Reports

• Blue Grass – No report
• Beach to Chowder –Sherry Hash reports the need to purchase timing equipment at a cost of roughly $700. The equipment could be shared with the school district.
• Doggie Olympics –Jill Grey reports the first meeting of the year will be Jan 15, 5:30 at the PUD building. All are welcome.
• SandSations –No report.
• Jake’s Birthday –No report.
• Kite Festival –No report.
• Holidays at the Beach –No report.

Other Reports

• City Lodging Tax Advisory –Mkel Burns reports there is a meeting on Jan 22nd to interview ad companies for tv commercial. 11 am at the Breakers
• Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau –Una Boyle reports the LBPVB Annual Meeting will be Thursday, Feb 28 at the Kite Museum, 5:30 is the tentative time. Theme is “The Summer Vacation You Never Had”. BBQ, wine, noshes. More info to come. Regarding the TV ads, Una reports that people coming into the office are saying they heard about us on the tv &/or radio. Additionally, she is seeing more visitors from Eastern Washington and Oregon, which can be attributed to the radio and tv spots. She is also seeing three times the number of Canadian visitors, which can be attributed to the exchange rate. Most of our out-of-state visitors are from California. Most out-of-country visitors are from Germany. The number of visitors coming from websites continues to increase, as does the traffic to funbeach.com. Overall, we are ‘holding our own’ while counties around us are losing market share. Most recently, visitation is down since the storms of early December.
• Liaison –Steven Linhart reports Ilwaco is having an after hours Bowling Extravaganza, Weds Jan 16, 6pm; RSVP to Bruce Peterson at 642-2291. The Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum new Executive Director is Betsy Mallard. Pacific County has received several grants recently; details are in the Chinook Observer. Eye of the Storm Meeting will be Jan 26th, 9am-6pm RSVP to Nanci Main; food provided as well as a community pot luck. Purpose is to put citizen networks together for future storms.
• National Heritage Area –Gayle Borchard reports public meetings have been rescheduled for the week of March 3-8, due to the storm. Watch the Chinook Observer and website for details. Money raised for the feasibility study is up to $45,000 (of the $50,000 needed).
• Kite Museum –No report.
• Loyalty Days –Mayor Bob Andrew reports that meetings have continued to get things on schedule. Everything looks to be moving forward. New this year is Fort Columbia rededication, including WWII reenactors. Honoring the Navy this year; the banquet will likely have a luau theme to honor losses at Pearl Harbor.
• Surf Perch Derby –No report.
• SummerFest –No report.
• Fireworks – Mayor Bob Andrew report the City puts fireworks on for Independence Day and New Year’s. Finances were tight this past NYE due to the need to hire a pyrotechnical expert. Donations are always welcome.

Announcements

• Steven Linhart announces an entrepreneurial course, “Kick it up a Notch”, at Gray’s Harbor Community College in Ilwaco, Saturday, February 22nd, 9a-3pm; must register by Jan 31. Contact Teri Dodson , 642-9433, $35, includes lunch. Goal: Creating Strategic Plan for growth.
• President Mikel welcomes new merchants the O’Dells from Anchor Realty and the O’Cara’s from Hilltop Bowl

Meeting was adjourned at 9:15 am.

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of the Long Beach Merchants Association was held on Friday, January 4, 2008, at 8:00 am at Castaways Restaurant.

Present: President Mikel Burns, Vice President Steven Linhart, Secretary Keleigh Schwartz, Board Members Ruth Ann Hocking, Dian Barker Sayce and Jane Holeman, and Long Beach Councilman Jerry Phillips.

Absent: Treasurer Sherry Hash (excused), Board Member Jeff Herrold.

The meeting was called to order at 8:03 am.

There was considerable discussion with the intent to create annual goals. Topics focused on how to better connect merchants to the City and one another and resulted in two key projects which will be pursued for more information and brought to the regular LBMA meeting:

1. An LBMA / City of Long Beach co-sponsored ‘After Hours’ event, in April, at the World Kite Museum.
2. A ‘Business of the Month or Quarter’. This might include a ‘coffee & cookies’ open house, perhaps 4-6 pm, at the place of business being featured, as well as a Chinook Observer article.

No motions were made.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:04 am.

