Thanks to Christopher Spence and Ed Streit, we have Beach Run and Doggie Olympics photos online.  Race results, too (thanks, Sherry!).

http://funbeach.com/events/beachrun
and
http://funbeach.com/events/doggieolympics

Both gentlemen are also sending discs of the photos, so we’ll eventually get them into the ongoing slideshow bank on funbeach, too.

Enjoy!

Keleigh
webmaster @  funbeach.com

There is a letter going around stating that the US Dept of Transportation’s Procurement Office needs financial information from prospective contractors before submittal.  This letter looks very official and has two pages, and is signed by a ‘Robert Dal’, Senior Procurement Officer.

THIS LETTER IS A SCAM, SO  BEWARE!!!

All contractors wishing to do business with the Federal Government have to register in the CCR system online.  They never ask for info by fax!

Thanks for all your attention to this notice. Please share this with your people.

Barb Roberts for the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce
via Una Boyle for the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau

Location: The junction of 1st Ave and Lake St. Ilwaco…The new Ilwaco Town Square.

Time: 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Set-up starts 9.00 a.m., no vehicles allowed in area after 9.45 a.m. Vendor parking available. Stations allocated on a first come first served basis.

Cost per station $20.00, in advance or on the day – cash only.

Guidelines No new arts and crafts items or home grown vegetables/flora are to be sold. For these items go to the Ilwaco Saturday Market at the Port of Ilwaco.

There will be a PACE fundraising BBQ running at the same location on the first Saturday only, as well as the local eateries. After that there will be food available from vendors and the local cafes and restaurants.
For further information call 360-642-0087

CALL TO ORDER 8:08 am

INTRODUCTIONS Mikel Burns, Terri Tucker, Steven Linhart, Dian Barker-Sayce, Gayle Borchard, Dale Jacobson, Bob Andrew, Ruth Ann Hocking, Flint Wright, Jeff Harrell, Jill Grey, Ragan Andrew, Jennifer Johnson, Terri Tucker, Keleigh Schwartz, Denise Jones, Sherry Hash, Kay Buesing.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve as written: Steven Linhart 2nd: Bob Andrew. Unanimous.

TREASURER’S REPORT Sherry reported and also submitted a written report (attached). Discussion re insurance bill ended with consensus for Sherry to review and have the policy updated, removing items no longer needing insurance.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
• Unanimous motion by the Board of Directors to make our current Past President an ex-officio Board member and to then include a permanent ex-officio seat on the LBMA Board of Directors for the Mayor of Long Beach (2nd of 2 months on agenda before voting) Motion: Gayle Borchard. 2nd Denise Jones. Unanimous.

NEW BUSINESS
• Ragan had a request from someone who has closed their business and wants to dog tags at Doggie Olympics. Information passed to South Pacific County Humane Society to do through them.
• Event Chairs meeting is needed. Event chairs will contact Mikel to arrange.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
• Beach To Chowder Run/Walk, 06/21/08. Sherry Hash reported they are on track. Items are still being gathered for raffle. 43 pre-registrations have been received.
• Doggie Olympic Games, 06/21/08. Jill Grey reported the event will happen rain or shine.
• SandSations, 07/25-26/08. Dian Barker-Sayce reported the loss of Sondra Nash as a co-chair since she has left the area. Advertising is in place. T-shirts and sweatshirts are here. All that is left to do are “day of” activities.
• Jake’s Birthday, 08/09/08. Gayle Borchard showed the original artwork by Don Nesbitt. Merry Scharfe is handling clothing. Ragan Andrew is handling press. Wendy Murry is organizing an evening event with live music. T-shirts can be pre-ordered.
• Kite Festival, 08/18-25/08. No report.
• Holidays at the Beach, 11/28-30/08 No report.
• Blue Grass Festival, 03/28-30/08. Most bands are committed for 2009.
• LBMA After Hours. No report.

OTHER REPORTS
• SummerFest, May-August. Ragan Andrew reported events are in full swing.
• City Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Mikel Burns reported we are getting a response from the TV ads.
• Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau. Mikel Burns and Keleigh Schwartz reported on media coverage obtained by Una Boyle and Carol Zahorsky. Ruth Ann Hocking reported on media as a result of Blue Grass connections. Discussion about a strong Memorial Day weekend being an indicator that gas prices rising meaning visitors are choosing us as a destination instead of farther climes.
• Liaison. Steven Linhart reported he will be attending a Dept of Transportation meeting, along with Ilwaco Merchants, regarding signage on the highways. New Swap Meet downtown on Saturdays, 10-4, through September, on the old Red’s site, now known as “Ilwaco Town Square”. Ilwaco Pavillion will be a performance venue this summer. Ocean Park has 438 members. Garlic Festival has 46 paid vendors, down from last year due to vendors not wanting to drive as much. The Garlic Festival will continue. July 4th festival has been discontinued but parade will go on as planned. Flags for July 4th weekend on order; $50 sponsors one mile; goal is for 22 miles of flag placement. Sponsors are responsible for placement at 5:00 am and for cleanup. Flags will say, “Bring me to the parade in Ocean Park”. Gayle passed along information on a man with a tractor who would work with merchants to pull a float.
• National Heritage Area. Gayle Borchard reported that Nan Malin is interim Executive Director; Cyndi Mudge is now running Astoria Sunday Market. Bill passed; National Park Service is now in charge of the study.
• Kite Museum. Kay Buesing reported that attendance is flat. Lots of visitors from faraway places (other states and countries) as opposed to close-by areas. Mostly adults at this time of year. Receiving feedback that people don’t know where they are. Request to tell people “Turn toward the beach at the Go-Karts”. Received full page advertorial in a Bus Tour magazine Also in USA Today, which will feature as a good place to visit for Father’s Day. Bob Milne fundraiser will take place again in November.
• Loyalty Days 2009. Bob Andrew reported that 2009 is being planned, with Abraham Lincoln, Jim Getty, as the guest speaker. Had 122 entries in the 2008 parade, with 10 no-shows, which is par. Thanks to Kimberly Armstrong for radio coverage. Kimberly handed out CDs of the parade coverage (4 hours plus web). Kimberly also announced that she is no longer with the radio but plans to continue her involvement with LBMA as a representative of the South Pacific County Humane Society. Ragan reported on Junior Miss Loyalty’s “Operation Backpack” project, collecting school supplies for needy kids. Will be at Peninsula Church Center August 13-14-15 with clothing available for kids in need.
• Surf Perch Derby. Dale Jacobson reported there was beautiful weather, 90 teams. There were only 9 fish caught; the weather was too nice…

