September 2008 Minutes

Microsoft Word version

9/4/08 General Membership Meeting

Members Present

Present were Sandy Shumate, Bezalel Designs; Mike Buscher, Xsight Marketing Group; Cindy Ahmann, Carroll County Public Library, Mt. Airy Branch; Ellie Bonde, Blossom and Basket Boutique; Jeanne LeRoux, LeRock Plaques; Paul Shaffer II, Sandy Spring Bank; Chuck Boteler; SuddenValues.com; Gary Crutchfield, Lawn Aide Plus; Carol Pickett, Sandy Spring Bank; Denny Ahalt. New Windsor Bank; Kerry Turner, The Frederick New-Post; Alice Decker, Interstate Construction and Development Co.; Stephanie Dahlquist, Family Matters Meditation; Marlene Titus, Carroll Community College; Archie Rogers, Rogers Engraving & Stamp+Plus; Wayne Barnes, Wayne’s Home Improvements, Inc.; Kim BiBuono, Strategy Credit Group, LLC; Jeremy Foundation, Dianne Ryan; Patricia Clements, Costco; Michael Santos, The Frederick News-Post; Mayor Frank Johnson; Tim Barkley, Barkley Law; Annette Breiling, Friends Meeting School; Keir Knight, Plain English Writing & Design; Paul Clay, The Real Estate Consultants of ReMax Realty Group; James Jones, The Credit Card Store; Colleen Strube, Send Out Cards; Karen Skidmore, Completely Fit; Dennis Emerson, Sherman Emerson Insurance; Shannon Lee Zirkle, Photography; Alyson Rothberg, AFLAC; Bruce James, Restoration Incorporated; Brandon Maddon, All Around Plumbing, Kevin Kim, Bank of America; Kim Witner, Arbonne International.

Meeting opened with recognition of New Members & Introductions.

Miniature Golf Tournament

Proceeds of $4000 went to Carroll County Public Library, Mt. Airy Branch for their Summer Reading – Early Learning program. Cindy Ahmann was introduced by Paul Clay. She told how the money was spent: Die cuts to be used in crafts for kids; prizes for the Summer Reading program, 3000 of them; held Teen auction for those 11 and older; on order is a gliding rocking chair for mothers to read to little ones. Cindy also told us that a counter was installed in the Business Resource Center area and you can hook up laptop and use the WI free. She thanked the Chamber for their strong support. Aaron told the Chamber that the check was presented to the Carroll County Library before the summer program began.

Mt. Airy Phone Book Check Presentation

Tim Barkley, managing member of LLC; Stephanie Dahlquist and Paul Clay, representing the Kiwanis; and Aaron Kahn were present to present the Chamber with $6500 from the proceeds of the 2008 phone book. The money will be spent for a local school in 2009. Tim also said that a check for $6500 had already been presented to the Kiwanis Club.

Nominating Committee

Sandy Shumate, chairman of the Nominating Committee presented the officers up for re-election.

Paul Clay, Corresponding Secretary; Recording Secretary, Laurie Dilks; and Dennis Ahalt, Treasurer. She asked for nominations from the floor. Since there were none, Sandy asked for motion to accept the ballot. Motion was made by Tim Barkley and seconded by Alyson Rothberg.

2009 Dues

The 2009 dues were set with the 2008 dues to be $105. The Executive Committee decided that the dues should remain $95 for 2009, because of the troubled economic times, and suspend the dues increase. At the Membership Drive, dues will be $70. Question was raised by Mayor Johnson about whether this item should be put to a vote. Aaron responded that it wasn’t necessary because everyone will have an opportunity to vote on the total budget for 2009.

Planning Meeting will be held at Lorien on October 31. All are welcome to attend but please be sure you make a reservation.

Membership Drive will be November 13, 2008 at Century Ford from 4-7 PM. We will also be celebrating our 25th anniversary. We are inviting former officers to attend and hope to get a picture of all of them.

Denny Ahalt, Treasurer

Denny reported the beginning balance for August was $25,838.05. Receipts were $120.00. Expenditures were $1452.78. Total balance for August $25505.27 with $ 6593.57 in CD. Making treasury total $32098.84.