December 14, 2007: There are no minutes for this meeting due to the lack of a quorum. However, Chris Stephens from the Pacific County Auditors Office, was there. He informed us that the Washington State Auditor’s Conference will be held here on May 13,14,15 & 16, 2008. The Breakers will be hosting this conference. He is interested in getting contributions for the “Welcome Packets.” They are planning on 50 packets. This is a perfect opportunity to use a coupon to entice people into your business. You can contact him at cstephens@co.pacific.wa.us if you want more specifics. We’ll post more information about this later.

Also, if you have not paid your 2008 dues, please try and do so soon. They are $75 for the year. Our next meeting is January 11th. See you there.

The meeting was called to order by Gayle Borchard. Kay Buesing moved that the minutes of the previous meeting by approved as posted. Steve Linhart seconded the motion and it passed. Mikel Burns gave the Treasurer’s Report. We now have 64 paid memberships.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS: The slate of officers for 2008 was presented: Mikel Burns, President; Steve Linhart, VP; Keleigh Schwartz, Sec’y; Sherry Hash, Treasurer; Dian Barker Sayce, E Board 3 yr term; Ruth Ann Hocking, E Board 2 yr term; Jane Holeman, E Board 1 yr term; Jeff Harrell, E Board 2 yr term. Jennifer Johnson moved that we accept the slate of officers as presented; Dale Jacobson seconded the motion and it passed.

 

 

The festival heads were reminded to get their budget requests into the LTAC as soon as possible.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS: No new business items

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Christmas: Steve Linhart is helping Ruth Ann Hocking this year. The pictures will be moved from the Depot to the area between Funland & the LBPD. Two tents will be set up. The coloring contest is underway. They need someone to donate the stockings for prizes. They will need volunteers for the day of the event.

 

 

Blue Grass Festival: Ruth Ann Hocking reported that she has 9 bands and 5 more seats at the Chautauqua.

 

 

Sandsations: Mikel Burns reported that they also will need lots of volunteers for the day of the event.

 

 

Kite Festival: Jane Holeman reported that they are beginning to work on 2008.

 

 

Beach Run: Sherry Hash reported that this will be the 31^st year. Work is underway, but they will need a new chair.

 

 

Jake’s Birthday: no report

 

 

Doggie Olympic Games: Jill Grey is looking to make it a two day event. This year, the D.O.G., the Beach Run and the Garlic Festival are all on the same weekend.

OTHER REPORTS

Kite Museum: Kay Buesing reported on the AKA convention and the art show that they hosted. On November 4 there will be a concert by Bob Milne as a fundraiser.

 

 

LBPVB: Mikel Burns reminded everyone to get into the Visitor’s Bureau and proof their information in the Vacation Beach Planner. The Board has new officers with Bruce Petersen as President.

 

 

Liaison: Steve Linhart reported that OPCC will have the Garlic Festival in 2008 , but is still deciding about 2009. The new officers are Bob Beezley, President; Phyllis Knight, VP; Karen Stevens, Treasurer; and Judy Beezley, Treasurer.

 

Loyalty Days: Ruth Ann Hocking reported that they all ready have parade entries. Bob Andrew will stay on as chairman.

 

 

Surf Perch Derby: Dale reported that they will be working on the old hot dog wagon and the door replacement at the storage unit will be underway soon.

 

 

LTAC: Mikel Burns reported that they are working on the 2008 budget and will be looking for interest in the commercials. They have two spots that will open up on LTAC: small lodging and festivals. These people serve at the behest of the mayor.

 

 

National Heritage Area: Dian Barker Sayce reported that they are still working on the planting. They are planning on working east towards Sandridge. Gayle Borchard reported that the Board has raised approximately $32,000 of the $50,000 that is necessary to proceed. They will have a number of public meetings in the area.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jill Grey thanked all of the festival chairs for submitting information to the Visitor’s Bureau in a timely fashion.

 

 

Jerry Phillips, BOP, stated that there is till counterfeit $20 and $50 bills out there. There is also a rash of counterfeit VISA traveler’s checks and USPS money orders. Also, there are counterfeit CVS Pharmacy moneygrams that are over $500. For more information, contact Jerry at the Bank of the Pacific.

 

 

Jill Grey announced the second annual Champagne Brunch for the Humane Society will be help on 12/1/07 at the Senior Center. Tickets are $25 each and seating is limited to $125.

 

 

Keleigh Schwartz reminded everyone that raffle tickets for the Humane Society were still available.

 

 

Denise Jones passed out information on the OBH Foundation Celebration of Lights . It will be held at Ft. Columbia this year.

 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9a.m.