Saugatuck/Douglas Area Business Association

Monthly Business Meeting – June 2nd, 2010

Co-Chaired:  Angela Holmes and John Jerome, Co-President

Minutes:   Marilyn Starring, Recording Secretary
Minutes taken from video recording

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BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:    Lincoln Brackett-Brackett & Co., Mike Carey-Del Sol, John Jerome-Butler Pantry, Fred and Janet Schmidt, Jodi White - Macatawa Bank
 

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:   Julie Abel – Jabberdesign, Ben Barton-White House Bistro,  Marilyn Starring – Star of Saugatuck , Bill Smith – Parrot in the Square, Kevin Tringali – Bella Vita Spa, Toni Trudell-Park House
 

AUDIENCE MEMBERS PRESENT:  Mimi Gabriel, Executive Director, Allegan County United Way -  Karen Hancock – Volunteer coordinator for Allegan County United  Way – Ryan Kilpatrick-Village of City of Douglas – Jean Smiczek –Back to the Fuchsia - George Waden-Homebodies, Tim Marr -  Advanced Scuba, Holland - Jane VerPlank-Victorian Inn/Saugatuck City Council Membership
 

MARKETING COORDINATORS REPORT INCLUDING SPARKLE UPDATE:   Janet Schmidt
Sparkle:  Next Sparkle committee meeting is set for June 15th.  Subcommittee formed for year round sales – tree lighting and Santa arrival.    

All ads are due out earlier this month in the Vindicator (southeastern Ohio) and Ludington News. 

Updated Service member flier has been printed again and provided to members.

SABA Members Preview reception at Pump House Museum tonight “A Place Called Ox-Box: 100 years of connecting art, nature and people.”   Hope to have a big turn-out for this event, and looking forward to seeing it.

June newsletter – going out mid-month.  Golf clubs and Music In Park info will be featured.

Good response from Holland Sentinel Thursday ads – receiving a lot of call on SABA phone line.

Waterfront Film Festival is June 10^th thru 13^th.  5 window entries in the contest so far – Cookies on Call from Douglas is also participating.

June 8^th – Brunch for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – crew of 25 – starting at 8:30 a.m. done by 10:30 a.m.

First Music in the Park is Wednesday, June 23^rd from 7 to 9 p.m. at Wicks Park.

Latest table tent cards are in.

Sent retirement card to Sue Techlenberg from Chemical Bank on her retirement.

Angela Holmes– Would like Janet to provide tracking on the dedicated phone line – at end of this season would like to give report to CVB after hour’s information and what people are asking for.

Rick Bauer will receive check from Town Crier for warm up uniforms - $4,414.52. Community Rec received a check for $250.  SABA received $3100 (advertising, SABA Bucks etc.) can see a lot of room for growth on this run.

UNITED WAY:  Mimi Gabriel – Allegan County United Way, wanting to promote the agency in the Lakeshore area – they are SABA members.  Saugatuck is in the Allegan United Way area.  Fund full volunteer center, Imagination Library Project, 211 (information to find agency who handles various issues) will see more on this in the fall.  United Way’s monies assist 200 families in Saugatuck zip code and 100 families in Douglas zip code.  Allegan county 760,000 raised last year (exceeded their goal of $750,000) 2010 $800,000 and have received $850,000 to date – will collect thru the end of June. 

Karen Hancock  - United Way Volunteer Coordinator–Works on how small business can contribute to United Way – have a presence in Saugatuck/Douglas with either a collection canister or provide an opportunity to sell t-shirt/sunglasses in your businesses.  A lot of volunteer opportunities for you and/or your employees to participate in – just looking to have a presence in the area.  If you are interested please contact Karen (left some cards).

Angela Holmes - United Way may fit well into our Fall Fun Fest – will talk more about it after our busy season.

UPDATES FROM SAUGATUCK CITY HALL: Jane VerPlank  Streets should be completed by Thursday.  Should be barrel free until August 16^th – Lucy Street project will begin.  Sign committee will not have anything for this season – anticipating for next season.  Also discussed putting signage at end of Lucy Street during construction for Sidewalk Sale.

UPDATE FROM DOUGLAS CITY HALL:  Ryan Kilpatrick – no updates.  Any updates or questions or concerns?  Merchant meeting in Douglas tonight at Brackett and Company. 