Aaron Kahn, President

Aaron reported that four bids have come in for the Web contract. There will be a meeting on September 8th at noon of the website RFP committee to make a decision for our new webmaster. Aaron said that Brian had not presented a bid. James Jones asked why he would present a bid. Aaron said he could have if he had someone in Mount Airy to keep it up. Keir Knight asked if he could attend the meeting. Aaron said that Keir had stepped down from the committee due to his inability to commit to being available at all of the necessary dates. As a result, he replaced him and they now have 5 people on the committee. Aaron said that since all of the committee members were involved in writing the RFP, and had received copies of it to review, it wouldn’t be fair to have someone come in to the process at this stage of the game. It would meet in closed session. Keir questioned this, and then said he wanted it recorded in the minutes, that Aaron was setting a precedent as no meeting had ever been closed before. James Jones wanted to be recognized that he didn’t approve of this also.

New page on website for business to put discounts to fellow Chamber members.

Kerry Turner reported for Carol Cahall that ads are going out for Chamber events and the committee is also working on the 25th anniversary celebration.

Dennis Emerson, Membership Committee

Dennis reported that there are 382 members in the Chamber.

Government Relations / Mayor Frank Johnson

Mayor Johnson reported that he is recovering slowly from his bicycle accident. He reported that his newsletter would be coming out shortly. If any business wanted to sponsor the newsletter, let him know. He said that some of the businesses closed due to the fire, would be re-opening in October. He wants to be more aware of all businesses in Mount Airy, not just the downtown area. The Economic Development Committee is working toward this goal, also.

Marlene Titus, Professional Development

Marlene apologized for posting the wrong days on the website for the 2 workshops in September. They should be Mon and Wed, not Tues and Thurs. Workshop is Excel Level 1, a two-part workshop on professional development, Sept. 22 and 24, 6:30 – 9:30 at the College Lab. The class will be limited to 14 people.

Next Workshop will be October 13 5:45-9PM Disaster Planning for Small Business workshop at the Mount Airy Library meeting room. Class can hold 75 people

Must sign up for the class, and if you sign up, please attend. Also asked for volunteers to sponsor the courses.

Marlene also wanted to thank Cindy Ahmann for all the help she has provided for the Professional Development courses held in the library.

Carroll County Chamber
Marlene Titus told about the Business to Business Fair at Martins West on Feb. 19th, 09.

Paul Clay for Ambassadors

Paul asked Archie Rogers and Ellie Bonde to please stand up and show off their red nametags. He explained to the members that if you see any of the Ambassadors Committee people with red nametags, they would be able to tell you about the benefits and events of the Chamber. The officers will be wearing blue nametags in the future for the same reason.

Colleen Shube, Social Committee

Colleen thanked Paul Shaffer and Sandy Spring Bank for a great Business Card Exchange. Co-hosts were The Main Event and Brick Ridge.

There will be a networking event at Greene Turtle on Sept. 18th at 11:30. Reservations must be made to attend as the room only holds 32 people.
Social Committee can use some more volunteers and they are also looking at the 2009 calendar. If you wish to sponsor an event in 2009, please let Colleen know.

Next Business Card Exchange will be at Blossom and Basket Boutique with a tea party. Also co-sponsors are Caterque Barbeque and Jessie’s Cakes.

Archie Rogers, Frederick Chamber of Commerce

Frederick County Chamber of Commerce Expo, with be September 30, 2008, at 9am at Holiday Inn.

New Business From the Floor

Diane Ryan from the Jeremy Foundation. Foundation is celebrating their 5th anniversary this year. They are sponsoring the 5Krace, which is the kick off for the Fall Festival on October 4th, 8:00AM. Need help from Chamber members. Information can be obtained from Diane or on the website.

Ellie Bonde announced that Dr. David Koronet, Mount Airy Chiropractic Center, has Lymes Disease, and he will be speaking on this disease on Wednesday, September 17th at 7:15 pm at the
Mount Airy Library.

Respectfully Submitted,
Audrey Stapf