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, Bill Smith – Parrot in the Square, and Marilyn Starring-Star of Saugatuck,   Jodi White-Macatawa Bank
 

ABSENT:   Ben Barton, Frank Rojek, Kevin Tringali
 

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: George Waden-Homebodies, Jane VerPlank-Victorian Inn/Saugatuck City, Mike Gummere -Waddell & Reed, Joleen Christine-Commercial Record, Lisa Lungaro-Macatawa Bank
 

SECRETARY’S MINUTES – Lincoln Brackett moved to approve. Mike Carey seconded. Motion passed.
 

TREASURER’S REPORT:  Jodi White presented profit and loss statement from November 1, 2008 through May 6, 2009 – showing we have a deficit, but that is due to how our fiscal year is set up.  There were a lot of dues paid in last year’s budget.  Fiscal year runs from November 1^st to October 31^st.  Bill Smith - can we do some accrual accounting?  Jodi White – Yes, I could do that.  Angela Holmes – This is Jodi’s first year as treasurer and just learning how the system works.   There are some different ways we can do things with the accounting in the future.  Mike Carey – What is amount in reserves?  $11,000 in a reserve account (using $10,000 to pay for brochures) and $20,000 in a money market.  Fred Schmidt – We have collected about $42,000 in dues. There are still some Town Crier sponsorships still coming in. Mike Carey – What is still outstanding that we can expect to receive?  Fred Schmidt –Revenue is around $1,500 – new memberships, drug store wall, brochure ads etc.  Bill Smith made motion to approve.  Second by Julie Abel.  Motion Passed
 

MARKETING COORDINATORS REPORT – Janet Schmidt

SABA will host a brunch for the cast of the ‘The Full Monty’ at Mason Street Warehouse, on June 9^th.   If you would like to make something for the brunch or to help with the brunch please let Janet know.  It will take place at 9:30 a.m. at Mason Street Warehouse.  We will provide brunches for all three casts of the plays performing at MSW this summer.

SABA Bucks sales continue – redemption and purchase.  Information on website helps explain how it works – very helpful.

Janet continues to go to the networking luncheons at Spectators – they meet every 2 weeks.

April 8^th brought 10 people from Kalamazoo, which was arranged with the Amway Grand and was a great morning and afternoon of touring – Lunch was at The Butler, went to Oval Beach, did some touring in Douglas and Saugatuck and ended at Round Barn Winery – Rubinkam also had a nice reception for them.  Had nice follow up from Amway Grand and group themselves on their visit to the area. 

Spring Preview – registration for shopping spree 151 in Douglas – 53 in Saugatuck – took name, zip code and e-mail addresses.  Steve Caudill from Kalamazoo won the $250 shopping spree.  Trolley moved 53 people back and forth between the two communities. 

Newest member to join SABA is the Saugatuck Area Charter Boat Assn.  a non-profit organization – based out of Big Lake Outfitters.  Member only party that was scheduled at Big Lake Outfitters for May 19^th is going to be rescheduled – date for this will be rescheduled later.   

May 27^th there will be a member only open house at the Historical Museum.

August 3^rd through 6^th a film crew will be coming to Saugatuck to shoot a 30 minute segment for cable and nationwide television called ‘One Big Fish’.  Saugatuck is one of 14 ports of call they have selected for televising.    They will be staying at Ship and Shore – River Market is taking care of their lunch, and one evening SABA will meet them and host a pizza/beverage dinner on the docks.    They will use high resolution photos for a one minute spot promoting dining and sleeping locally.   They have over 1 million viewers.  Film crew will be in Whitehall and Portage but not sure where else.

Julie Abel - Where are the images coming from that you are going to use?  Janet - Erin Wilkinson has some nice shots that she would like us to consider – we need to put together a 1 minute story

Will also be hosting a photography contest, should begin in two weeks – Patti Bekken will assist Janet in rules and guidelines for the contest.  Angela Holmes – One of the rules of the contest is once you send in your photo you release rights to photo.  Marilyn Starring – Will you give these persons recognition for their photos when we use their picture?  Yes.

Bill Smith – Is there any cross membership between CVB and SABA?  Yes.  Is there anyone who is a member of each board?    Yes, members do belong to both organizations.  No in regards to representation on board – at one time Sharon Shanahan was a liaison between both organizations and the co-presidents do meet with Felicia.

OLD BUSINESS

New Membership – Korson  Financial Services, Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors, CKC Architect, Allegan Road Furniture, Moore’s Creek Inn, Caravanserai, and Saugatuck Area Charter Boat Assn.    Mike Carey – thanked new members for their support and that their membership allows SABA the ability to do more things, and supports the communities as a whole. 
 

Drug Store Wall – Still have 2 open spaces left on it.  Douglas has asked for one space.

