New Hamburg Board of Trade Executive Meeting
February 13, 2008
Present: Paul Knowles, Tim Bender, Dave Seyler, Nigel Gordijk, Tom Hinz, Ed Lemont, Larry Zehr, Doug Brenneman, Terry McIntosh, Lynne Mackie and Audrey Cook.
1) A motion was made by Dave Seyler to adopt the minutes of the January 3 Executive Meeting, seconded Tom Hinz. Carried.
2) Financial Report. Lynne reported that the bank balance is $8,984.64 as of Jan. 31 and financial records can now be shown to members. There are nine paid memberships to date.
3) Paul Knowles explained the advertising expenditures in the New Hamburg Independent over the past three years which were as follows; 2005, approximately $10,000; 2006, approximately $12,000; 2007, approximately $5,000. Most of this money was during bridge reconstruction (Bridging the Gap) as well as other events such as the Gingerbread Festival and the Harry Potter events. There was no money spent that was not approved by the executive. However, many of the pledges made to support the $40,000 Bridge promotion and New Hamburg Bridge Buck program were neither invoiced nor collected. A motion was made by Tom Hinz to invoice the participants with a covering letter, seconded Ed Lemont. Carried. As for New Hamburg Bucks, there is an estimate of approximately $8,000 in bucks still in circulation.
4) Any future advertising will also have full executive knowledge and approval of funds.
5) There is $1,800 budgeted for tourism advertising. A committee of Nigel and Tom will report to the executive on what dollars were spent where last year and recommend the direction to be taken for 2008.
6) There is an application deadline for the tourism grant in order to run the office at 121 Huron. This will be investigated further.
7) Dave Seyler reported on membership. According to our records we have a current (2007) membership total of 83. To date there are 9 memberships paid for 2008 A 'benefits of membership' pamphlet has been prepared by John Hanson & Paul Knowles and this will be e-mailed along with an invoice to all potential members.
8) Tom spoke of Absolute Fitness offering a discount to Board of Trade members. After some discussion on other members offering something like this, it was suggested that this be taken to the membership at large. Any discount of this sort could be an additional perk of being a Board of Trade member.
9) Nigel explained his work on the website to date. If approved, there is a $500. fee for setting up and managing the site. This was referred to the next meeting of the executive. Larry Zehr and Nigel Gordijk will discuss and report.
10) The New Hamburg Board of Trade Golf Tournament will be held June 16 at Dundee, with the same organizing committee as in 2007.
11) Larry Zehr reported that Nith Valley Construction might be willing to help assess and maintain the water wheel, but are unwilling to take on the task alone. David Seyler offered to approach some millwright companies for their advice.
12) Speakers: Bev Cober at our February general meeting; Harold Albrecht, MP, at our March general meeting; Lori Lupton from Pelee Island Winery willl match wines with our dinner and talk about wine tasting at our April meeting.
13) There was some discussion about the ongoing use of the New Hamburg Arena. It was reported that a committee has made recommendations, but the issue is apparently not yet closed.
14) A Board of Trade committee has been formed to explore a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of New Hamburg. Target date is Sept. 20, 2008.
15) Baden Chamber of Commerce: The Baden Chamber has inquired as to the status of the dormant talks about merger or amalgamation. It was noted that when this was raised at a New Hamburg Board of Trade general membership meeting in 2007, it was not received with enthusiasm. It was also noted that we are not far removed from a time when Baden and New Hamburg will connect as one actual community. The matter was tabled by the New Hamburg Board of Trade executive until Fall 2008, when it will be discussed.
16) It was noted that the flag at the New Hamburg sign beside Highway 7&8 is missing. Paul Knowles will contact the township about this.
17) Adjournment moved by David Seyler, seconded by Doug Brenneman, carried. |
