BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:   Julie Abel-Jabberdesign, John Jerome – Butler Pantry,  Lincoln Brackett-Brackett and Company, Angela Holmes-Century 21, Mike Carey-Del Sol, Fred and Janet Schmidt, Marilyn Starring-Star of Saugatuck,  Kevin Tringali – Bella Vita Spa & Suites, 

ABSENT:   Ben Barton, Frank Rojek, Bill Smith, Jodi White

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE:    Jane VerPlank-Victorian Inn/City of Saugatuck,   Brent Birkholz – Harbor Duck Adventures ,  Betty Barendse - Elbo Room,  George Waden-Homebodies, Sandra Randolph – Good Goods

SECRETARY’S MINUTES - Julie Abel moved to approve. John Jerome seconded. Motion passed.

TREASURER’S REPORT:  Treasurer’s Report - Jodi is out of town and will report at our next meeting.

MARKETING COORDINATORS REPORT – Janet Schmidt

 Table cards were distributed to board this morning.  They have been completed and will be printed and distributed on a quarterly basis –cost was $141 per organization to print these cards.  SABA, in collaboration with the SCA and the Historical Society are involved in this project.  The 1000 cards were assembled by a group of each organization’s volunteers and are being distributed to B&B’s, inns, and restaurants – really anywhere there is a table to put one on.  A few went to Holland and to Fennville as well.   Bottom 1/5 of table card will remain the same (contains contact information for each entity).   The upper portion of the card will be a calendar of events for each participant.   A huge thank you goes out to Ken Carls for the donation of his design expertise for the 1^st edition of the table cards.   Holland Litho did the printing this time.    Angela Holmes – Some feedback for those dropping off the table cards - when you drop them off you might ask if they are going to use the cards or not – one business threw them all out.    Janet will make a personal visit to all lodging establishments to see if they wish to use them and how many cards they would like to have.

Postcards went out for store hours - they went out to all shops, galleries, restaurants and bars requesting hours for April/May/June – only received about ½ back.  New hours will be posted on the website prior to April 1^st.  So if you didn’t respond to the postcard you’re hours will not listed – let Fred or Janet know your store hours if you did not reply to the postcard request.

Several new merchants have asked to host SABA Member Open Houses – An e-blast went out Sunday night with an incredible response.  Will plan these Open Houses in May and in June, and will consider doing joint showcasing with businesses close to each other.

SABA Bucks sale are still strong.  Sherwood Forest recently purchased $600 worth for a guest to give to his guests – great idea.  Suggestion:  We need to review how to redeem them with merchants.  Also this information is in the SABA handbook handed out in the fall.

CVB Guide – SABA section has been proofed and guide is about ready to go to print.  If you took out an ad in the CVB guide you have through close of business Friday to do the proofing for your ad.

Janet attended the area Networking luncheon that was held at Spectators – they will meet every two weeks.

SABA will host opening day of rehearsal brunches with cast and crew for the three Mason Street Warehouse shows this summer – another great way to welcome and introduce these guests to the community.

April 8^th – welcome a group of 11 people from Vista Management Inc. from Kalamazoo in collaboration with the Amway Grand, and have set up an afternoon of touring, dining, shopping and wine tasting – using the trolley.  A special reminder will go out to businesses reminding them to be open and welcoming this group.

Upcoming click thru’s on the web site will be a photo contest – there are always many “professional” photographers enjoying the beauty of Saugatuck and Douglas.  The plan is to encourage them to share their work, release same to us and do a monthly drawing – this way we build our gallery, get more e-mails and share in other talents.

We are in the process of setting SABA up in Facebook and have had a good response from LINKEDIN.

Make sure you continue to go to WMTA.org – we are listed on this web site as well.

Tom Van Howe did a 30 second segment on the changing of the light on Channel 3 yesterday.   There was also a short spot last week on tourism that Janet participated in and showed the ‘Things Are Great‘ bag.    Channel 3 said that it has five live spots scheduled to be filmed in Saugatuck this spring. 

If you see any press here (like a television or film truck) give Janet a call and she’ll check it out.

Angela Holmes – There will be a Spring Preview held on May 2^nd with both Saugatuck and Douglas merchant participation.  The event will be 5 to 9 p.m., with trolley service between towns and $250 SABA Buck Shopping Spree contest.  SABA will man tables at both map directional signs.  John Jerome – Spring Preview is a chance for stores to do something fun in both towns to kick-off Spring.  Angela Holmes – We are trying to get message out we’re a year around town.  Sandra Randolph – Open flags do help when they are displayed.  If you would like to purchase an open flag please contact Sandra Randolph at Good Goods for cost and availability.  Comment – Open flags shows that stores are open and some uniformity in the look.