Brochure – Being distributed.  New (updated) maps were put in the kiosk.  Angela Holmes is going to talk to Kirk about putting a photo sensitive eye on map in Saugatuck, so someone doesn’t have to physically turn it on and off daily.
 

Events Committee Update –

Swing into Spring – committee felt it was a good event.  Douglas felt that there wasn’t a good turn-out for the event this year.  Felt it might have had something to do with it being Derby Day. Going to move the event to the second Saturday in May next year - May 8^th, 2010.  Marilyn Starring mentioned that the second Saturday would be Tulip Time and might not get people from Holland. 
 

Town Crier – There hasn’t been a follow-up meeting yet.
 

Music in the Park - June 24^th thru September 2^nd – almost all the bands have been chosen for Music in the Park will wrap up in the next couple of weeks.
 

Bill Smith asked about getting more bus tours to come to Saugatuck during Tulip Time.  Marilyn Starring explained that bus companies set their itineraries months in advance; they have a set agenda which they rarely deviate from.  Most buses that go to Tulip Time just come in for the day, or are passing through to another destination (Traverse City/Frankenmuth/Mackinac Island) – Tulip Time is their destination.    Would be better to try to work on groups so the group tells the bus company where they want to stop.
 

Douglas Social – They are planned for this summer – SABA will do one for this summer.

Waterfront Film Festival – Lisa Lungaro said Judy Smith has retired.  Asked where Thursday night event is going to be?  Time?  Is SABA going to be doing the window decorating contest?  Angela Holmes –We need to talk about that – Marcia Burd is not going to be able to head this up this year.  Julie asked if Lisa could have image of poster e-mailed to her so she can put its information on SABA website.    John Jerome – Are posters out?  Yes.  Lisa Lungaro will contact WFF and get more posters.  Janet Schmidt – Katie George is the new WFF contact person.  Talked about getting Douglas involved in the event this year too.  Go to www.waterfrontfilm.org to get information on this year’s event.

Harbor Planning Committee – Marilyn Starring reported they have had a meeting and working through all by-laws and determining what they want to accomplish.   The Stimulus Plan gave the Corps of Engineers $10 million to rebuild the piers.  Bids should be let this summer and completed by fall of 2010.    Bill Smith asked what it was for and how far the work would go.  Marilyn Starring – just to rebuild piers at mouth of river – no dredging.  Saugatuck is classified as a recreation harbor - Commercial harbors get dredging funding.  Commercial harbors are those harbors that have large boats (tankers, lake freighters etc.) enter them.  There has been talk about trying to get government to recognize harbors such as Saugatuck as being a commercial harbor because recreation is our commercial industry.  Angela Holmes is going to talk to Patty Birkholz about this.   Bill Smith – There is a person in Douglas who writes grant money.
 

View from the Dunes – May show is going to be Memorial Day weekend and authors from area.
 

Block Captains – Angela Holmes – Going to have a meeting in the next week or two – around mid-May.  Julie will have a new list of block captains for the members on the SABA website by next Wednesday.
 

Community Leaders Lunch – No lunch.

Off Butler Street Business Signage – Angela Holmes talked to Kirk – we can paint.  Art contest – we talked about for sign – nothing will happen prior to Memorial Day.  Maybe we could pick a post to paint on Community Pride Day.  Julie will help paint.

NEW BUSINESS

Board Meeting – Will schedule one if we need it.
 

Local Road Work Issues – Saugatuck is under construction – Lake Street is going to be the only road that will remain readily accessible.  Washington/Holland and North Street are closed.  Allegan is in really bad shape and will be closed eventually.  Lake Street is the only good street going into town.  We should be getting a temporary stop light at Lake and Blue Star – this has to be okayed at next council meeting.  Signage – signs are too far in and confusing – needs to be at the entrances of the road.  Need businesses are open signs.  Need it to be inviting and to direct you where to go.  Janet – may need special traffic officer for certain dates.  Bill Smith – may want to talk to someone who did the signage in Douglas when they were doing their road work – signs were very effective.

Technology - Julie Abel -Sabamembers.com website has been finished.  Member communication portion is there.

Calling Tree has been updated.
 

Dates to Remember
a) Waterfront Film Festival Pub Crawl, Saturday, May 16
b) Community Pride Day, Monday, May 18
c) Memorial Day Weekend, May 23 - 25
d) Reception for SABA member and employees at Saugatuck Museum, Wednesday, May 27, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
e) Next SABA Business Meeting – Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 8:30 AM, Saugatuck City Hall e) Waterfront Film Festival, June 11 - 14

Commercial Record – Has their annual graduating senior’s page – you can sponsor a student for $10 per student.

Adjourned – 9:50a.m.