Minutes from the NOACC Semi-Annual Board of Trustees Meeting

Minutes from the NOACC Semi-Annual Board of Trustees Meeting

April 26, 2007

Dave & Buster’s

Westlake, Ohio

NOACC Chairperson and Garfield Heights Chamber Executive Director Mary Stamler called the meeting to order at 4:20 p.m.

M. Stamler welcomed attendees and thanked Dave & Buster’s, Kathy Berkshire (Lakewood) for arranging, and Clairmonte Cappelle and University Hospitals CompCare for sponsoring the meeting.

M. Stamler introduced the NOACC officers. Kathy Berkshire, Vice Chairperson, Dayle Noll, Treasurer; Pat Krizansky, Secretary

MINUTES of October 26, 2006: There were no additions or corrections.

TREASURER’S REPORT for April 2007 was presented. There were no comments or questions, and the Treasurer’s Report was filed for audit.

(Note: A copy of the Minutes of October 26, 2006 and the Treasurer’s Report for April 2007 were included in a packet distributed to the NOACC Chamber Board of Directors)

NEW BUSINESS: Mary Stamler presented five chambers as new member candidates: Antwerp, Garrettsville, Hinckley, Richfield, and Seville Area. A motion was made by Jo-Ell Jacobson (North Ridgeville) to accept these chambers as members of NOACC. Kathy Berkshire (Lakewood) seconded, and there was unanimous approval.

M. Stamler announced that a new Membership Agreement will be sent out to all chambers with NOACC renewal invoices. The Agreement is part of the NOACC branding effort to improve the partnership between the chambers and the vendors of NOACC, and to make NOACC more valuable for everyone.

M. Stamler introduced the NOACC vendors in attendance. In the interest of time, committee reports were waived-except for a quick update from the Benefits Task Force.

BENEFITS TASK FORCE UPDATE: Benefits Task Force Chair Bill Ryan was joined on stage by Laura Ostrander (Anthem) representing NOACC vendors, Kate Kelly (Master Consulting Group), who represented agents, M.J. Neal (former chamber of commerce executive) who represented chambers, and Jo-Ell Jacobson (North Ridgeville) who represented chamber members. They illustrated how “we’re bigger and better together.”

B. Ryan announced the Certified Agent Program. He reported that it will involve a small investment of time and money, there will be advantages and perks for agents, and it will mean more members and revenue for chambers. B. Ryan introduced NOACC Executive Director Vicky Hawke.

V. Hawke introduced NOACC’s Executive Assistant Margie Hurguy and presented Margie with flowers for National Administrative Professionals’ Week and thanks in recognition of her efforts.

NOACC UPDATE: V. Hawke called attention to the new Benefits Matrix dated April 2007. It was distributed in the packet all board attendees received and is available on the NOACC website. NOACC is a 2007 Corporate Club at Landerhaven sponsor and chambers are encouraged to attend with key contacts, such as school superintendents, chamber presidents, etc. They should contact the NOACC office to make arrangements.

NOACC is sponsoring a new event, eMarketing for Entrepreneurs, to be held at Corporate College East on May 4, where V. Hawke will conduct a breakout session: “eMarketing with the Chambers.” A copy of the NOACC Join Your Local Chamber “Consierge” ad that ran in Crain’s Cleveland Business recently are in the board packet, and downloadable from the NOACC Website. There will be an advertorial in the Inside Business NEO Grow section in July. NOACC is working on summer programs with the Cleveland Indians, Cedar Point and GeaugaLake, and a networking party at the 2007 Grand Prix of Cleveland, a new event for NOACC in June.

Pete Kever (GHI Internet Services) is working on an SEO (search engine optimization) program for the NOACC website. V. Hawke thanked Steve Petti of New Image Media for videotaping the meeting—which will be available on the NOACC website soon. She reminded the audience about a Lunch and Learn session to be conducted by Heartland Payment Systems on May 11 at Freedom Square II. V. Hawke introduced Kathy Berkshire to present the speaker.

PROGRAM: K. Berkshire reminded attendees to deposit business cards for a door prize drawing. She introduced the keynote speaker, Kordell Norton, who presented: “Light a fire beneath your business (or your chamber). Change status quo to status GROW!”

SPONSOR: M. Stamler thanked the speaker and introduced Clairmonte Cappelle of University Hospitals CompCare, the meeting sponsor, who briefly addressed the attendees.

CHAMBER CHALLENGE AWARDS PRESENTATION: In the absence of Lute Harmon, Inside Business Magazine, M. Stamler also thanked Laura Ostrander and Anthem for putting the Challenge together. Dayle Noll announced the following chambers, which received Honorable Mention: Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Bryan, Cuyahoga Valley, Garfield Heights, Heights-Hillcrest Regional, Hudson, Huron, Lakewood, Middlefield, Warrensville Heights Area Tri-City, and Wadsworth Area. D. Noll announced that Tuscarawas County and Kent Area Chambers of Commerce will each receive a $1,000 grant as winners of the Challenge. Representatives came to the podium to be recognized, and photos were taken. Official presentations will take place in each city to include mayors, city council, and commissioners, wherever applicable. The chambers will also be highlighted in a future issue of Inside Business Magazine.