EVENTS INFORMATION:  John Jerome Music in the Park on the 23^rd – 11 concerts – preliminary flier that has gone out.  26 sponsors to date.

Sidewalk Sales – Will meet June 22^nd at 4 p.m. at Park House.

Looking at an event in Douglas – possibly on September 11^th – maybe a wine tasting event in Douglas – also date of the 'Victory Party' for people who voted for Saugatuck on Budget Host website.  Will have a lot of music on streets etc. for party – details being worked out by CVB.

Events committee wants Douglas involved more in events that are happening.

SBAM – will contribute to a MIP and hosting an event in Douglas as well.                                                                    

PUBLIC COMMENT: Tim Marr owns advanced Scuba in Holland and has brought in over 100 people to dive wreck off Saugatuck in the last 3 years.  When bringing charters in and picking the passengers up at the Spear Street boat launch he and his passengers have been harassed by the people at Star of Saugatuck over the use of the launch ramp.  Last year he didn’t come back and ran his charters out of Holland – wanted to voice his opinion on this issue.  Mr. Marr called police to take care of the issue.  Fred Schmidt - What was the issue? Why were the police called?   Tim Marr:  Not sure – he brings boat down from Holland and picks up in Saugatuck and he has a season launch pass.  Starring’s telling his customers from the time they get there to the time they leave that he is running an illegal charter out of the harbor.  If   another boat comes in to launch – will back out into channel and let people launch.  Janet Schmidt – How many people do you pick up?  Six people – at launch ramp 20 minutes tops.  Mike Cary observed situation, but with that being the city ramp is there some issues?  Have you discussed with city manager?  Tim Marr –Yes and he said it wasn’t a problem.  It is too expensive to run boat from Holland fully loaded to dive site – he has a friend coming next week out of Wisconsin to run dive charters out of Saugatuck.  Janet Schmidt – Need to set up mediation with parties involved and have SABA look into this.  Angela Holmes – Need to help everyone do business.  John Jerome – Need to keep positive perception of Saugatuck/Douglas.  

Marilyn Starring:  Since I was not there to comment on this matter - anyone interested on what the issues have been with Mr. Marr I am willing to discuss this with you.  The issues of concern have been brought to the city managers attention over the last several years and it is an on-going issue that has yet to be resolved between the city and Mr. Marr. 

Comment:  Would like to hold some of the SABA meetings in Douglas.  Ryan Kilpatrick said he would check into that for that for us – might also considering Old School House, acoustics might be better.  We will continue to work on holding some meetings in Douglas.

Next SABA meeting will be July 7^th at 8:30 at Saugatuck City Hall.

New Members:  Felt Mansion – Lana’s Boutique – Spirit Space
 

SECRETARY’S MINUTES:  No quorum.

TREASURER’S REPORT:  No quorum.  Collected $6,000 so far for Saugatuck Business Organization a sub-committee of SABA - First priority is to pay for shuttle, foot patrol and any leftover monies going to Sparkle.

Sandra Randolph – we should put all towards shuttle and then put towards the ambassador (foot patrol) – feels shuttle is extremely important to all of our businesses.  Next month will give comparison of where we are compared to budget.

DRUG STORE WALL:  2 open spaces available.  May put a sign up for SABA bucks – something we can control and will put up when we have an open space.

SABA BUCKS:  Not a significant change from last month – still selling at a nice pace - $7,000 either gifted or purchased since program has started. 

Angela would like to send out an e-mail in next week or two with an instruction sheet on how to redeem SABA bucks – just as a reminder to merchants – can use to train new employees. 

Janet Schmidt – get updated 2010 Calling Tree out and reminder how to use it. 

Garden Club has picked a person to water the flowers in Saugatuck – SABA will contribute $20 per week for Brianna to water flowers during the summer.  Merchants – remember to water flowers when they get dry in between watering.

Fred Schmidt – Would like to discuss new members we receive after July 1st –we had given a reduced rate -in past charged $150 after July 1^st and left fee at $50 for non-profits.  Would like board to discuss this at next meeting what we want to do.   Angela will look up minutes in regards to what we voted on last year.  Janet Schmidt – Believe that we decided that if you joined after July 1 you still paid the $200 and would get the extra months and next year’s membership as well.  Agreed this was correct.

George and Jean Waden had a yard sale this past week and raised over $1800 for Relay for Life – did 7 or 8 auction baskets.  Relay for Life is June 18^th and 19^th.

Meeting adjourned.