OCTOBER 2004 MINUTES

Minutes of October 7, 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:

Tim Barkley, Barkley Law Office

Denny Ahalt, NWSB

Jackie Bingham, Patches Quilting & Sewing

Peter Helt, Town of Mt. Airy

Kathy Menasche, Carroll Community College

Kerry Turner, Frederick News Post

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

Bob Cage, Brahma Technologies, Inc.

Melinda Byrd, Byrdcall Studio

Paul Clay, Long & Foster

Ellie Bonde, Blossom & Basket Boutique

Reed Melis, Paar, Melis & Assoc. (visitor)

Jody Boone, Professional Counselor

Donnis Klein, Weekenders

Kaye Kolb, Rohrbaugh’s

Steve Edmondson, Catonsville Homes

Archie Rogers, Rogers Engraving

Paula Wilhelm, Lorien Mt. Airy Assisted Living

Carol B. Cahall, The Main Event, LLC

Joyce Picard-Busse, The Entrepreneur’s Source

Mike Zimmer, Attorney

Keir Knight, Plain English Writing & Design

Minutes from September are posted on the web site and were accepted as posted.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Finance / Treasurer Report: Copies of the Financial Report for the Third Quarter, 2004 are on the table, with a balance of $7,141.56. Denny Ahalt reported that the balance as of 10/7/2004 is $6,891.56.

Social: Donnis Klein is no longer able to chair this committee. Paula Wilhelm will be the new Social Committee Chair.

Catonsville Homes sponsored a successful business card exchange at the Nottingham neighborhood on Monday, September 13^th, which was well attended. The venue was lovely, the food delicious, and there were several great door prizes.

• Pane e Vino Business Card Exchange – Monday, October 11^th from 4-7pm.

• Membership Drive at Century Ford – Tuesday, November 16th.

• Stauffer Funeral Home – Thursday, February 24, 2005

We are looking for hosts for 2005. Please let Paula know if you are interested in hosting a Business Card Exchange.

Keir Knight requested that volunteers make calls to members they have not yet met for the upcoming functions to encourage more participation.

Membership: (Report submitted by Audrey Stapf.)

We welcomed 3 new businesses in September: Arbonne International (Robin Cooney), Forty West Builders (Ryan Houck), and Super Fresh (Don Kleinosky), bringing our total to 123.

The membership is reminded of the upcoming Membership Drive at Century Ford on Tuesday, November 16 from 4-7pm.

Renewing members and new members signing up that night will receive a $10 discount on dues (from $75 to $65). Be sure to invite non-member businesses to attend and join!

Nominating Committee: (Report submitted by Audrey Stapf.)

The Nominating Committee wishes to present the following slate for the Greater Mt. Airy Chamber of Commerce Officers for 2005:

President: Tim Barkley, Barkley Law Office

1^st Vice President: Carol Cahall, The Main Event

2^nd Vice President: Archie Rogers, Rogers Engraving + Stamps + Plus

Recording Secretary: Kerry Turner, The Frederick Post

Corresponding Secretary: Joyce Picard-Busse, The Entrepreneur’s Source

Treasurer: Dennis Ahalt, New Windsor State Bank

Government Relations: Michael Zimmer

• Thursday, October 21 at 12:00 p.m. Maryland Sec of Transportation Robert Flanagan will be the featured speaker at the Mt. Airy Fire Company Activities Building for a lunch meeting. Cost is $15, make check payable to the Mt. Airy Chamber of Commerce. RSVP to Michael Zimmer (410) 552-0685.

Carroll County Chamber Report: Carol Cahall

• The Golf Tournament last Friday was a great success.

• The Carroll County Chamber is celebrating its 80^th anniversary with a luncheon at the Wakefield Country Club on October 14. See the newsletter for details.

• The CCCC Networking Breakfast is scheduled for Tuesday, October 26 at the Best Western in Westminster.

• The Annual Gala Dinner Dance is scheduled for January 22 at Wilhelm’s in Westminster.

• Anyone wanting to purchase labels for the Carroll County Chamber membership for a mailing should check the newsletter for details.

Ambassadors: Ellie Bonde & Kerry Turner

Reminded members of the welcome packets she distributes to new members.

Ellie also mentioned the upcoming winter festival sponsored by the Downtown Business Association, "A Main Street Christmas". It will be on Saturday, December 4 from 3-8pm. The Tree Lighting Ceremony is scheduled for 5pm, and the Parade will begin at 5:30 at the Calvary UM Church, following Main St. to the old F&M Bank Building. This festival will be different from the other festivals in town, with the intent to be a gift to the Community. Donations are requested to offset the expenses involved. Please contact any DBA business if interested in participating.

