DUNDY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT

December 6, 2007

MINUTES OF MEETING

1. The meeting was called to order by Vice President, Joya Neville.

2. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and discussed. Ben Blecha proposed an amendment reflecting that Bob Prangley is one of the chairmen of the Business Development Committee and was present but presented no report from said committee. Previous minutes stated that no report was given because no one from the committee was present. There was a second and the vote to amend was unanimous. Thereafter, the minutes were approved as presented and amended.

3. Treasurer's report: Joya distributed a report reflecting that the Chamber's ending balance for the month of November, 2007, was $22,779.10. It was moved and seconded to approve the Treasurer's Report and unanimously approved by the body. A copy of the report is attached to the official December minutes in the record of the Secretary.

4. OLD BUSINESS:

a. Action group reports:

1. Benkelman Beautification/Community Improvement - Gary Clark: No report

2. Website Communications: Scott Vanderford: No report

3. Graphic Communications: Ben Blecha

Ben passed around a proposed brochure to be circulated promoting the Dundy County area. He asked for recommendations and suggested that it should be used to try to convince some businesses to join the Chamber of Commerce in exchange for promoting the mentioned businesses. Several suggestions were made to Ben for changes and a new and revised brochure will be presented by next meeting but the group liked the layout and ideas very much. It is hoped that a new promotional brochure will be available soon. Thanks to Ben for all his hard work.

Linda Melchert told the group that she has been in constant contact with Ne. Rural Living, an organization that promotes events in the area. She found that the Community Concert scheduled for December 9, 2007, in Benkelman, was advertised as a worthy event in the area. She also indicated that she is constantly seeking information from local birders and passing along the information to this publication and web site because birding is a wonderful economic development idea for this area. She requested birders to keep her informed of the various birds spotted in the area and where they were found so she can feed that information to this web site.

4. Funding: Pat Rotherham. No report

5. Housing: Jim Owens/Gene and Linda Jones: No report was offered but a one-page hand-out was given to each member present reflecting some houses for sale or rent in Benkelman. It is not complete and no discussion about the list ensued. A copy of said hand-out is attached to the official minutes in the record of the Secretary.

6. Retail/Business Development: Bob Prangley, Jerry Preston, Pat Rotherham: No report.

B. Christmas Promotion follow-up. Joya led the discussion.

1. POKER WALK. Linda Melchert reported that at least 21 businesses will participate in the Poker Walk. More may be added prior to the actual day.

2. KETTLE PROMOTION: In Bob Prangley's absence, Joya discussed the promotion idea. This is a new plan to get businesses to agree to place a number of discount certificates in kettles which will be on main street and the discounts will allow those who take them to receive discounts on goods and services in the various businesses. LINDA MELCHERT will assist BOB PRANGLEY and volunteers to help distribute and pick-up certificates are: HARLAN CANSLER, JUDY OWENS, and GINNY JOHNSON. BOB PRANGLEY or LINDA MELCHERT will contact the volunteers with proper directions.

2. DRAWINGS: December 15^th and 20^th. Volunteers were requested to help with the drawing. . JIM OWENS is in charge of arranging for the ambulance with the speaker system, blocking off the street, and obtaining Randy Raile's announcing services.

3. PING PONG BALL DROP. JOYA NEVILLE and JUDY OWENS will gather and mark them. Other volunteers are urged to help.

4. CHRISTMAS MOVIE: Volunteers to work concessions are: SCOTT VANDERFORD, LINDA MELCHERT, JUDY OWENS, AND BEN BLECHA.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. City-wide cleanup plan. Ginny Johnson requested endorsement and support of the Chamber of Commerce for her action group's plan to clean up the city. She indicated that a group of volunteers is gathered and anyone else is welcome to join in this planning process. The idea is to spend January and February laying the groundwork and the plans for a major volunteer clean-up effort throughout town. This group will work with city government and will lay out the actual plan for areas to be cleaned. The hope is to get everyone in town excited about improving their properties, getting rid of the trash and weeds, old tires, demo car bodies and other ditrius fouling our city blocks and to take real pride in the beauty of the town. This request was met with loud approval and it was moved and seconded and unanimously approved by the Chamber of Commerce to endorse this plan and to help promote it.

A general discussion followed concerning the blight ib the city and the effort it will take to accomplish this goal but, with the support of city government and the promise of government to proceed against the recalcitrant property owners, the group feels confident that major change is on the way. It was generally agreed that no commercial development can occur until the town looks prosperous, clean, neat, and tidy.

2. WIRELESS HOT SPOT. Scott Vanderford indicated he had spoken with the Benkelman Telephone Co. about concerns it may have if the Chamber of Commerce were to install an outdoor wireless antenna downtown. The concerns were many so it was determined that, instead, the Chamber will probably promote the wireless hot spot at the telephone company's gazebo and will search for another indoor spot for such an antenna later. It is a business-friendly matter for traveling salespersons and others who the Chamber of Commerce wishes to lure to Benkelman for economic development purposes.

3. Gary Clark requested a moment of silence for the tragedy that took place in Omaha, NE, on December 5, 2007, at the Von Maur store. The group then determined that the Secretary should send a note of support and concern to the Mayor of Omaha, expressing support for the city from the Dundy County Chamber of Commerce. A copy of that letter is attached to the official minutes of the Secretary.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,


Judith L. Owens, past Secretary