Download Chamber Board Meeting Sept. 18, 2013 Present: Kerry Higgins

Chamber Board Meeting
Sept. 18, 2013
Present: Kerry Higgins, Debbie Bigelow, Jerry Sands, Scott Hunter, Debbie Starkey, Bob
Valen, Sjana Bird, Kevin Portch and Peggy Nevsimal.
Scott moved to accept resignation of Jess Utz as chamber president. Kevin seconded the
motions. Motion carried.
Debbie B. moved to install Kerry Higgins as Chamber President. Bob seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Kerry moved that Bob Valen be appointed to the vacated V. President position. Jerry
seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Discussion on filling the vacated At-large position: The board will look into a list of volunteers
who would be willing to actively serve and fill the position. Item tabled for the time being.
Scott moved that a new signature card at CDFCU be signed. Bob Valen will sign in Jess’s
place and Jess will be removed from the chamber account. Jerry seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Peggy is going to look into any historical documents she can find to confirm the terms for the
At large and officer positions. It’s possible the original intent is in the 1978 Articles of
Incorporation.
Scott moved and Debbie B seconded that the July Board minutes be approved. Motion
carried.
Financials: Attachment. It was suggested that a Balance sheet along with the P&L would be
helpful for us as we analyze our financial position each board meeting.
Saturday Market: Attachment. Great success, much larger and better attendance than the
previous year. Discussion of pros and cons for changing locations, no decisions at this time.
Harvest Fest: Attachment: We made money! We will be sticking with the 2nd weekend of
Sept. for our annual event. We hope to next year add the BBQ competition and possibly some
other events to draw in more attendees. For a first year, great success and plenty of potential
for the future.
Hotel/Motel Funds: Attachment. Attached is the presentation that Peggy gave to the city
councils at Electric City, Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam. At this time we have not heard back
as to what dollar amounts the cities may be giving the chamber for our working capital.
The state will be requiring cities to keep statistics on very hard to gather information. Chamber
will ask the Bureau to modify their registration form to help gathering the new state mandated
stats. The state is asking for number of stays in motel/hotel, number of stays with friends or
family and number of visitors that come for the day with no overnight stay. Some of these
numbers will be extremely hard to gather.
Membership subcommittee: Kerry, Jerry and Kevin. They will be meeting Thursdays at 4:00
pm. Discussion of different benefits to the members. Possibilities are an “ala cart”
membership benefits or possibly different levels of membership such as bronze, silver, gold
and platinum. There was also discussion of credit for hours of volunteering. The committee is
tasked with formulating the new signup benefits.
By-laws: We all need to read through the by-laws and make suggestions ASAP and get them
to Peggy. Discussion of holding a separate meeting to knock out the by-law document and
present to the membership for voting.
Off site retreat: We agree it may be a beneficial event for our work, but struggle with finding a
common weekend when we all are available. The October date does not work, but the board
is supposed to respond to Peggy by Friday so that we can get something scheduled. It looks
like K Diamond K ranch in Republic is a good location and offers inexpensive rooms and meals
and can easily accommodate spouses.
Employee issues: It was discussed that a new contract does not need to be drawn up for
Peggy’s salary raise. Scott moved to change the title of Chamber Manager to Chamber
Executive Director. Bob seconded. Motion carried.
Peggy has asked to defer her currently earned salary bonuses. She thinks it is a wise move to
help protect the budget during a time when we do not have any additional funds coming in.
There will be no additional monies until membership time and the Dec. Vintners and Brewers
Auction. Debbie B. will help work that into the balance sheet so that it is reflected that those
dollars are owed to Peggy.
Signage: Peggy presented a proposal from Rich Button for new signage on top of the building
and lettering for the windows at the chamber space.
Debbie B. moved that we accept the proposal with deferred payment upon approval of the final
design. Kevin seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Peggy gave our insurance policies to Jerry Kennedy for a review. He suggested we should
renew the policy for the directors and officers. He is still researching the general liability policy.
Jerry has concern that possibly our liquor liability is not extensive enough for full coverage.
Next meeting, Oct. 16.
Meeting adjourned 7:48 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Starkey