Canby Chamber of Commerce Meeting

September 19, 2007

Minnesota West Community & Technical College

1)    Attendees: The Canby Chamber of Commerce met at 12:00 pm on September 19^th at Minnesota West Community & Technical College with the following board members present: Laurie Driessen, Karen Houtman, Amy Szumal, Sabrina Stockman, Katie Maranell, and Bonnie Longtin.  Also present was Pat Stanley.

2)    Reports: Laurie called the meeting to order. The Secretary’s report was passed around to all attendees.  The minutes were from the July 18^th meeting.  There were no minutes for the month of August due to the Chamber not meeting that month.  The July minutes were reviewed and approved (1^st -Karen, 2^nd-Sabrina).  The treasurer’s report was not reviewed due to Don not being able to attend the meeting.  Pat noted that Karen Eickhoff has not been paid for the use of the tent for Hat Daze.  Laurie will email Don.  Amy also needs to check with Don on a check for the pergola.

Old Business

3)    Boy Scout Project:  Due to family issues, Eric Nefstead cannot complete the flooring for the project.  The Chamber voted to contribute money to the project, but have not yet.  The Chamber will complete the floor.  The Chamber discussed the type of flooring that should be put in the pergola, such as concrete or pavers.  There are a few bids for the floor.  There was a suggestion to sell memorial slots for the floor at maybe $50 a slot.  Laurie is going to be discussing the floor with Pete Snortum.  Pete said that he would donate his time to the completion of the floor.  There was a motion to advertise to the community that engraved pavers could be purchased in memory of someone with only so many slots available.  This motion was not approved.  The Chamber decided to get some information on the pavers, such as the size, cost for tiles, cost for engraving and formatting.  Laurie will get some information from Pete Snortum, and will present it at the next meeting.  Also, Eric needed a letter saying that the Chamber will complete the flooring.  Laurie passed around a letter for the Chamber’s review.  There was a motion to send the letter to Eric (1^st-Karen, 2^nd-Katie).  Motion approved.

4)    Marketing Committee:  Katie discussed the Marketing Committee.  The committee was going to have another Hospitality Night at the Midway on Thursday, September 20^th, but nothing has been prepared or sent out to the members.  Katie presented an advertising proposal.  The proposal is to spend $3000 to develop a plan to feature 3 businesses in the Marshall Independent, Marshall Radio, and KLQP.  The committee would like to present it to the members and advertise their businesses for free.  There would be three businesses featured per week.  The businesses would need to give the Marketing Committee information to advertise.  The Chamber discussed doing a test of the proposal maybe before Holiday Preview or Arctic Blast when the Chamber is trying to get people into town and to only spend $1500.   If that helps, then the Chamber could do it again at Hat Daze.  Pat made a motion to do a test and spend $1500, 2^nd by Bonnie.  Motion approved.  Pat also discussed a fundraiser for Chambers with Frontier Communications.  The Marketing Committee will review the fundraiser.  The Chamber also discussed if alcohol should be served at the Hospitality Nights.  The committee will look into that as well.

5)    Office Committee:  Amy discussed the Office Committee.  The committee met in August at the Canby News.  There is a large shelf for the Chamber to use for storage and also a desk for the Chamber to use.  Also, the Committee would look to purchase some brochure holders.  A four-tier holder is approximately $15.00 and one brochure holders are $3.00.  Laurie suggested that the committee purchase a large holder.  There was a motion to approve the large brochure holder (1^st-Pat, 2^nd-Sabrina).  Motion approved.  Also, the committee discussed purchasing a table banner that could be placed on the desk and then is able to go to events to advertise the Chamber, such as Hat Daze.  Bonnie could make the banner and also the Print Shop may be able to do a banner.  There was a motion by Pat, 2^nd by Katie to look into prices for the banner.  Motion approved.

New Business

6)    Artic Blast & Holiday Preview:  This was tabled to October because Ellie Beman was not there to discuss it.  There was discussion about the Holiday Preview because that is before Arctic Blast.  The Chamber discussed the quilt raffle.  Bonnie has a design for the quilt.  Katie will look into the raffle permit and the form needed to be completed so the Chamber can get a permit.  Also, Laurie asked if Don had sent in the raffle information from Hat Daze last year and Hat Daze this year.  Amy noted that Don was going to complete the information and bring it to Sabrina to put in the mail.  The form has not been brought to Sabrina.  Amy will check with Don.  This information needs to be sent to the state or the Chamber will not get a permit for any raffles until it is completed.  The permit has been delegated to the Marketing Committee to complete.  There was a motion by Pat and seconded by Karen to proceed with the quilt for Arctic Blast.  Motion approved.  The Chamber will sell tickets during the Holiday Preview.  The Chamber discussed possibly having the stores open later in the day during Holiday Preview and also have Santa at the Connection this year. 

 

7)    First Dollars of Profit & Fix-up Fund:  Laurie will try to contact A New Leaf. PK Egan’s was the recipient of the $500 Fix-up Fund.  This has been completed and a time for a photo needs to be arranged.  There was going to be a fall drawing for the fund, but it is getting late in the year so there was a motion by Katie and 2^nd by Sabrina to move the fall drawing to the spring and have two drawings in the spring.  Motion approved. 

 

8)    Concerns about the meeting places:  The Chamber received a letter from Tom DeToy expressing his concerns over the Chamber meeting at 12:00 p.m. at Minnesota West and the use of the VFW for events.  The Chamber reviewed the letter and noted Mr. DeToy’s concerns.  The Chamber will send a letter to Mr. DeToy thanking him for his concerns and the letter will be posted on the website and filed with the Secretary. 

 

9)     Board Members:  Laurie prepared a draft of a letter to be sent to the members asking for board members to fill the open positions.  She asked that the Chamber review the letter, make any changes and forward them to her.

 

10)  Energy Fest:  Pat had sent out an email a few months ago about having an Energy Fest to promote wind energy in Canby.  He has had some response.  A possible site for the event is Minnesota West Community & Technical College.  Possible businesses and organizations that could participate are:  Fagen Inc., Minnesota West, SMI, and Outland Energy.  There was a suggestion that the students at Minnesota West do this as a project.  Also, the event could be co-sponsored by the Chamber and Minnesota West.  Katie is going to discuss this with the instructors and Becky.  A letter needs to be sent out to the businesses to see if anyone is interested in participating.

 

11) Adjournment:  Meeting was adjourned.  There was no motion for adjournment.

 

12) Next Meeting:  October 17^th, 12:00 p.m. at Minnesota West Community & Technical College.