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE – Julie Abel – She has completely removed information about membership from the SABA website.  We will have a separate member site just for SABA members.  The web address is sabamembers.com - Julie is still building it.  Angela Holmes - Would like links to press (TV, newspaper articles etc.) that we have received so membership can look at it.  Marilyn Starring - Can we add a blog for members who have questions that they would input from other business members who may have faced a similar issue?  Yes, thought it could be done.  The home page has similar look to new brochure. All board members now have vanity e-mails - i.e. angela@saugatuckdouglas.com

OLD BUSINESS – Fred Schmidt

MEMBERSHIP – 1 new member – Chantal Fashion Apparel.  All members have paid or on a payment plan.

DRUG STORE WALL – 9 signs have not been paid yet and 2^nd invoice has been issued to those people.  There are 48 spots on the wall – 33 have paid – 6 not returning.  If Fred Schmidt doesn’t hear anything back from these 9 people he will remove these signs by mid-April.  We have three on the waiting list and may possibly have a few open spots.  If there are open spots Fred will put something together for Spring Kick-Off to get the word out.

Sandra Randolph asked if anyone else complained about the price increase other than her this year on the Drug Store wall sign. Original cost to be on the board was $90 and now it’s $150.  Mike Carey – What we are doing with promotions, marketing administrator, etc. - we’re getting a lot of mileage for the extra money we are collecting, and it is a prominent location in the downtown area.    Sandra – I do realize that SABA is now providing more services for the additional money they are collecting.

Janet Schmidt – We have 2 new businesses that missed getting in the directory and they are looking at ways they can promote their businesses – the Drug Store wall is an avenue when they can get their message out.  New directory map will be put up in kiosks before the 2^nd of May.

Brent Birkholz – Is there any way to get the signs on the Drug Store wall organized either alphabetically or by business type?   Comments:  It was meant to be a quick directory – not being in alphabetical order has worked over the past.  Janet Schmidt – People on the wall love the spots they are in.   Fred  Schmidt – The ideal location would be at eye level, maybe we could price the varying levels at different prices – charging more for the eye level positions.  Sandra Randolph – Possibly you should consider giving people who are open more days of the year additional consideration.   Marilyn Starring – When this all started with Gary Kott he may have had some order but as signs came and went, new signs were placed where there was an opening, and we do keep a supply of SABA brochures directly underneath the Drug Store wall for people to find the business they are looking for.   Angela Holmes – This should go to the signage committee.

BROCHURE – Will be here April 13^th.   Marilyn Starring – I may need some help moving and stacking the brochures when they arrive.  Lincoln Brackett offered to store some in his store for Douglas.  Angela Holmes offered to store some in Century 21’s basement – prefer not to have to carry a lot of cases up and down stairs.  The new brochures will be at the Spring Kick-Off at Wild Dog on April 14th.

EVENTS COMMITTEE – John Jerome - Music in the Park will begin June 24^th – it will run 11 weeks thru September 2nd.  Well received bands from last year will be brought back and some new bands will be added. Cost is $500 per night – merchants can either split or take the whole night.  Rain Outs – we did have some last year, and Coral Gables hosted the rain out dates.  Had other establishments wanting to participate as the rain dates facility – talking to them to see what everyone has to offer. 

Town Crier – Press releases are done.   There has been a lot of registration done on-line.   They still need volunteers – Lisa Lungaro is coordinating the volunteer effort – Fred Schmidt will send out information for this.  Cut off for early registration is this Friday.  Angela Holmes – There are SABA stickers on all the posters.

Spring Kick-Off – Information will be coming out next week – it will be at Wild Dog in Douglas on April 14^th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

There will be some joint advertising available for Spring Preview – information should be out in the next couple of weeks.  Posters will be ready to print soon.

HARBOR PLANNING COMMITTEE – Marilyn Starring – The committee had their first meeting on March 5^th.  The committee is in the early planning stages and direction finding.  Their next meeting is Thursday, April 2^nd, 2009 at Douglas City Hall at 7 p.m.

VIEW FROM THE DUNES – Fred Schmidt is going to suggest portion of April’s program discuss the Spring Preview.

BLOCK CAPTAINS – Angela Holmes – We are working on updating for the summer.  We want Block Captains to know what their role is and what they are expected to do – should have a training session in several weeks.

COMMUNITY LEADERS LUNCH – Angela Holmes – Have nothing on it – should be one later this month.

