JUNE 2004 MINUTES

June Meeting Minutes
(Word Doc)

Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce

Minutes of June 3 2004 meeting – held at the Mt. Airy Fire Hall

President Tim Barkley called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.

Introductions followed with the following in attendance:

Audrey Stapf, Stapf Crafters

Mike Zimmer, Attorney

Ken Matthews, Freedom Carpet Cleaning, Inc.

Timothy M. Slane, Sr., Tim’s Lawn & Landscape

Howard LeRoux, Mt. Airy Dent Repair & Touch Up

James D Jones, NetPay2K

Denny Ahalt, NWSB

DJ Fenton, Stauffer Funeral Homes

Amy Lubick, Mount Airy Main St Assoc

Carol Blackburn, The Gazette

Bob Cage, Brahma Technologies, Inc.

Ray Miller, New Horizon Van Lines

Ellie Bonde, Blossom & Basket Boutique

Joyce Picard-Busse, The Entrepreneur’s Source

Jackie Bingham, Patches Quilting

Keir Knight, Plain English Writing & Design

Archie Rogers, Rogers Engraving

Andrea and Andrew Williamson, Chiropractic First

Melinda Byrd, Byrdcall Studio

Jeff Pearsall, Waiter at the Door, LLC

Tim Barkley, Barkley Law Office

Carol Cahall, The Main Event

Kerry Turner, Frederick News Post

Cassandra Lidin-Lamon, Acupuncturist

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Treasurer’s Report: Denny Ahalt

Balance stands at $6,855.81

Social: Andrea Williamson, Donnis Klein

The Business Card Exchange at Lorien went very well.

Catonsville Homes will be sponsoring an event at the Nottingham neighborhood in September. Pane n Vino in October, and the Membership Drive will be held at Century Ford in November. Specific dates to follow.

Membership: Audrey Stapf

Has added a third leaf to the display board holding membership business cards. This is a great achievement. All leftover business cards from events are kept for future events – some go the Ambassador’s welcome packets. Reminder to keep handing out Chamber membership brochures/applications.

Government Relations: Michael Zimmer

Is planning an event in October with Maryland Sec of Transportation Robert Flanagan. It will likely be a similar lunchtime event to the Bartlett visit earlier this year.

Carroll County Chamber Report: Carol Cahall

Leadership Carroll is taking applications for 2005. It is one day a month spent learning about business/community/government. Denny Ahalt is going through this year. Information is on the Carroll Co Chamber website.

The Carroll Co High School scholarship fund – with money coming from a gala – has $800 scholarships going to each county high school.

The next electricity co-op meeting will be held on June 30^th at the Senior Center.

There will be a golf tournament at Wakefield Valley in October.

Ambassadors: Ellie Bonde

Is anticipating many new members coming in because of the electricity co-op – would like one or two pieces of promotional materials from each member for the welcome packets, 30 of each please. Tri-folds and business cards work best – please no books.

Items can be dropped off at the Blossom and Basket Boutique over the next two weeks.

Advertising/Marketing: Keir Knight

Ads have been placed in the Lion’s Carnival booklet and the Volunteer Fire Co Carnival booklet.

A reminder to all members to send in profiles for the website. A new membership brochure is on the way.

OLD BUSINESS

Electricity Deregulation: Tim Barkley reminded the membership that there is a December 31^st deadline for joining the Carroll Co Chamber, the Taneytown Chamber or the Greater Mt Airy Chamber purchasing co-op.

The upcoming June 30^th meeting will have details on, for example, the goal of controlling 10 megawatts of power (right now, stands at around 7MW). Remember that the electricity companies will not deal with small businesses directly.

Residential rates will be subject to the new rules in 2006.

The Gazette will be running an article on the situation in next week’s issue.

Both Bonnie Grady and the co-op consultant will be at the June 30^th meeting.

Business Directory: The Chamber and Kiwanis club are continuing discussions to set up a joint venture to produce a Mt Airy phone directory. The book would contain both residential and commercial listings. This is an ongoing project – please contact Keir Knight or Paul Clay if you have any input.

NEW BUSINESS

Mount Airy Main Street Assoc (MAMSA): Amy Lubick thanked the Chamber for its support and updated the membership on the Main Street community designation. MAMSA is looking for volunteers to help revitalize the downtown area. The Town is now looking to hire a manager to help with this project.

A seminar will be held on June 30^th :

Breakfast Seminar

"Every Business Can Be A Destination: How to Achieve Excellence."

Tuesday June 29th, 8-10am

Mt. Airy Fire Hall, Watersville Rd

The program will last from 8 - 10 am and a continental breakfast will be

provided. You must register for this free event by contacting Amy Lubick at

301-829-0072 or at revitalizemtairy@aol.com.

THERE WILL BE NO AUGUST MEETING

Stay tuned for plans to hold Happy Hour get-together events over the summer.

Audrey Stapf reminded those without e-mail that she will send or fax copies of the Chamber newsletter.

Please support the upcoming Lions carnival.

Calvary United Methodist Church will be holding an auction and dinner – please see the local papers for details.

Motion to adjourn from Denny Ahalt, seconded by Bob Cage.