Dear Clearview Chamber members,

Below please find the Agenda for this Wednesday's meeting along with the minutes from January’s meeting.

We will see you this Wednesday at 6:30 pm, 217 Gideon St, in Stayner.
   

1. Welcome & Call to Order
2. Approval of the January 15, 2020 Minutes
3. Presentation Re: Welcome Wagon – Wendy Bryant-Endert
4. Financial Report – Ramona Holm
5. Membership – Rachael Broderick
6. Update Re: New Chamber Logo – Charley Lewis
7. Discussion Re: Events – Kat Salvador
   1. Sidewalk Sale (Kinsmen Duck Race Day) – May 2^nd – Decorate Windows
   2. Mother’s Day Basket – Linda Parolin
   3. Business Awards
8. Reminder Re: Open Executive Positions for AGM – Kat Salvador
   1. 3-Year Director – To replace Troy Disabato
   2. Treasurer – To replace Ramona Holm
   3. Secretary
9. Discussion Re: Business Owners Parking on Main Street Stayner – Kat Salvador
10. Update Re: Planters, Benches & Garbage Cans – Charley Lewis
11. Update Re: Meeting with Clearview Township – Kat Salvador
    1. Summer Student
    2. Stayner Revitalization: Phase 1 & 2
    3. Stayner Country Christmas
    4. Tulip Day – May 21^st – Decorate Windows
12. Other Business

   
1. Welcome & Call to Order
In Attendance: Sue Connell, Cayleigh Jago, Troy Disabato, Erin Fordham, Fiona Fustaci, Rob Dell, Ramona Holm, Monica Menacola, Len Menecola, Connie Lieschman, Craig Raffan, Larry Culham, Rachael Broderick, John Broderick, Kim Chomiak, Shanta Latchmana
 
2. Approval of the November 20, 2019 Minutes
It was motioned by Troy Disabato, seconded by Craig Raffan and unanimously passed to adopt the minutes as presented.
 
3. Presentation from Erin Fordham Re: Alta Vista Benefits Plan
Erin Fordham from Alta Vista Planning Partners presented on the Chambers Benefits Plan and its advantages.  Alta Vista is currently partnered with 9 other Chambers of Commerce. They offer the largest association program of its kind in Canada.  It is customizable and there are no industry restrictions.  The Clearview Chamber gets money back from being part of this plan. There is only a 4.4% rate increase each year as compared to 10% with other major plans It is customizable. There are no industry restrictions and they offer free Teledoc Telemedicine Services.
 
Alta Vista Planning Partners would like the Chamber to use some of the money that we make off the plan to have a landing page for them on our website, which includes the Chamber Plan logo, to promote the plan.
 
4. Financial Report
Ramona Holm provided a brief summary of the comparative financials from 2019 to 2020.
Current account balance $10,500
Surplus up 18% ($1,200)
Term deposit is $10,044 at the end of December
 
Revenue Summary
Music In the Park revenue up by 6%
Community Fundraising/business Awards up by 25%
Membership Dues down by 7%
Group Insurance down by 4.5%
 
Expense Summary
Music in the Park expenses down by 10%
Business Awards expenses up by 45% due to venue cost. Awards broke even last year.
Marketing & Community Relations small increase of 5%
Payroll up by 14%
 
5. Update re: Membership
Rachael Broderick reported that the Chamber currently has 40 members.

Charley Lewis has asked that if any members are speaking to other business owners, to talk about the Chamber. Grab a business card or take a pic of it and send it to Rachael Broderick, Charley Lewis or Kat Salvador and ask that a membership package be sent to them.

• a. Early Bird Winner – Earth Power Tractor & Equipment
• b. Early Bird Entrants 2019 vs 2020 – 33 Early Bird Members for 2020 vs 40 Early Bird Members in 2020

 
6. Discussion re: New Directors
The following positions are open for re-election at the next Annual General Meeting:

• a. 3-Year Director – To replace Troy Disabato
• b. Treasurer – To replace Ramona Holm
• c. Secretary – Wendy West has stepped down as Secretary. She will still stay on as Sponsorship Co-ordinator, but a new Secretary will need to be voted in.

