Portland Area Chamber of Commerce
Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Directors
Wednesday, March 16, 2005 at 8:00 am
Amy's Place, Portland, MI
Board Members Present: Julie Travis, Tina Miller, George Rutherford, Matt Robertson, Margery Briggs, Julie Diorio, Colleen Baricklow
Chamber Members Present: Wanda Urie, Terry Frewen, Carolyn Gladding, Tom Dempsey
Quorum present, meeting called to order at 8:05am
Approval of Agenda: Amended to make correction of date, suppose to be March and to delete new officer election, George R. moved to approve, Kathy seconded, Agenda Approved
Approval of Minutes: from Feb 16, 2005 meeting, corrections were, delete Julie Diorio as board member being present at Feb meeting and to note motions being passed, George moved to approve, Kathy seconded, Minutes Approved.
Treasurer's Report:
- Budget allowed $1,500 for a office computer , $812 was spent, thanks to George R.
- Dues are still coming in at a good rate
- Annual Dinner was down from last year, 36 in attendance
- We Received a $500 donation from ICNB towards the Easter Egg Hunt, currently scheduled for March 26th , still need egg stuffing volunteers for Wed, March 23rd , 6:30pm at the Wagon Wheel
- Treasurer was asked to show the fireworks reserve on the future budget.
Kathy moved to accept, Tina seconded, Treasurer's Report Accepted
Committee Reports:
Communication & Promotion
- Still getting items in for Welcome Wagon
- A welcome wagon postcard will be handed out with each new utility customer
- Chamber Website is up & running, check it out for the weather, city demographics, church locater, etc.
- PortlandRiverfest.com is back running after difficulties out of our control
- Riverfest meetings are 1st Wed of each month, next one is April 6, 11:30 at Wagon Wheel
- LCN is looking for more advertisement in the Chamber Guide Book, Distribution is suppose to be by May 1, 2005, Contact Tammi Beson with LCN for any questions
Membership
- Continue to receive dues
- Feb we collected from 18 and 4 so far in March
Organization & Finance
- The $100 under ornaments on this budget was for ads placed to sell them
- Board agreed on purchasing the quantity of a 150 bulbs, same as last year. We still have 80 left from last year. This year the bulb will be the historical St Pats Building, consisting of green and white colors
Ambassadors:
- Margery is waiting on some good weather for Two River's Counseling Grand Opening.
City News:
- Planning Commission making progress with the Keusch & Cook Development
- Site plans for Senior Housing and Beaners Coffee are soon to be announced
- The city is still discussing a franchise agreement with the Danby Township
- April 23rd Portland High School has scheduled a Sports Carnival, Tom Dempsey has volunteered to take aerial pictures of downtown Portland to be available for use in promoting Portland
Programs & Activities
Kathy Parsons has begun to sell sponsorship for movies for the Riverfest, any ideas or would like to sponsor a movie, contact Kathy
New Business
Wanda talked about PAMAC, an independent committee formed to head a marketing plan to promote Portland. Asking for endorsement from the Chamber. The board decided we did not have enough info to make an endorsement, No motion made to endorse.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:45am
Next meeting scheduled for April 20, 2005 at 8:00am at Amy's Place
Submitted by
Tina Miller
Chamber Secretary