Coon Valley Business Association
Minutes for the June 3rd, 2019 meeting held at the Skybox.
The meeting was called to order by President Geoff Lenser at 5:15.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read. There was no discussion. A motion to accept the minutes was made by Carol Olson and seconded by Pauline Aspenson. The motion carried.
Treasurer, Beth Hanson, reported that there is $1700.52 in the general checking and $823.54 in the savings. The Canoe Race checking has $15,977.73. Carol Olson reported that the bingo checking is $5097.98 and Trout Fest checking is $10,679.28. A motion to accept the Treasurer’s report was made by Nancy Wedwick and seconded by Paul Lewison. The motion Carried.
Geoff Lenser gave the group a set of guidelines for setting up a Chamber of Commerce. Contained in this guideline, was a general outline of by laws. Our original by laws cannot be found, so we need to work on new by laws. These by laws will be changed to fit our organization. A committee was formed to look over and amend these by laws and bring to the July meeting for group approval. The committee is Carol Olson, Nancy Wedwick, Beth Hanson and Karla Lewison. A motion to accept these temporary by laws, striking the words Chamber of Commerce and inserting Coon Valley Business Association and having the committee amend them to fit our needs and presenting them to the group at the July meeting for approval to be sent to the state, was made by Nancy Wedwick and seconded by Paul Lewison. The motion carried.
Geoff Lenser spoke about changing our name and including area business, not directly in the village of Coon Valley. We would reach out to Chaseburg and outlying area businesses. This would be a yearlong process involving talking to businesses about what their needs are and how the association can help them. The first steps are to adopt by laws, create a mission statement, vision statement and a list of goals so this can be presented to these prospective businesses. A committee for business outreach was formed. It includes Geoff Lenser, Beth Hanson, Linda Schulte and Nancy Wedwick. There was no vote as this was just discussion.
Geoff Lenser proposed that the Business Association get a P.O. Box as a permanent address. A motion to accept was made by Carol Olson and seconded by Beth Hanson. The motion carried.
Geoff Lenser reported that he contacted the state about how the Bingo fund can be used. It can be used for anything related to the groups founding, cooperative advertising, community projects and restoration efforts. We also discussed possibly changing the day we have bingo in hopes of getting more help, and possibly changing bingo to progressive which involves a different license.
We discussed Trout Fest and how we will fence in the area for beer sales and stopping carry ins. Geoff Lenser reported that he put the bags tournament online to advertise for teams. Karla Lewison reported that the bobber drawing sales have already started. We also discussed giving a donation to T.U. for stream restoration and the village for park restoration with any proceeds from Trout Fest. A motion to donate money to T.U. and the village, was made by Linda Schulte and seconded by Carol Olson. The motion carried.
Canoe Race update was that the online registration was up and running. The group is also having a community party on June 20th at the Legion hall, 5:30-8pm. There will be a grant presentation and the local news stations will be there. There will be food with freewill offering and a cash bar. Please help spread the word! This is for everybody in the area!
Beth Hanson presented a short video (Ted Talk) by Terry Brunner about how small towns make changes for the better.
The next meeting is July 1st at the Skybox at 5:15 and the next officers meeting is June 24th at 9am.
A motion to adjourn was made by Pauline Aspenson and seconded by Carol Olson. The motion carried.
Thank you,
Karla Lewison