 
7. Report re: Stayner Country Christmas & Tree Lighting
Craig Raffan reported that the evening went very well. There was a turnout of approx. 400 ppl and there were great positive comments from the participants.
 
Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication between the Chamber and the Township after the event. To mitigate such misunderstandings in the future, the Chamber will now be sitting down with the Township four times per year to keep each other appraised about events, and to discuss issues that relate to both parties.
 
8. Update re: 2020 Business Awards
Charley Lewis reported that Clearview Chamber Business Awards will take place at the Creemore Legion on Saturday, May 23^rd. The Creemore Legion was chosen as a larger venue that will not only accommodate a larger attendance, but that would more inclusively reflect the Clearview Chamber of Commerce as we grow.
 
It was also discussed whether to provide our members with tables in which to do a 45 min networking event before the AGM and Awards begin. There was not much interest in that suggestion as people who are attending the event will not want to work as well.
 
9. Update re: Logo Submissions
Kat Salvador reported that the Chamber pushed the deadline to January 31^st to accept more submissions. A discussion ensued about who would be allowed to vote on the submissions. It was suggested by Larry Culham to call a logo meeting for the members, immediately before the Executive meeting on February 12^th, so members can provide opinions on the submissions they like. The Executive will make the final decision after hearing everyone’s thoughts.

10. Announcement re: 2020 Workshop Series
Kat Salvador reported that the South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre provided a $500 sponsorship for the Chamber’s 2020 Workshop Series. The first workshop of the year is the Digital Downtown workshop on Thursday, January 16^th.
 
11. Announcement re: Business of the Month Signage
It was proposed by Charley Lewis that the Chamber have a Business of the Month Sign made to provide to the Business of the Month each month. The sign will be made available for businesses to put on their lawn or in their window of their business during their month on Facebook. It was noted that businesses would need to follow the Township’s by-law about signage when displaying the sign.
 
The cost for the sign will be investigated and it will be voted upon in the February meeting.

12. Discussion re: New Events – Charley Lewis
a. Clearview Community Arts Program
Charley Lewis spoke about a community art project that she would like to see in our area. She has already spoken to the principal of a school to involve their kids, as well as to Frieda Linke who has said she would consider chairing an art project. One of the potential ideas is a large board outside where kids could put up their art projects.
 
In relation to this idea, Charley Lewis is asking businesses to consider putting art up in their businesses on the main street. This will make the town more interesting to shoppers and create some vibrancy and life in the community.
 
13. Other Business
a. Member to Member Discount
Don’t forget about the Member to Member discount. Please talk about and advertise the program to other members. The more that are involved, the better it will be.
 
b. BIA Meeting
Monica Menacola brought up the BIA Meeting that was initiated by Township Councillors John Broderick and Robert Walker and said there was an action item that was left open at the end of the meeting. Monica would like the opportunity to have all the stakeholders come together to be given more information. She would like to see some neutral non-biased information presented to make an informed decision. Larry Culham would also like the councilors to find a way to get the business owners who don’t live in the city to be at that meeting. John Broderick said that he will do some more research on the topic and set-up another meeting to discuss. The idea either needs to move forward or be put to bed.

c. MTO Letters
Mayor Doug Measures will be meeting with the MTO to discuss the roundabout concerns at Hwy 26 and 27/28 Sideroad in Stayner and other traffic issues. Any letters of support for the roundabout and traffic issues in Stayner would be welcome in order to support the Mayor’s arguments to the MTO. Letters would need to be sent by this Friday, if possible. Issues to mention in the letters are the number of large trucks going through Stayner, issues crossing the street in downtown Stayner due to no crosswalk on the East side of town, cancellation of the roundabout. Please e-mail your letters of support to dmeasures@clearview.ca.
 
d. Pre-Paid Credit Card
It was decided by the Executive at a previous meeting that a pre-paid credit card would be purchased for the Chamber. It has been further discussed in the General meeting that cheques will continue to be used for general payments, but the credit card will be used for immediate or emergency payments.
 
It was moved by Ramona Holm, seconded by Craig Raffan and carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 pm.
 
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