ANNOUNCEMENTS
• LBMA Board Meeting: June 13, 8am, Debi’s Restaurant
• LBMA Regular Meeting: July 11, 8am, Debi’s Restaurant
• Softball. Ragan Andrew passed out the softball schedule.
• Fireworks. Bob Andrew reported there will be an $18,000 show this year. Donations are welcome.
• PACE. Dale reported the demolition bid came in lower than expected and the same seems to be true of the remodel bid. The City of Ilwaco has had to go back and “dot some i’s” in the paperwork for the grants. This has to do with showing the City has enough money to complete the projects for this and the fire hall. Things seem to be moving along fine. PACE is the “Meals on Wheels” provider for Pacific County.

ADJOURNMENT. 8:52 am

—–

Team,

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.  This information is worth reading.  By understanding how the VISA &MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you’ll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from “VISA”, and I was called on Thursday from “Master Card”.

The scam works like this: Person calling says, “This is (name), and I’m calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460.  Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I’m calling to verify.  This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank).  Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona?”  When you say “No”, the caller continues with, “Then we will be issuing a credit to your account.  This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards.  Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?”

You say “yes”.  The caller continues - “I will be starting a Fraud investigation.  If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.

You will need to refer to this Control Number.  The caller then gives you a 6 digit number.  “Do you need me to read it again?”

Here’s the IMPORTANT part on how the s cam works.  The caller then says, “I need to verify you are in possession of your card”.  He’ll ask you to “turn your card over and look for some numbers”.  There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers’ that verify you are the possessor of the card.  These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card.  The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him.  After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he’ll say, “That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not be en lost or stolen, and that you still have your card.  Do you have any other questions?”  After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, “Don’t hesitate to call back if you do”, and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number.  But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question.  Are we glad we did!  The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.

Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account.  VISA is reissuing us a new number.  What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card.  Don’t giv e it to them.  Instead, tell them you’ll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation.  The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card!  If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you’re receiving a credit.  However, by the time you get your statement you’ll see charges for purchases you didn’t make, and by then it’s almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a “Jason Richardson of Master Card” with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam.  This time I didn’t let him finish.  I hung up!  We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA.  The police said they are taking several of these reports daily!  ; They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.

Please pass this on to all your family and friends.  By informing each other, we protect each other.

Jerry Phillips
VP Risk Manager
The Bank of the Pacific
360-642-1088
jphillips@thebankofpacific.com

What ever we can do to assist this cause is good for us all. Please consider.

Steven Linhart, VP

———-

Dear Membership,

The Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking your assistance with the distribution of more than 5,700 small U.S. flags along area roadways.  Each flag will have a note that encourages the finder to bring it to our July Fourth Parade.

We need twenty-five donors who will each help us by sponsoring a mile of flags with a fifty dollar donation. We also need to sign up enough volunteers to place those flags early on the morning of the Fourth.

Please support our efforts and give the Chamber office a call today.  The number is 665-4448.

Thank you in advance,

Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 403, Ocean Park, WA  98640
opchamber@opwa.com

Bob Andrew

Approximately 125 Ilwaco High School junior and seniors are participating in a Youth Employment Training Program in partnership with Grays Harbor College and Creative Solutions.   For the past two weeks, we have been in the classroom teaching students; basic customer service skills; how to complete a job application; and interviewing skills.

As part of this training, you are invited next Monday, May 19 to introduce your business, explain your interview process and give insight in to what you are looking for in an employment applicant. As a business owner or manager, please consider being a part of this wonderful opportunity to educate and inspire our local youth!

To participate, sign up for one or more of the class times listed below, include your contact information and return it by email to instructor Denise Jones, jonesonthecoast@gmail.com by Thursday, May 15. You may also choose to call to sign up or for additional information at 360-244-3925.  We will be contacting business participants to confirm the final schedule and check-in process at Ilwaco High School by Friday.

Our goal in the Youth Employment Training program is to communicate basic employment skills and connect our youth with the local business community to work toward social and economic growth.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration,

Denise Jones                            Teri Dodson
Creative Solutions                    Grays Harbor College

Monday, May 19

8:30-9:25 a.m.

10:30-11:25 a.m.

11:30-12:25 p.m.

1:00-1:55 p.m.

2:00-2:55 p.m.

I would encourage all community advocates to call the number and lodge a complaint about the practices of their delivery people.

Tom Downer

Jack’s Country Store