by Kirby Lindsay, posted 30 May 2014
The Fremont Chamber of Commerce (FCC) Board Meeting for May did discuss Chamber business, but mostly as it related to the needs of the Fremont Arts Council (FAC), and its Solstice Parade.
Fundraising For FAC
The FAC came up first during the report on the recent Executive Committee meeting. The Chamber recently signed an agreement with the FAC to cooperate, and that cooperation is needed to help find funds for the Parade – an annual event that brings thousands and thousands of people to Fremont, to area businesses and to the Fremont Street Fair, which the Chamber produces. The Executive Committee discussed the relationship with the FAC, and the meeting lined up – for May 28th – with area bar owners about funding for the Parade.
According to Marko Tubic, former FCC President and current liaison with the FAC, the arts organization wants to take the Parade to the next level but they face a constant struggle for funding. “The core people at the Fremont Arts Council are really passionate,” Tubic reported. They love the arts, and they love events, but they need funds. Area businesses like The Ballroom and Red Door have stepped up, with memberships and donations. Meanwhile, the relationship between the FAC and the FCC goes up and down, with push and pull, as everyone works to find common ground.
Unfortunately, some members of the FAC object to the new, ticketed Fremont Fair concerts (on June 20th & 21st – the summer solstice) being referred to as the ‘Solstice Concert Series.’ They believe the name may damage the brand of the Solstice Parade & Celebration. The Board acknowledged the objection, and the fact that little can be done about it at this time.
Tubic also mentioned that the FAC leadership acknowledged that they need someone, perhaps a staff person, to fundraise for them, but that they lack funding to pay such a person. He compared it to having an untied shoe while being chased by a bear – do they stop and tie the shoe so they can run faster, or keep running and know they could trip and fall down at any moment?
The Board also discussed, briefly, another group forming from among representatives of the FCC, the FAC and the larger of Fremont employers, to find long-term sustainable funding for Fremont Culture. These efforts will not, however, fund the 2014 Parade.
The Executive Committee, and the Board, also discussed the Chamber’s current cash flow shortfall. A hard look at the Chamber’s finances, particularly in the face of funding the Fair, revealed less cash available than had been expected. “We have to be careful with grants,” Chamber Executive Director Jessica Vets said, “and giving away money we don’t have.”
Fair Grants
That started a long discussion about Fair Grants. Phil Megenhardt, of Bold Hat Productions, produces the Fair and Fremont Oktoberfest for the FCC (he also serves, currently, as Chamber President,) and he explained that when the Chamber took over organizing the Fair in 2010, a few other events came with it. The Fair is coordinated with the Parade, the Seattle Art Car Blowout (SACBO,) and the Fremont Abbey Arts For All activity area. They all take place during the same weekend, and the Fair has always provided some funding and infrastructure – each brings people to the Fair, and the Fair gives them room. This year, to create a more transparent and formal arrangement, the FCC decided to give the money through a Community Grant process.
A Chamber Grants committee met and discussed, at length, how to distribute the $7,500 available. The committee came up with creative ways to increase the money available – adding the $2,600 raised at the Hop Scotch Spring Beer & Scotch Festival, and another $3,995 that may be raised at this year’s Fair.
Still, that won’t fully fund the requests:
- FAC Solstice Parade – requested $9,129, and committee recommended $8,895
- SACBO – requested $4,500, and recommended $3,700
- Fremont Abbey Arts For All – requested $2,500, and recommended $1,500
The Board spent one-third of this meeting striving to find full funding for the FAC request. Several members agreed to put pressure to donate on businesses around Fremont that financially benefit from the Parade, and suggested a request be made to Chamber members at large. Pete Hanning, a Chamber Board Member, asked what benefits SACBO brings Fremont year ‘round, in comparison with the FAC. Megenhardt defended SACBO, and the way it fulfills, “one of the most vital missions of the Fair – to bring art to the neighborhood.” He has been working on in-kind donations, of food, lodging and gas, to meet the needs of SACBO.
The concern, that the Chamber was granting money it may not have, further stretched the discussion. The Chamber Treasurer couldn’t attend this meeting, so the Board voted blind. Ultimately, a majority voted to approve the distributions as recommended by the Grant Committee. Board members also pushed for the money to be paid, as soon as possible, to the FAC.
Other Matters, Sort Of
Jennifer Beus introduced herself at this meting. She is the new manager for the Fremont PCC, taking over as Raymond Glandon relocates to the new Green Lake Village PCC, opening in June. She recently consulted with the Seattle Police Department (SPD) Community Officer, who reported that only four officers currently cover our area. He urged her to ‘call, call, call’ when she sees a problem – to give SPD a better idea of what is going on, and more accurate statistics for when officers are assigned around Seattle.
The Board also welcomed a new representative from the Woodland Park Zoo, discussed membership renewals, and the upcoming topic for the June Picnic In The Park. Picnic attendees will be asked to share their burning issues for potential candidates to the Seattle City Council for the new Districts #4 and #6, which will represent Fremont. Find out more on that on June 18th at Noon at Gas Works Park, or attend the next Chamber Board meeting on June 25th at 8a at History House to learn about all FCC business.
The Fremont Chamber welcomes everyone to its meetings. As President Megenhardt reminded attendees at the May Board meeting, the Chamber exists to strengthen the business climate and quality of life in Fremont – and it does it best when everyone works together.
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©2014 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.