An Historic Overview (Of The Fremont Chamber,) In Brief

and W. James Daly

An edited version of this column originally appeared on Fremont.com for June 2006.

Author’s Note: Regular readers may notice an addition to the by-line, and may well disdain any claim I may make to being brief. Jim Daly started this collection of annual observances and I have tried to pick up where he left off, and adhere to his pithy style. As a result, we have this comprehensive, time-line of Fremont Chamber of Commerce history from conception to maturity (of a sort.)

1982

In mid-1982 Fremont Chamber founders Suzie Burke, Jim Freeman and George Heideman gathered to discuss issues facing our struggling business district. A big issue at the time was zoning. Most communications took place via phone tree and most meetings took place over breakfast at King’s Row Restaurant on 39^th and Stone Way. Downtown Fremont had no facilities large enough to hold meetings. The Chamber operated via a ‘Steering Committee’ and dues were $10 per year. Jim Daly, the only founding member late for the first election, was chosen its first president in June and served four terms. Daly first published The Bridge, our newsletter, in late 1982 to the 50 paid members on our roster.

1983

A controversial subject in 1983 was the location of the Burke-Gilman Bike Trail through Fremont. The Chamber did not favor this. A post office box gave the Chamber an official address, and regular monthly meetings kept businesses informed about public safety and zoning issues.

1984

Dues rose to $25 for companies and $10 for individuals in 1984. The Steering Committee stated as a goal the improvement of the retail core of Fremont, including support of the American Music Theater at the old Odd Fellows Hall. Voters selected the paint color of the Fremont Bridge at the Fremont Street Fair Chamber booth, with blue & orange beating out green. By the end of 1984 membership topped 100.

1985

In 1985, the Chamber co-sponsored the Irregular Fremont Neighborhood tour and established its current Board composition. The Fremont Economic Development Council was born again to design a five year working plan.

1986

In 1986 Marc Jones was elected president and served three terms. Vic Warren of WBA designed the Chamber’s present logo for free. Community and business leaders, organized by the Chamber, successfully fought closure of B.F. Day Elementary School.

1987

June 1987 saw the first running of the Briefcase Relay race with the Chamber Pot of Commerce trophy created by Mike Peck of Fremont Architectural Pottery. By September we reported a balance of $1700 in our treasury.

1988

In 1988 we claimed 170 members. The Chamber supported keeping float planes on Lake Union as well as participation in the first Annual Bite of B.F. Day, with food vendors at the school and an entrance fee of $10.

1989

1989 saw Suzie (Groves) Burke as the first female President. The Revitalization Plan for Fremont got a grant and generated a report, called the Living Neighborhood. Prepared by Gilmore Research, it proposed upgrades, a ten-year plan and a list of businesses needed for a viable Fremont retail core.

1990

Mike Peck took over presidency in 1990 for two terms. The second 19th Annual Oktoberfest fundraiser, organized by Ken Saunderson, featured the first closing of boating season ceremony.

1991

In 1991 B. F. Day Elementary School re-opened after an extensive remodel. Suzie Burke continued to run a book sale annually to support the Fremont Library, and popularity – among attendees and political speakers – grew for our Picnic In the (Gas Works) Park in June.

1992

In 1992 the Board elected to hire an Executive Secretary to generate reminders of impending meetings, facilitate membership recruitment, answer phones, collect and sort mail and do correspondence. Jim Daly returned to lead the Chamber as its president, for his fifth year. Jon Hegeman designed “The Official Guide to the Curious Republic of Fremont” as a project of the Fremont Business Association.

1993

Under President Phill Briscoe, in 1993, the Chamber hired Kirby (Khale) Lindsay, owner of Ladybug Books, as a paid volunteer Executive Secretary. George Heideman led efforts on the Board to complete a comprehensive parking study for Fremont.

1994

President Pam Hinckley helped Charlotte Buchanan and the FRetail Committee realize a Christmas season Shopping Spree contest. John Hoge installed the Fremont Rocket while Mike Peck organized a community-wide auction to pay for it. Charles Hadrann designed a funky new membership form while Jeanne Muir, as contracted by the Chamber, publicized Fremont to the world. The Chamber along with Fremont Arts Council members protested the Seattle Comprehensive Plan with a Proclamation declaring Fremont an Independent Imagi-Nation and forming ARF, the Artist’s Republic of Fremont.

1995

The second Miracle On 34th Street, a Celebration of Life through Miniature Golf, took place as well as the Tour de Fremont Bike Race. President Kathy Moeller facilitated volunteers who initiated an Art About on first Saturdays and an increasing frequency of Business After Hours (BAH). Proposed purchase of Open Space property at a price considerably higher than appraised value by the City had the neighborhood in a hot debate, until the Chamber agreed to broker the sale of a bronze sculpture of Lenin.

