Albion Chamber of Commerce

Board Meeting Minutes

April 8, 2019

Members Present:  Chris Magnuson (P), Carla Fiandt (VP), Sandy Petrie (S), Sharon Leitch (T),

Ken Cripe, Miranda Wilkins, Tammy Luce, Tony Feichter

Absent: None

Meeting was called to order at Albion Pizza Depot by Chris at 12:05pm

Minutes:  Carla made a motion to approve the 3/11/19 board minutes, and the treasurer’s report (details below) Ken seconded, minutes and treasurer’s report approved. 

Treasurer’s Report: submitted by Sharon. 

Beginning balance - $12,542.77

Income - $720

$720 - Dues

Expenses - $734.79

$131.49- Chris Magnuson (sign and letters for the corner signs)

$250 - Chain O’ Lakes Festival donation

$24.10 – Postage for Chamber directories

$100 - KiPS donation

$12.95- Yahoo April Internet

$25 - Gabe Norris (singing at Annual Meeting in January)

$191.25 - Town of Albion (Christmas lights - additional 200 ft.)

Ending balance - $12,527.98

Old Business: 

Christmas in the Village wrap up:  Tammy shared that the committee had met and discussed the best options for Santa at the Christmas in the Village.  They are extremely appreciative of Pizza Depot’s generosity in hosting for past several years but have had interest from other downtown businesses and organizations.  They have decided to rotate where Santa meets the kids for the next three years with Santa being at Doc’s Hardware in 2019, at Grace Christian Church for 2020, and back at Albion Pizza Depot for 2021.  It is wonderful that our community wants to support this event.  Letters will be going to all three places this week to express our gratitude and the committee’s decision.

Town-Wide garage sales:  This is going great with Tony at the helm and it has helped that his email address was publicized allowing residents to contact him.  We currently have 36 entries with today being the deadline.  He will wait just a day or two more before turning everything into the Albion New Era for printing the maps etc.  The yard signs and maps should be ready for residents to pick up at Baseline 4x4 (320 S. Orange St.) approximately one week before the May 2nd kick-off.  Sandy is going to work on the application to create one that can be edited and updated for future years.  Our current one is not in an editable format.

Chamber Directory:  All but two boxes have been delivered to member businesses.  Tony and Ken will deliver the final two boxes hopefully this week.  Thank you to ALL who helped with this project and Sharon for spending a ton of time organizing them into boxes for easy delivery.

Stars and Stripes Flag Program:  Ken already has 12 applications and today was the launch day for the 2019 program.  We have 88 flags flying and it would be wonderful if we could get 50 of those sponsored!  An email blast with the sponsorship form will be coming out very soon.  Please consider sponsoring one or more flags at $50 each.

Goodwill Truck:  All is set for the May 11th Goodwill Truck which will be in the parking lot next to the Noble County EDC and across from the Post Office.  Chamber board members will be there to help unload your donations.  Town clean-up is also that day for trash and things that should not be donated.

New Business:

Camping Guide:  The camping guide has been completed and Chris passed around the information that the Chamber has in it.

Flower Pots:  Inserts are at Fashion Farm Countryscapes and should be delivered before Memorial Day.  Chris and Tiffany will be fertilizing and trimming them every Monday and there are five other watering teams this year.  Thank you to Lori Gagen and her husband Dan for joining the watering club.

High Impact Meeting:  Sandy hopes to invite 12-15 small business Chamber members to a community conversation that will give us insight into what we truly want our community to look like with the intent of giving that information to key entities that take action.  We will be selecting a date and facilitator soon and getting invitations out.  Please let Sandy or the board know if you definitely want one of those invitations.  The 12-15 number is the recommended number by the Harwood Institute for a successful community conversation.

Announcements:

Town Wide garage sales:  May 2-4

Goodwill Truck: May 11

Town clean-up: May 11

Adjournment:

Meeting adjourned at 12:58 pm.