Pateros Chamber of Commerce Meeting Minutes
September 19, 2007
Meeting held at Pateros City Hall, and called to order by President, Judy Asmussen.
Rivers Restaurant at the Pateros Super Stop provided lunch for a $7 donation.
Motion made, seconded and passed to approve minutes of last meeting as presented.
Chamber Treasurer, Joey Bruno, reported an ending balance of $810.06, but amount paid for Prairie Media NCW Winter Guide needs to be amended from $536.75 to $561.00. The amount of $800.00 was paid to Southern Essence Web Design for 2,000 Pateros brochures, and $50.02 was reimbursed to Mary Pearson for postage to mail brochures to individuals on the Cascade Loop Partners mailing list. The Chamber has a new member this month, Windermere Real Estate/Columbia River.
Guest Speaker --
Joni Parks of the Quad City Herald reported that she has been in contact with Tacoma Dragon Boat Association regarding having their boats here in the future for races. Ms. Parks said they would be willing to come, possibly next year, with up to three boats to handle twenty-one teams. Anyone eighteen and over putting together a team would be allowed to race. Tacoma DBA will also send people over the week before the races to train anyone who would like to participate. They would bring everything needed, including the boats, paddles, and life-jackets. The Chamber’s cost would be approximately $1,000.00 per boat, for a total of $3,000.00. The Chamber would then “rent” the boats to teams who wish to enter. We would also have to assure the people from the DBA a place to stay. “These dragon boats are basically long canoes, forty-seven foot long, with twenty paddlers, a steersperson, and a drummer,” Ms. Parks said. She suggested that the Apple Pie Jamboree weekend would be an optimal time for these races. Races consist of three heats, going all day, and there are no motors so they would not interfere with other activities going on in the park. Tacoma DBA also provide their own insurance. Ms. Parks will gather more information for us and let us know. She also agreed to try to find sponsors to cover the $3,000.00 fee for the boats. The Tacoma DBA put their calendars together in January, so the time frame is to get this booked by then.
Mayor’s Briefing Report –
Mayor Gail Howe reported that the City met with the PUD regarding the 5-year Recreation Plan. They will pay $800,000.00 on docks and repairing the boat launch. The PUD is investigating alternatives for swimming. Mayor Howe also reported that an outdoor movie, “Finding Nemo”, was shown on September 8th. This was a joint-sponsorship by the City and the Pateros Public Library. There was a great turnout with approximately 75 people showing up. There was also a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new playground.
Review: Pateros HydroClassic –
Mayor Gail Howe spoke about how impressed she was with the photos from the Hydros in the Quad City Herald. She also passed around some photos that she took. Chamber President, Judy Asmussen, reported that she is still receiving feedback from the townspeople, saying they enjoyed the set-up for viewing the races and there was better competition in the races.
Upcoming Event: Christmas at the Confluence –
Chamber Vice-President, Rebecca Meadows, asked that a committee be put together for this event, which is scheduled for December 19th. She stated she will call a committee meeting in the near future.
November and December Holiday Meeting Schedule –
Rebecca Meadows, made a motion to move the November General Chamber meeting from November 21st to November 14th due to the Thanksgiving holiday, and that the December General Chamber meeting be cancelled. Motion seconded and carried.
2008 Chamber Officers Nominations and Elections –
Nominations for 2008 Officers will be made at the October General meeting, with installation of Officers at the November General meeting.
Miscellaneous --
The 2008 Schedule of Events will be the same as this past year’s, with the possible addition of the Dragon Boat races during the Jamboree.
Jay Witherbee, new owner of the former Pateros Grocery, reports that he will be aggressively advertising and has already met with a grocer. He would also like to have a bank satellite branch in the building in the near future. He says we should expect him to fully participate in the community. Judy Asmussen welcomed Mr. Witherbee and stated that “everyone gains when new businesses come in to town.”
Rebecca Meadows reminded all about the 30th Annual Mansfield Auction on Saturday, October 6th.
Next meeting will be October 17, 2007.
Lunch will be available.
Meeting adjourned.
Mary Pearson
Secretary