by Kirby Lindsay, posted 6 February 2013
For the Fremont Chamber Of Commerce Board of Directors, sorting through half-a-dozen weighty, fundamental matters can take at least 15 – 20 minutes of a meeting. At its January 2013 meeting, this Board didn’t get bogged down by serious business… After all, they need time for more important things, like Wiffle Ball and other events.
Elections To The Board
The election of new Board Members took a minute or two longer than usual, due to a slight paperwork confusion. Tamara Berft, of Union Bank – Fremont Branch, and Ryan Reiter, of Fremont Sunday Market/Fremont Outdoor Movies/Mobile Food Rodeo, were elected to the Board to serve 2013 – 2015 along with returning members Marko Tubic, Kathy Moeller, Anne Helmholz, and Raymond Glandon. However, Berft’s name was accidentally left off the official roster distributed at the meeting – and has now been added.
At this meeting, the Board approved the addition of Pete Hanning, of Red Door, and Morgan Kay, of Alchemy Computer Solutions, to fill in vacant seats. The Board formally reviewed the roster, and assigned them to the 2011 – 2013 slot. (All FCC Board Members serve three year terms, in one of three rotating slots.)
The Board also reviewed the recommended slate of officers – and asked for volunteers/nominations from the floor. Phil Megenhardt and Berft both volunteered, and the slate was then approved unanimously by the Board as:
- President: Ken Saunderson, Saunderson Marketing Group
- Vice-President Communications: Phil Megenhardt, Bold Hat Productions
- Vice-President Organization/Membership: Marko Tubic, Edward Jones
- Vice-President Operations/Programs: Adrian Hollingsworth, Volt Workforce Solutions
- Treasurer: Riq Molina, Chase Bank
- Secretary: Tamara Berft, Union Bank
Board Goals
During the meeting, Saunderson and Chamber Executive Director Jessica Vets, encouraged the Board Members to select tasks to accomplish on behalf of the Chamber this year. Board Members were given a chart with five tasks they will be expected to do, and four others they can choose between. Vets also mentioned community meetings that need representatives from the Chamber, and committees that need members – including the new committee to plan the Wiffle Ball Tournament, to be held September 7th.
At its retreat in December, the Chamber Board came up with goals for 2013. These were posted on the back of the meeting agenda as:
- Increase membership from 256 to 300
- Maintain a minimum of a four-month financial reserve
- Create and implement a year-round ‘Calendar of Awesomeness’
- Review partnership with Solid Ground on the Fremont Fair, and create a plan for 2014
- Provide up to $10,000 in sponsorship/grant funds for local projects
- Create a system to implement committee strategies
Discussion on these goals revealed that:
- A ‘Calendar of Awesomeness,’ according to Megenhardt, recognizes what the Chamber already does each year (often done very well.) “The bar is already set very high,” he said, and the Board wants to maintain those standards when the Board considers adding more.
- Treasurer Molina reported that he already maintains the Chamber reserves at 4 months, but is working towards a 5 – 6 month level.
- Committees need to create a list of goals and strategies, Saunderson requested, so the Board can help implement them.
Community Grant Recipients
The Board approved the recommendations of the Community Grant Committee, for a distribution of $3,000 to a short list of community activities/events:
- Music In The Sculpture Garden concert series
- B.F. Day School Playground Improvements
- Moisture Festival
- Literacy Source Fundraising Breakfast
Each applicant will receive the amount requested, except for Moisture Festival. A maximum distribution is $1,000 per project annually, and the Festival received $1,500 in 2012. The Committee recommended giving only $500 now, although the Board agreed that the Festival deserves Chamber support as a “shoulder season event,” according to Megenhardt, and the draw it creates for this community.
The MLK Day Of Service gathering, held at Doric Lodge #92 on January 21st, did not receive grant/sponsorship money. Vets spoke with the organizers because their application did not specify an amount and the application went up for consideration after the event took place, which goes against Chamber policy. She has promised to work with the organizers on an application for the next Community Grant distribution – in July 2013 – to sponsor an MLK Day of Service event for 2014.
The budget for the January Grant distribution is, usually, $4,000. This distribution gave $3,000, with a note that the remaining $1,000 would go towards marketing efforts – either to refurbish the Hysterical Markers or for a summer ad campaign.
Upcoming Events
Megenhardt talked about the 2013 Fremont Fair, scheduled for June 21st – 23rd. More specifically, he talked about discussions with the Competitor’s Group about their Seattle Rock-N-Roll Marathon, and how to manage traffic for those trying to reach Fremont, and the Fremont Arts Council Solstice Parade. The Marathon takes place on the morning of Saturday, June 22nd, with the Parade now scheduled for 3p in the afternoon of the same day.
As Vets pointed out, the role of the Chamber Board – and all Fremonsters in the know – is to let people know the Parade will start this year at 3p. The Fair, however, will open on Saturday at 11a.
Following this report, new Board Member Ryan Reiter reported on his efforts to schedule another Mobile Food Rodeo – on Sunday, May 5th, to coordinate with the Fremont Sunday Market. He’s currently at work to find a location – in Fremont or Capitol Hill – for a two day Seattle Street Food Festival. He also reported that he will not be organizing Zombie Walk in Fremont this year – reasons he gave were the onerousness of clean up and the tax the City has demanded for what they’ve declared ‘a sporting event.’
For more about Fremont events, the Chamber Board, and the potential film to be shot in Fremont as a joint project of Washington State and the City of Seattle, attend the next Fremont Chamber Board meeting on Wednesday, February 27th at 8a at History House. These meetings, as with most Chamber activities, are open-to-the-public – particularly anyone willing to wake up and talk Fremont at 8a.
See you there?
Related Articles
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- Doric Hosts First Ever Fremont MLK Day Of Service
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©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.