Business cards were drawn and door prizes awarded. M. Stamler announced the next semi-annual board of trustees meeting is scheduled on October 25, 2007. She encouraged everyone to continue networking and to enjoy the refreshments provided by Dave and Buster’s. The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.

PRESENT

Chambers: Lenny Morella (Akron Boards of Trade Council, Fairlawn), Mike Gorman (Brecksville), Jeri Vespoli (Broadview Hts.), Julie Zabkar (Brunswick), Jim Prout (Burton, Chardon, Chesterland, Middlefield ), Jessica Forsythe (Euclid), John Sobelewski (Fairview Park, North Coast Regional, North Olmsted and West Shore), Mary Stamler (Garfield Heights), Angie Pohlman (Heights Regional), Sheila Ehrhardt (Huron), Dan Smith (Kent Area), Kathy Berkshire (Lakewood), Debra Lynn-Schmidt (Medina Area), Doris Wroble (Middleburg Hts.), Dayle Noll (North Ridgeville), Karen Sperli, (Olmsted), Pat Krizansky (Rocky River), Nancy Traum (Solon), Jill Becker (Tuscarawas County),Linda Garrett, (Valley City) Beth Workman (Wadsworth), Steve Petti (Warrensville Hts Area)(29)

Vendors: Laura Ostrander and Nancy Kuzenko (Anthem), Brian Boose (Anthem Life), Lou Weinstock and Paula Gorman (Comprehensive Risk Management), Pete Kever (GHI Internet Services), Paul Guay and Troy Carmen (Heartland Payment Systems), Rob Searson (RKS and Associates), Clairmonte Cappelle and Jamie Field (University Hospitals CompCare) and Steve Musgrave (Wellness Council)

Brokers/Other: MJ Neal (former NOACC Chairperson/Hudson/Lakewood Chambers), Bill Russo (Concord Financial Group), Bill and Vicki Ryan, Kate Kelly, Allison Lehr and Don Knepper (Master Consulting Group), Jeff Russell (GBA Solutions) Sue Sawyers (Inside Business Magazine) CJ Durchinsky and Jerry Elliott, (Prout & Asso) Mike Abfall, Lisa Antic, Nan Baker, Mariann Bjelica, Mark Boepple, Sean Brennan, David Carlson, Jerry Cline, Katie Cooke, Jamie Debenham, Karen Duffy, Mark Fabec, Rich Fedorko, Ray Frank, Bill Garner, David Graves, Greg Gummere, Lynn Hermensky,Joy HillmanJo-Ell Jacobson, Jeff Kanter, Craig Kearns, Will Kelly, Phil Kish, Erin McNamara, Dr. Julie Merriman, Dr. Carol Novak, Harold Rogoff, Rich Rozman, Bob Schordock, Raymond Seamon, Paul Slebodnik, Ken Traum, Terry Vincent

NOACC: Vicky Hawke, Executive Director, Margie Hurguy, Executive Assistant.

ABSENT:

Northeast Chambers: Ashtabula, Aurora, Barberton South Summit; Beachwood, Bedford, Bedford Hts., Berea, British American, Brook Park, Brooklyn, Columbia, Conneaut, Cuyahoga Falls, Cuyahoga Valley, East Cleveland, Geneva, Greater Cleveland African American, Hispanic Chamber of Ohio, Hudson, Jefferson, Lodi, Lorain County, Madison-Perry, Mansfield Richland Area, Mantua-Shalersville, Maple Heights, Mayfield Area, Mentor, Nordonia Hills, North Canton Area, North Royalton, Oberlin, Orrville Area, Orwell Grand Valley, Parma, Painesville, Ravenna, Rittman Area, Streetsboro, Strongsville, Tallmadge, Twinsburg, Vermilion, Western Lake County Area, Willoughby, Wooster.(46) Northwest Chambers: Archbold Area, Bellevue, Bluffton, Bowling Green, Bryan, Carey Area, Celina/Mercer, Columbus Grove, Crestline Area, Defiance, Delphos, Delta, Deshler, Erie County, Eastern Maumee Bay, Edon, GreaterFindlay Inc., Fostoria Area, Genoa Area, Grand Rapids, Hicksville Area, Holland-Springfield, Indian Lake Area, Leipsic, Lima Allen County, Marblehead Peninsula, Maumee, Montpelier, Napoleon/Henry County, North Baltimore, Norwalk, Oak Harbor, Ottawa Area, Ottoville Area, Paulding, Payne, Perrysburg, Pioneer Area, Port Clinton Area, Rockford, Shelby, Southwestern Auglaize County, Spencerville, Stryker Area, Swanton, Sylvania, Van Wert Area, Wapakoneta Area, Waterville, Wauseon, West Unity, Whitehouse Area (52).

New Chambers to be added: Antwerp, Garrettsville, Hinkley, Richfield, Seville Area (132 Total Chambers)

Vendors: CT Logistics, DHL

Prepared by: Pat Krizansky (Rocky River), NOACC Secretary and Vicky Hawke, NOACC Executive Director

Respectfully submitted by: Pat Krizansky (Rocky River), NOACC Secretary