by Kirby Lindsay, posted 2 April 2014
The Fremont Chamber of Commerce (FCC) March Board meeting dealt with events, big and small, planned and only proposed. While events are a common theme of the Chamber, the organization actually dealt with many small, foundation details that need to be addressed when a community hosts as many events as Fremont.
Event Opportunities
FCC Executive Director Jessica Vets offered up two event opportunities. The Literacy Source fundraising breakfast (May 7th) needs table captains, and the non-profit – a community learning center – actually trains people in how to do this. May 12th to 16th is ‘Bike To Work Week’ and Skanska wants to organize some kind of event for the Friday, and would like to work with others in Fremont that want to help. Vets also mentioned the upcoming Health & Wellness gathering, for those in the industry, on April 9th at 6p at Shepherd Family Chiropractic. Those who want to know more about any of this can contact Vets at director@fremont.com
Vets tracks what she spends time on for the Chamber, and she got approval to attend an all-day symposium on the minimum wage debate. “Fremont is seen as having a voice at the table,” she observed, with the concentration of small businesses that the Chamber represents. Several Board members agreed to her ‘keeping Fremont at the table.’
Event Problems
Vets also spent time in March on problems that arose in planning the 2014 Mobile Food Rodeo. While currently scheduled for May 3rd & 4th, a neighboring business, Fremont Studios, scheduled another event for the 3rd, and left the organizer, Ryan Reiter-Hegeman, to try to figure out ways to give access to both.
Unfortunately, Reiter-Hegeman hadn’t been able to attend this Chamber meeting which left Vets and FCC Board President Phil Megenhardt to speculate about potential his possible solutions, including changing event dates or changing the location, including taking it out of Fremont.
Megenhardt started a discussion about the need to communicate and pre-plan with neighbors, including a Chamber check-list for event planners. The Chamber wants to be sure organizers inform surrounding – and impacted – neighbors about any proposed plans – and allow existing businesses to operate – while accommodating special events.
Board Service
Megenhardt had promised that during his presidency he would put in place operating systems. For a first step, the Board approved a 2014 Business Plan, including ten ‘Statements of Awesomeness’ and goals for the Board as a whole and for its committees.
Megenhardt also distributed a ‘Board Service Commitment Pledge’ for each member to sign. This one-and-a-half page document outlined roles, commitments and a pledge that included specific duties. These duties were further detailed on a ‘Board Responsibilities Worksheet 2014,’ which contained some duties that were either/or, and some required of all the Board. For instance, all Board members are required to attend a certain number of Chamber meetings, the annual retreat and participate in a committee. All Board Members are also required to pour beer at the Fremont Oktoberfest, the primary fundraiser for the Chamber.
Beyond minor changes, the Board accepted the documents. ‘Excused absences’ versus ‘unexcused’ were briefly discussed. Also, Megenhardt encouraged Board Members to attend an Executive Board meeting – which generally discusses, in more detail, matters of the Board – once in a while. These take place roughly on Tuesday a week before the Board meeting.
Programs
The Board praised the March meeting of the Chamber, on the minimum wage debate. The April meeting will be a Shameless Self-Promotion networking gathering, with a strong emphasis on events, Megenhardt explained. The meeting on June 18th will be Picnic In The Park, at Gas Works, and Vets asked for assistance in organizing the program. It will be on the Seattle City Council District Election in 2015, with discussion on the needs of voters of Districts #4 & #6 (which cover Fremont,) and the requirements the voters will seek in candidates.
Major Events
Megenhardt and Vets reported that response to the all-ages ‘Solstice Concert’ series at the 2014 Fremont Fair (featuring Built To Spill and Blue Scholars,) has been overwhelmingly positive. “It’s already creating a buzz,” he said.
The Hop Scotch Spring Beer & Scotch Festival will take place on April 19th & 20th, and Megenhardt said planning for the indoor event – at Fremont Studios – is progressing. This is a fundraiser for the Chamber community grants program and “we need people walking in the door for the Chamber to win,” he said.
Arts Fundraising
The Fremont Arts Council wants to find new fundraising possibilities for the Solstice Parade, and its other projects. Meanwhile, another fundraising effort being led by Jon Hegeman and consultant Linda Hanlon is not aimed at the FAC, as Hanlon explained about this developing project.
Hanlon and Hegeman plan to talk to some of the larger corporations operating in Fremont “that haven’t come out to play,” she explained. This effort will create an advisory group to bring everyone to the table to discuss efforts done – and to do – to raise the attractiveness of this community. These corporations will donate to a fund for more arts programs and projects in Fremont, with the advisory group deciding which projects to fund.
More Ways To Get Out
Board Member Pete Hanning, and co-owner of the Red Door, spoke about efforts at the North Precinct Advisory Council to make it a “safe and professional place for discussion and resolution,” of safety issues. He also mentioned a proposal he’s working on to create certificate training for identification checkers/bouncers for nightclubs, bars and special events.
Finally, he offered to resurrect the Chamber Transportation Committee (and was given full support.) Hanning said, “I want to find different ways for people to get here,” to visit his bar, or a local event, and to bring in supplies. He acknowledged the benefits of alternative transportation – bicycles, transit, Car2Go, and Uber – but also the need for truck routes.
A Final Event Opportunity
The Board also discussed the Westlake Cycle Track project (the Lake Union District Council is writing a letter,) and the Solid Ground tribute at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center on May 8th.
The Board got most enthusiastic over a party for Raymond Glandon, manager of the Fremont PCC. Glandon will be relocating to the new Green Lake store, soon, although no one knew when. Still, the Board set details for the party – including having it at Red Door – and planned to hold it…when they have a date.
Fremont likes its celebrations, especially within the Chamber. To find out more about the Fremont Chamber, consider attending the next Board Meeting – on April 30th at 8a at History House. The meetings are open-to-the-public, and actually quite fun in their own way!
Related Articles
- FCC Highlight Reel: Plan Strategies
- by Kirby Lindsay, March 5, 2014
- The Ease Of Events
- by Kirby Lindsay, August 7, 2013
- Evolution of the Fremont Fair
- by Kirby Lindsay, March 12, 2014
©2014 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.