OFF BUTLER STREET BUSINESS SIGNAGE - Marilyn Starring – Has met with Michael Clark, City of Saugatuck‘s assistant zoning administrator and explained what we would like to do.  Michael is going to look at the signs and check zoning requirements and get back to Marilyn.   Marilyn offered an alternative suggestion that her husband suggested.  Leave the remaining signs where they are – paint the posts and decorative trim black – leave the wood part of the sign (upper most part) then the portion where the shop names are we can replace with artwork done by local artists – she would have to find what it would have to be mounted on and a type of clear protective covering to put over the art work.  Some of the signs we may consider instead of art work enlarging the directions for the bathrooms – chain ferry etc.  Then on each sign, at eye level a copy of the map (that is in the directory) with a “You Are Here” with arrow on it would be placed.  It would have to be of acceptable material for the historical commission and covered with a protective sealant from sun and vandalism.  Signs would have to be moderately priced so we could reprint and replace them once a year in the spring once we print the larger map that go into the kiosk by the Information Booth.  There was agreement that this was a good idea.  Marilyn will do some additional follow-up and check into material pricing, and then it can go back to the sign committee and then to historical, planning, and city council.

Jane VerPlank - Cement slabs are being removed that statues from Art Around Town sat on.   The cement slabs are presenting too much of a trip and fall hazard without artwork on them.  Brent Birkholz Can SABA take this over next year?  General consensus from the board that this is a worth-while project but nothing we are willing to undertake.  Possibly the Art Club or local art galleries would be interested in displaying local artist’s work on the present slabs?   Angela Holmes – We are an all volunteer organization and we have our hands full doing what we are now doing.  We might find some board members that would be willing to help.  Sandra Randolph – Art galleries or Art Club may be interested in taking it over - Sandra will investigate the use of these slabs and how to go about it with the city.

LIQUOR MEETING - Marilyn Starring –  Meeting is going to be held on Thursday, April 23^rd from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.  Local liquor license holders and event planners will be invited to attend the meeting.  In attendance with be MLCC representative Abby Anderson, fire department, local police, Allegan County Sheriff Department and Saugatuck State Police post.  Also Jim Story, a former MLCC commissioner will be doing a presentation.   Marilyn has asked either Representative Bob Genetski or a representative from his office to discuss current and pending liquor legislation –if he or a representative is not available Jim Story can do a presentation on this.  Angela Holmes asked if there would be any discussion on extending serving alcohol to 4 a.m. – Marilyn said she would ask for that topic to be discussed.   Letters will be going out soon.

NEW BUSINESS

BOARD MEMBER WORKSHOP – will e-mail if we need one.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

TOWN CRIER RACE – Saturday, April 11^th, 2009 - NEED VOLUNTEERS

SABA SPRING KICK-OFF – Tuesday, April 14^th, 2009 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Wild Dog Grille in Douglas

LIQUOR LICENSE MEETING – Thursday, April 23^rd, 2009 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCA

SAUGATUCK AND DOUGLAS SPRING PREVIEW – Saturday, May 2^nd, 2009  5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH – Sunday, May 3^rd, 2009 Noon to 3:00 p.m. at Laketown Conference Center

SYLVIA RANDOLPH SHOWING – Sunday, May 3^rd – SCA – A memorial of her life’s artwork.

NEXT SABA BUSINESS MEETING - Wednesday, May 6, 8:30 AM, Saugatuck City Hall

Jane VerPlank checked with Kirk Harrier.  The city is planning on rearranging the statues that are left in town.  If you have a slab in front of your business and want to put something on it, you can have it, but you need to contact Kirk and work out the details with him.  City will be moving the bear statue to the park with children’s playground equipment.   The worm sculpture belongs to Art Around Town – so not sure what’s going to happen with that piece. 

Brent Birkholz – In regards to the upcoming road construction – this is a resort community and hopes that the city will commute to Fred when work is planning on being done and street closings will happen as to not to disrupt business.  Angela Holmes – We (SABA and city) have already talked to the business owners on the affected streets and the business owners decided construction will be this fall.  Mason Street will be done in the fall.  E-mail blasts will be forward to membership, especially business owners about street construction to keep them informed.  Jane VerPlank – City is hoping that construction will begin before Memorial Day but may be afterwards – not sure at this point in time.  Bids for the street projects haven’t been opened yet.   The city is going to do its best to work with the merchants during construction and realize it will be a difficult time for all.  There are a limited amount of days that construction can take place and have to make the most out of those days that are available.

Mt. Baldhead Stairs – Jane VerPlank said that latest is the city has found some loopholes in the building code and sent them to Dan Poll, the building administrator for an answer.  Hopefully they will be able to be rebuilt them the way they are.

Meeting adjourned at 9:45 a.m.