OWACC Board of Directors Meeting

May 5, 2008, 7:30 PM, Withee Village Hall

1.    Call to Order: President Laube called the meeting to order at 7:34 PM.

2.    Roll Call: Present were Borgeson, Hackbarth, Koplitz, Laube, LePage, Matkovich, Mauel (7:38 PM), Mitchell, Reinke.

3.    Approve minutes from April 7, 2008 Board of Directors Meeting: A Mitchell/Hackbarth motion and subsequent voted approved the April 7, 2008 Board of Director meeting minutes with no changes.

4.    Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Koplitz reported that OWACC now has 60 members. Financial reports were handed out at the suggestion of Borgeson at the last meeting. As of April 20, 2008, the checking account balance was $5,122.68 and the Chamber Bucks account balance is $160.49. A Reinke/Mauel motion and subsequent vote approved the Treasurer’s Report as given.

5.    Continue planning Owen-Withee community display board for Clark County Economic Development’s May 21^st Annual Meeting: The members together built the display board for use at CCEDC’s Annual Meeting. Gary Mitchell will be bringing the display board to the event.

6.    Approval of planning October 11, 2008 O-W Business Expo: The committee decided money from booths should cover overhead and raffles, food sales, etc. would be for profit. $100/booth, approximately 50 would be available. Approximately $30 per booth is cost for using expo setup company. The O-W High School gym and cafeteria are available Friday-Sunday, October 10-12. Vice President Reinke gave various price quotes from setup companies and also the cost of putting ads in the Thorp and Abbotsford shoppers. Mitchell brought up sponsorship idea. Merchandise being sold was considered and denied in lieu of the limited space, though businesses will be encouraged to make contact and later showing their merchandise to interested buyers. The idea of opening up expo to farmers/farmer market was decided against. Help is needed by committee of Chamber members. A Mauel/Borgeson motion and subsequent vote approved charging $100 a booth for members and $150 a booth for nonmembers as well as the planning thus far.

7.    Liaison Reports

1.    O-W Development Corporation: Vice President Reinke reported that the OWADC had their last meeting until fall earlier just before the OWACC meeting.

2.    Owen City Council: Nothing new to report.

3.    Withee Village Board: Nothing new to report.

4.    United Communities of Clark Co.: Nothing new to report.

5.    Hwy. 29 Partnership: “Sale-ing” the Yellowstone Trail from C to C seven-city thrift sale is May 16 and 17. Yellowstone Trail Sociability Run (antique/classic car run) is being planned for June 14 and 15.

6.    Clark County Board/Economic Dev. Corp./Cmte. & Tourism (Amacher): Nothing new to report.

8.    Committee Reports

1.    Newsletter: Secretary LePage reported newsletter has not come out yet due to commitments at O-W Enterprise, but would be out before next meeting. President Laube suggest date, time, and “save the date” be mentioned in ad in the newsletter.

2.    Communications Center: Vice President Reinke reported that she had gotten a few calls to the Communications Center from people who had questions about non-Chamber members. Reinke said that she felt uncomfortable not giving out information when asked a question and asked the Board if she may give out information on nonmembers. Generally, the Board agreed this was O.K. to do.

3.    Website: Nothing new to report.

4.    Hwy. 29 Welcome signs on each side of O-W: Nothing new to report.

5.    Advertising & Promotions Committee: Nothing new to report.

9.      New Business

                                          i.    President Laube asked whether OWACC would sponsor the Owen Junior Fair again by applying for the liquor license. All agreed, and this will be added to the next agenda for a vote.

                                         ii.    Borgeson inquired whether the Chamber would be interested in co-sponsoring with the Withee Softball League a breakfast during the Yellowstone Trail Sociability Run, to be held either in Owen or Withee parks. A Mauel/Mitchell motion and subsequent vote approved co-sponsoring Borgeson’s breakfast at the Yellowstone Trail Sociability Run on June 14 and 15.

                                        iii.    Secretary LePage reported that an invitation for the CCEDC Annual Meeting came into the OWACC mailbox. No one needed it because the other members had already received invites.

                                        iv.    Secretary LePage reported the Downtown Revitalization Committee had put out a survey on what people wanted to see in Owen and Withee, which included a suggestion for a slogan for the communities. Secretary LePage read these slogans, mentioning that the DRC liked “Owen-Withee – Your connection to the past, present, future”. Mitchell reiterated the slogan previously decided on for the CCEDC Annual Meeting display board of “Owen-Withee – Yesterday, today, and tomorrow”.  Secretary LePage said he would bring the suggestions back to the DRC.

                                         v.    Hackbarth mentioned that if we would like to have a golf outing or mixer, that plans should be set in motion again.

10.  Adjourn: A Hackbarth/Mauel motion and subsequent vote adjourned the meeting at 9:16 PM.