Advertising/Marketing: Keir Knight

We advertised in the Gazette with a special congratulations to the Jaycees as they celebrate their 30^th anniversary, at a cost of $180. Denny Ahalt moved that we approve this expenditure, Ellie Bonde seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote.

We also placed an ad in the Mt. Airy Elementary School Dinner & Auction Program. Bob Cage moved that we approve this expenditure, Melinda Byrd seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote.

All members are urged to check their Profiles on the Mt. Airy Chamber website, and to provide Keir with current information regarding their business. There have been 250 – 350 visits per month to the website.

Be sure to invite both members and non-members to the Membership Drive in November!

OLD BUSINESS

Electricity Deregulation: Tim Barkley

The meeting for bids has been changed to October 18. Watch your email for time and place.

Administrative Assistant: Tim Barkley

We have a need for either a volunteer or paid person to be an Administrative Assistant to be a point of contact for Chamber functions and to provide "institutional continuity". (At this point, Archie Rogers has volunteered to be the contact person for the Spring 2005 Business Fair.) The time commitment for this position will vary from a couple of hours per week to 10-20 hours per week in the weeks just prior to the Business Fair. If interested, please contact Tim Barkley.

Business Directory: Keir Knight

Keir has determined the approximate cost for producing the Business Directory. Carol Cahall and Tim Barkley are working out the cost for the individual ads. Our goal is to have all the Chamber Members on board immediately, and ultimately to have all the area businesses listed. Becoming involved will help your business! We anticipate all the necessary paperwork for the Business Directory ads to be available for the November Membership Drive. The Kiwanis is working on the content for residents, service organizations, churches, etc. A LLC is being set up that will protect both the Chamber and the Kiwanis. This much needed community directory will be distributed to every mailbox in the entire 21771 zip code.

NEW BUSINESS

2005 Planning Meeting: Tim Barkley

Members are encouraged to attend the planning meeting for 2005 Chamber activities. The location will again be at Lorien Assisted Living. Date and time to be announced. Please come with new ideas and topics, etc.

Marketing Committee: Tim Barkley / Keir Knight

Keir has done the lion’s share of the work in producing the tri-fold membership brochures, which have been very effective in soliciting new members. The Chamber does not have a table display or general brochure. There was discussion regarding the joint effort between the Economic Development Commission and the Downtown Business Association to produce a brochure, and whether or not it would be advisable to ask to join in this venture, so as to lend greater credibility to the effort. Further discussion ensued regarding the need for a brochure (to give to new residents, new businesses, etc.) There is no longer an Information Center in town as a distribution point for such materials. It was decided to table the idea until 2005.

Join Frederick Chamber: Tim Barkley

The Frederick Chamber of Commerce has invited the smaller Chambers to join them at a reduced rate ($350/yr.), allowing for two voting members. Tim Barkley proposed joining in 2005. Ellie Bonde made the motion to do so, and Kerry Turner seconded the motion. Joyce Picard-Busse, Archie Rogers and Kerry Turner are all members of the Frederick Chamber already, and others are invited to participate as representatives of the Mt. Airy Chamber. Joyce indicated that speaking opportunities are also available. The motion passed. Joyce will get the application to Denny Ahalt for payment.

Calendar Reminders: Tim Barkley

Please note the following upcoming events:

October 11 at 4:00 pm Business Card Exchange at Pane e Vino

October 18 Electric Power Bid Opening (Time and Location TBA – watch your email)

October 21 at Noon Bob Flanagan Lunch at the Firemen’s Activity Center, $15 per plate

November 1 at 1:00pm Executive Committee at Tim Barkley’s office – Committee Chairs encouraged to come!

November 4 at 8:00am Business Meeting at Fire Hall

November 16 at 4:00pm Membership Drive at Century Ford

April 16, 2005 Business Fair at Firemen’s Activity Center

Business Fair:

It is time to begin planning for the 2005 Business Fair. Current committee members are Keir Knight, Carol Cahall, Archie Rogers and Joyce Piccard-Busse. More volunteers are needed. Please talk to any of the above to get involved!

Membership Drive:

Keir Knight moved and Mike Zimmer seconded the motion to set the 2005 Chamber dues at $75, and to offer a $10 discount for new and renewing members on the night of the Membership Drive, November 16, 2004. The motion was passed.

Leave of Absence:

Billie Wilkinson is on one month of bedrest due to illness. The Chamber will send a basket or flowers.

Door Prizes:

More door prizes are needed for the Pane e Vino Business Card Exchange.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:07am.