January Minutes

Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce

Minutes of January 6, 2005 meeting – held at the Mt. Airy Fire Hall

8:00 am Meet & Greet

8:05 – Introductions

Carol Cahal, The Main Event

Danny Dixon, F&M Bank

Kerry Turner, Frederick News-Post

Denny Ahalt, New Windsor State Bank

Laurie Dilks - ZisTech

Archie Rogers, Rogers Engraving & Stamps

Tom Neff, Main Street Computer Consultants

Audrey Stapf, Retired

Carol Blackburn, The Gazette

Karen Skidmore – Completely Fit

Jim Jones – Credit Card Store

Bob Cage – Brahma Tech

Marlene Titus – Carroll Community College

Joyce Picard-Bussee – Entrepreneur’s Source

Valerie Crombacker – F&M Bank

Kevin ONeil – Kevin & Co Remax

Dennis Regulinski - Mid-Atlantic Accounting

Mark Stokes – Carpet Crusaders

Paula Wilhelm – Lorien Mt Airy

Melinda Byrd – Byrdcall studio

DJ Fenton – Stauffer Funeral

Kevin Murphey – Browning Reagle

Tim Slane Sr. – Tim’s Lawn & Landscape

Howard Laroux – Mt Airy Dent Repair

Ken Matthews – Freedom carpet cleaning

Ellie Bonde – Blossom & Basket

Keir Knight – Plain English

Introductions of new members : Tom Neff and Marlene Titus

Minutes – Archie moved to approve, Audrey seconded - passed

Committee Reports

Finance/Treasurer – Denny Ahalt – new copy available. Acct balance is $12347.54. Committee chairs please prepare budgets prior to the planning meeting and give to Denny.

Social/Business Card Exchanges – Paula Wilhelm – Upcoming exchange 1/11 5-8 pm in Firemans activity building.

Stauffer Funeral – February 24 4pm – at Stauffer – if anyone is interested in co-hosting, let Paula know.

Membership Outreach – Audrey Stapf – Sign in. List of all members – pg 5 correction – 301-873-6902 – for Tom Neff

Membership Report – 41 members have not rejoined from last year yet. Please remind anyone on that list that you know.

Government Relations – NEED Chairman – Mike Zimmer is stepping down from last year. If anyone is interested, please let Carol or Tim know.

Carroll Co Chamber – Joyce Picard-Busse – new chamber representative (includes seat on the board). In January – The Voice of Business – Governor Ehrlich has invited businesses to become more involved in legislative practices. Exchange 1/18. Breakfast 1/25. Info will be passed around.

Ambassadors – Ellie Bonde – Need more packets! Please provide 2 pieces of printed literature about your organization for distribution to new members. Please provide 50 pieces to Ellie within the next 2 weeks – drop off at Ellie’s shop- Blossom & Basket on Main St. If anyone would like to volunteer for the Ambassadors committee, please let Ellie know.

Advertising & Marketing – Keir Knight – Meeting 1/12 8:00 am in Firehall. Planning meeting 1/26 we will present budget for advertising in 2005.

Article today in Caroll Co Times – phone book

Yesterday’s Carroll Co Times – article on water

Gazette – Business briefs – phone book is on the way

12/16 – Main St Christmas mentioned website – Gazette

also had advertisement for Holidays

Messenger – ad

12/2 – advertising funded for Main St Christmas – Gazette

12/15 – bell ringers in Messenger – website

11/26 – front page EDC – website mentioned in Carroll Co Times

Articles will be posted at business card exchange

Old Business

Business Fair – Archie Rogers – Archie distributed an information sheet. Tables - $100 members, non-members $200. Two small businesses can share a table. Check and contract will provide premium positioning for tables, first come first serve basis.

Looking for sponsorships – gold, platinum, and silver – chamber members only. Contracts will be available at the 1/11 business card exchange. Last year, there were 37 businesses, and it was very well received.

Need to finalize door prizes and hours. Hours suggested – 10-4 – need to check on availability of hall.

Current committee is Archie Rogers, Keir Knight, Joyce Picard-Busse and Carol Cahall – please volunteer for this committee if you have time.

Outside vehicles – will have more than one space if needed at no extra charge.

Business Directory – Keir Knight

If you have not yet taken an ad, please fill out an application, and see Keir. Keir has business cards to let people know about the project. Please take a few and distribute. Volunteers are needed to make phone calls – 12 per page. 144 calls need to be made to offer the phone book. If you have time to make the calls, Keir is looking for volunteers. Thank you to those who have been making calls already.

So far, doing well. Prices are guaranteed through 1/15. Final deadline is 2/25. Keir’s goal that every business in Mt Airy will be contacted at least once prior to deadline. If you know anyone who owns a business that hasn’t been contacted, please tell them about it. Proceeds will be split between Chamber and Kiwanis. 8 of the 12 new members that the chamber has received has been a direct result of the phone book project.

BNI Visitors day – 1/13 – Kevin has offered to send phone book cards along with the invitations to this event.

2005 Planning Meeting – Paula Wilhelm – Lorien 1/26 1-4pm RSVP to Paula by 1/19. All are invited. Free lunch provided. There is an agenda, but it will also be for brainstorming.

New Business

Calendar Reminders - Carol Cahall

1/11 Business Card Exchange

1/26 planning meeting

1/31 exec committee meeting – open meeting, all may come.

2/3 8am next business meeting

2/24 business card exchange 4pm – Stauffer funeral home

4/16 business fair at Fireman’s activity center.

Other new business- Keir – newspaper ads will start running in Gazette and Messenger regarding the phone book.

8:55am meeting ended.