Chamber Meeting 12/1/05

In attendance:

Tim Barkley – Barkley Law

Carol Cahall – The Main Event

Archie Rogers – Rogers

Engraving

Marlene Titus – Carroll Community College

Audrey Stapf

Aaron Kahn – Eclipse Security

Ellie Bonde – Secret Stork , Blossom & Basket

Wilma Brown – Longaberger

Kerry Turner – Frederick News-Post

Ben Gue – Ben Gue Gifts & Collectibles

Ray Miller – Remax

Paula Wilhelm – Lorien

Paul Clay – Long & Foster

Carol Blackburn – Gazette

Bob Cage – Brahma Technologies

Keir Knight – Plain English Writing & Design

Denny Ahalt – NWSB

Tom Neff – Main Street Computer

Jim Jones – The Credit Card Store

Harry Johnson – Aflac

Jackie Bingham – Patches Quilting

Howard LaRoux – Mt Airy Dent Repair

Ken Matthews – Freedom Carpet Cleaning

Tim Slane Sr. – Tim’s Lawn & Landscape

Kaye Kolb – Rohrbaugh’s Charter Service

Joyce Picard-Busse – Entrepreneur’s Source

Steve Rose – Torn To Shredz

Frank Johnson – Carroll County

Gail Slane – Forever Flowers

Sam Smith – Advanced Pest Solutions

Gary Crutchrield – Lawn Aid

DJ Fenton – Stauffer Funeral Home

Terry Smith – Coldwell Banker

Darwin Rosenfeld – Rosenfeld Associates

Pam Harris – CPA

Danielle Bradley – Mt Airy Dent

Sandy Shumate – Bezalel Designs

Dennis Emerson – Erie Insurance

Karen Pelton – Pelton Marketing Services

Brendan Madden – All Around Plbg

Amy Dusza – Amy’s Attic

Meeting began: 8:10am

Minutes stand as posted.

Treasurer Report

Balance as of today is $18581.30

Finance Committee is meeting Monday to audit the books. The Chamber’s account will be transferred on Jan 2^nd to New Windsor State Bank.

Business Card Exchanges

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored, hosted, and been a co-sponsor in 2005. If you are interested in hosting or sponsoring a business card exchange in 2006, please see Ray Miller.

Membership

138 members so far for 2006

3 associate members – Mount Airy Library, State Police, and State Police.

16 new members: Advanced Pest Solutions, Amerappraise Real Estate Appraisers, Amerifunds Captial Resource Group, Amy’s Attic, Beat the Heat Tanning, BNI MT Airy Thursday Group, Century Ford/Francis Przybylek, Christy Bisker Interiors, Firehouse Pottery Co, JoinMyLIst.com, Mast Construction, Purfect Paws, Rosenfeld Assoc, Westwind Intnl, Lawrence Wroten

Government Relations

Frank will work on putting together a debate for Town Council candidates running in the election next year. Frank and Ray Miller will work on putting this together.

Carroll County Chamber

Carroll County power networking lunch is on Dec 8^th. If you are interested, Joyce has e-mailed registration forms. Connections after hours – Tues Dec 6^th (free to Mt Airy Chamber members!)

SCBA – if you are interested in joining the SCBA, there is a luncheon on Dec 16^th.

Ambassadors

New member packets are available – if you are a new member and have not received one, please contact Ellie at the Secret Stork. The next new member orientation meeting will be following the February regular business meeting.

Professional Development

Business Uses of Power Point – Feb 7^th 6:30 pm. Sponsorships are still available for the workshops that the Chamber is putting on. If you are interested, contact Marlene Titus. You would be responsible to bring refreshments for the seminar, and in return, your sponsorship is listed in the Carroll Community College class brochure.

Advertising & Marketing

Newsletter – you should be receiving it via e-mail. The Chamber needs someone to work on the newsletter for 2006 – Terry Smith volunteered.

Gala Update

The Gala will be held on January 14^th, 2006 7-11pm at the American Legion. The due date to RSVP is today. So far, we have 54 people coming. Phone calls will be made to those who have not responded. Sponsors for the event:

Bronze: Rogers Engraving + Stamps + Plus

Richard & Marlene Titus

Main Street Computer Consultants

Silver: Raymond Law Center, P.C.

Gold: The Gazette Newspapers

Tim Barkley Law Office

Tax Exempt Status

Confirmation has been received that the Chamber has been granted 501 (c)(6) status by the IRS.

Business Fair

There are 25 people in the activities building so far, and 5 people outside in the parking lot. There will also be a tent for people to set up in directly outside the front door of the activities building. There are 5 spaces available inside the building and approx 25 in the tent. Archie Rogers is the contact if you are interested in reserving a space. He is on a big door prize – possibly a big grill.

Introduction of 2006 Officers

Officers:

President – Carol Cahall

1^st VP – Tom Neff

2^nd VP – Aaron Kahn

Recording Secretary – Kerry Turner

Corresponding Secretary – Susan Howes

Treasurer – Denny Ahalt

Membership Secretary – Audrey Stapf

President’s Message

Tim Barkley spoke about how much things have changed over the last 2 years, and wanted to publicly thank some members.

Tim thanked Paul Clay and Keir Knight for their tremendous work on the phone book this year. Thank you to Archie, Howard and Ken for their work on the Business Fair. Paula, thank you for your work on the business card exchanges, and the Gala. Ellie has worked hard on new member orientations and new member packets, Thank you to the Finance committee for auditing the chamber. By-Law committee of Tim, Audrey, and Carol Blackburn – thank you for your hard work. Administrative assistant – that will be coming next year, and Tim has started getting phone calls from interested people. Thank you to Marlene for working on the Professional Development series. The Chamber has been established as an active organization and member of the community. Tim, Carol Cahall, and Michael Zimmer met with the Governor. Michael has been key in helping bring political officials to the Chamber. Joyce and Carol have done a lot of work to bring the Carroll County Chamber and the Mt Airy Chamber together in a partnership. Keir has been a right-hand man to Tim for the past 2 years. Audrey has been serving for the Chamber for many years, and her time spent on the Chamber is amazing.

Member Emeritus

In the by-laws, the status of Member Emeritus was created. This status was created for someone who has been an active member serving the Chamber. Tim moves that Audrey Stapf be granted Member Emeritus. Unanimous second. Motion passes, unanimous.

Dates to remember – at the bottom of the agenda.

New business - The banners are up around town.

Ellie is looking for volunteers to help decorate this evening.

Scoreboard update – it will be installed over the Christmas holiday. One side it will say "provided by the Greater Mt Airy Chamber of Commerce’. Denny is recommending a dedication ceremony a few weeks after it is put in.

Longaberger Open House is on Sunday. If you are interested, contact Wilma Brown.

Meeting adjourned: 9:10am