Sequim~Dungeness Valley
Chamber of Commerce
Board Minutes
September 11, 2012, 7:30 a.m.
The Lodge at Sherwood Village
Attendees: Phil Castell, Vickie Oen, Bill Littlejohn, Liz Beth Harper, Theresa Rubens, Scott Clausen, Joe Borden, Deon Kapetan, Michele Sorrentino, Ron Farquhar, Christy Rookard, Linda Barnfather
Excused: Bill Thomas and Liz Parks
Partners: Jim McEntire, Will Purser, Ken Hays, Liza Bridges Staff: Shelli Robb-Kahler
Call to Order by President, Christy Rookard 7:40 a.m.
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Consent Calendar
Approved: August’s Consent Calendar- board minutes and financial statements: Motion passed unanimously
President’s Report – Christy Rookard
· Attended a Port Angeles luncheon and enjoyed the logistics and food.
· Board elections – met with several potential board members. The Chamber has a slate of candidates ready for the election process.
Partner Reports:
City of Sequim – Barbara Hanna
· Centennial Kickoff is scheduled for October 27th with a yearlong celebration planned through November 2013.
· Centennial Cookbook - recipe submission can be from anyone no matter how long they’ve lived in Sequim.
· Sign Ordinance – a controversial issue right now. A meeting is scheduled for September 20 with Craig Richie and Shelli at Gary’s office.
Open Aire Market – Lisa Bridges
· The OAM received 3 new business sponsors after its luncheon presentation on September 11, 2012.
· Balloon Festival weekend proved to be the best weekend this year for vendors at the OAM.
Clallam County – Jim McEntire
· Sign Ordinance Issue- City and County coordination for consistency should be pursued.
· Carlsborg sewer project continues to move forward.
· WIRA – Clallam County’s new water rule seems to be moving ahead in a positive way. Anything more than “normal water” must go to the “water exchange” process.
Shiso City Japan – Ron Farquhar
· Fourteen students and three chaperones are coming from Japan on September 21 – 25. Sequim Student and chaperones will be heading to Japan in October.
· The Japanese delegation will be picked up at the ferry where they want to go to McDonalds and Central Market before proceeding to Sequim. They will arrive at the Sequim Transit Center at 3:15 to be matched with their host families. On September 24 they will attend the City Council meeting.
· There are currently 33 sister cities in Washington State.
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Executive Director’s Report – Shelli Robb-Kahler
· Visitor Information Center count for August was 4,100 which was greater than last year’s count. Lodging tax funds also showed an increase over 2011 for the same period.
· The Soccer Tournament and Balloon Festival brought an increase of visitors to our area in August and September.
· Lynn Elliott gave her resignation and the Chamber has hired Stefanie Rotmark as administrative assistant.
· The Olympic Peninsula’s Tourism Summit will be held on October 22nd at the Red Lion Inn in Port Angeles this year.
· Partnering with Blue Whole Gallery and Sequim Arts to man a downtown visitor information center has proven successful.
· The Chamber is in need of a lawn mower to maintain the Visitor Information Center’s grounds. Stephen Rosales’s lawn mower is broken and cannot mow until a new one is procured.
· Chamber computers were given a maintenance check by Colin Kahler saving the Chamber money
· The Chamber will host its first Newcomer’s Seminar at the Visitor Information Center on September 26, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Cath Mich will be the Facilitator.
· A 2012 Sequim area map has been completed. We should be receiving them soon.
· The After-Hours this month, September 18, will be at Olympic Peninsula Celebrations in Carlsborg’s business loop. The theme will be “50’s Sock Hop”. Board members are encouraged to attend.
Old Business
2013 Board Member Recruitment – Theresa Rubens
Board Elections – four positions are open with one needing to be appointed due to Steve Perry’s resignation.
· Confirmed: Linda Barnfather- Individual , Vickie Oen-Purple Haze, Tony Skinner-Holiday Inn Express, Tim Collins-Union Bank, Nikki Sturm-Key Bank, Joshua Fox-, Debi Lahmeyer-Sequim Gazette
· Tentative: Jason Stanek – American Insurance Group, Jenn Clark – Peninsula Daily News, Carol Pope-All Safe Mini Storage.
Chamber Budget Up date – Shelli Robb-Kahler
· Overall budget has been accepted and approved by the LTAC Committee. It now has to be approved by the City Council.
New Business
Board 2012 Goals – Shelli Robb-Kahler
· Board Goals regarding training on membership benefits have been completed.
· Board Member for the month of August is Christy Rookard.
Membership Drive/Committee Report – Phil Castell
· Chamber membership count continues to be 445 – 450 members due to non-renewing members. Six new members since last meeting include: Sequim Inn & Suites, Nashes Farm Store, Ann Nicholes – Individual, Caring Hands Learning Center, Virginia O’Neil – Individual, and Sequim Chiropractic.
o Action: It was moved and approved unanimously to accept the cancelation of six business members at end of month pending non-renewal. List presented.
Business 2 Business-Shelli Robb-Kahler
The Business 2 Business Expo will be held on Tuesday, October 23. There will not be a Chamber lunch that day. Gold Sponsor – Sequim Gazette Silver Sponsors: First Federal, ReMax, the Lodge at Sherwood, Fifth Avenue Assisted Living and the Lodge and Sherwood, Bronze Sponsors: Olympic Ambulance. Changes to the event this year include 1) no gift basket drawing – each vendor may do their own
2) add a key note speaker
Committee Reports
Finance/Fundraising – Joe Borden
· Brick Fundraiser: bricks are on display at the Visitor information Center.
In progress: planning for one more fundraiser in 2012.
Irrigation Festival – Deon Kapetan
· Abigail Berry resigned as Queen
· IF committee is purchasing new lighter weight tables which may be rented/loaned out to other organizations
· The stage may also be rented.
· New logo contest in progress.
· Plans are being made to clean and organize the Irrigation Festivals storage unit.
Toursim & Events - Linda Barnfather, Barbara Hanna, Bill Thomas, and Shelli Robb-Kahler
Barb Hanna, Linda Barnfather and Shelli met in July and discussed upcoming opportunities for future seminars and tourist functions events. A possibility to be pursued is an adventure sportsman show to be held in 2014. The next Tourism and Events meeting will be September 18, in Barbara Hanna’s office.
Merchant Group: Vickie Oen and Liz Harper
· No progressive after-hours will be done in September.
Other:
Luncheon: Discussion ensued regarding place, speaker and time limitations.
Meeting adjourned at 9:25 a.m.Next board meeting: October 11, 2012
Minutes taken by Lizbeth Harper, Board member, and transcribed by Jeri Smith Office Administrator
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