1996

The Chamber held an auction for B.F. Day in 1996 at Hale’s Ales and raised $13,000. The Board purchased copies of the latest edition of the Walking Guide to Fremont as designed by Jon Hegeman to distribute as well as “Center Of The Universe” signs to sell. Raymond Glandon finally got Space Chips, the official currency of Fremont and U-Park, to help alleviate parking concerns.

1997

Melissa Hines took the helm as President in 1997, and the Board convinced Phil Megenhardt, and Bold Hat Productions, to resurrect the Oktoberfest fundraiser. Hysterical Markers sprouted up around the neighborhood, while Denise Fogleman and area businesses instructed children at B.F. Day on how to run a business for the first Village.

1998

In 1998, President Erin Kohlenberg helped hire Neave Karger-Megenhardt as the new Executive Secretary. Community discussions, and newsletter reports, concerned much needed repairs on the Fremont Bridge Approaches. Theresa Weidemann helped Jon Hegeman and Josh Logan lure two Dinosaur (topiaries) to graze alongside the Ship Canal. The Lake Union Center held the First Fremont Holiday Lighting in Adobe Plaza and the Board fought parking meters for Fremont, again.

1999

The Chamber once again gave its support for a Trick-Or-Treat event for 1999. Diana Jones and Michelle Barrier initiated the Upper Fremont “Highlanders” promotion. The Chamber supported a fourth annual Kids’ Day! In Fremont, featuring a Spelling Bee and special guests J.P. Patches & Gertrude. Jim Daly Day on August 6th became one of many efforts to show affection to (self-proclaimed) ‘Godmother’ Jim before he succumbed to cancer.

2000

George Heideman served as President for two years starting in 2000, and Emily Richardson took the job as Executive Secretary. The annual discussion of what to do with the web site, ably tended by Tom Sparks, spawned the annual designation of a committee to investigate. The Fremont Sunday Market came under attack and in reaction to a rather thoughtless comment, the Chamber Board officially voted themselves as the ‘Wrong Kind Of People.’

2001

The Chamber hired John Nordstrand to maintain the web site and Angela Light came on-board as Executive Secretary in an officially rented office space. Samantha Lane helped organize retailers and a Fremont Sidewalk Sale.

2002

In 2002, President Russ Mead led efforts to hire the Chamber’s first Executive Director, Bill Elder. Dues were raised to $50 for Individuals, and companies paid staggered amounts based on employee numbers up to $200 for a Sustaining Membership. Community meetings, including Chamber Board meetings, moved to History House, an area museum the Chamber helped create by serving as fiscal agent on grant applications.

2003

Marco Tubic took over presidential duties in 2003, a year kicked off with a Strategic Planning Meeting and the adoption of a formal Mission Statement. After two years, the FROG (Fremont Retail Organizational Group) officially hopped onto the Chamber bandwagon as a standing committee. The Walking Guide To Fremont became an official project of the Chamber. Efforts to educate and avoid an RPZ (Residential Parking Zone) in Fremont began and Regan Peck got enthusiastic support for a Fremont First Friday Art Walk.

2004

The Chamber started 2004 assisting the Fremont Public Association efforts to make the Fremont Fair a more effective fundraiser. Solicitation of donations to pay for roadway improvements proposed in the Circulation Plan got underway, as the Board foresaw the impact of the Fremont Bridge Approach Replacement project. In trade for the job as Editor of the Chamber newsletter, Kirby Lindsay agreed to return as interim office staff, and she lasted almost a whole month. Corky Merwin, Kathy Moeller and Lisa Perry lit up Lenin for Christmas with the help of Jon Hegeman, and to the delight of a huge audience.

2005

The Board spent 2005 dissecting Lenin Lighting costs but in the end, they chose to light him up again. The Chamber also supported Music In The Sculpture Garden, as well as providing continued support to the Outdoor Cinema. Sarah Nelson took over office duties, and moved the Chamber to shared space with the Neighborhood Service Center. The new Oversight Committee worked to guide her, and then her replacement, Lillian Tangen. The Board fought off pay stations (a new name for parking meters), again.

2006 – T.B.D.

Epilogue –

To detail every effort, some failed and others too wildly successful for mere words to capture, would be futile. Just as it would be to try to list every single volunteer that has made the Chamber possible throughout a very long and very glorious history. For everything done, everything attempted and everything endured, thank you all!