Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors

January 8, 2009

Present: Marc Kingsley, Becky Davidson-Nielsen, Yvette DiMaggio, Jane Duel, Ken Meifert, Scott Dunlop, Steve Elliott, Will Green, Andrew Marietta, and Mike Otis.

Staff: Susan O’Handley and Elise Schiellack

• Meeting called to order @ 8am
• November 13, 2008 board minutes approved
• 1^st Jane, 2^nd Mike: Approved
• Action Items
• Change audit from annual to bi-annual
• 1^st Jane, 2^nd Will
• Discussion: annual audit cost $4500- large expense each year- better spread over 2 years. Important to continue to do audit.
• Approved
• Mission statement revision
• Revise to make statement active, not passive
• 1^st Andy, 2^nd Becky: Approved
• Member approvals
• 1^st Jane, 2^nd Mike
• Discussion: all approved but Deer Run until inspection is completed
• Approved with note above
• Treasurer’s Report
• Budget- waiting for finance committee- proposed amendments going to committee first
• $40,710 outstanding payables
• 97 member not renewed yet
• Lure piece on budget
• 990 for 2008 submitted
• Trades outlined
• Cooperstown General Store- dues for items purchased
• The Meadowlark Inn- dues for 4U
• Farm & Field- dues and advertising for fall decorations
• Hot Spots Map & Tours, Inc.- dues and advertising for 2009 map ad
• Nelson Ave Pines- advertising for maps purchased
• Whisperin’ Pines Chalet- dues and advertising for PumpkinFest DJ service
• Director’s Report
• Indian Hunter issue
• Being damaged and need to investigate best solution for storage and preservation
• 4U Production update
• Legends Parade
• Website visits down- looking into reasons why
• Committee Reports
• Finance
• 990 penalty- outline what happened with CPA firm and penalty that resulted from non-filing
• Working with new CPA to file 2008 990 and also will help address 2007 issue
• Drafting letter to past CPA to inform them of IRS penalty
• Executive
• Set agenda and discussed 990 issue
• Audit
• No report
• Strategic Planning
• 2009 planning process
• Need committee’s to fill out worksheets to help set objectives for 2009
• Board will review and discuss at upcoming retreat
• Strategic plan will be revised based on retreat outcomes
• Marketing
• Meeting in next couple of weeks
• Area guide on track with new content and graphics
• Website- gone through multiple beta rounds and waiting for photos
• Membership Services
• Meeting on Jan 16^th.
• Developing comment card
• Redoing application/inspection for B&Bs, Inns, etc
• Pumpkin Fest and Golf Tournament will be meeting soon for planning
• Board Development
• Revamped committee by-laws/nominating
• Chaired by Steve and includes Will, Becky, and Anne
• Reviewed committee charges and split up by area
• Government Relations
• Met in December and will meet in January
• Cooperstown paid parking sub-committee working on statement/proposal
• MOSA issue coming up
• Discussed economic issues
• Old Business
• None
• New Business
• National Pastime moving off Main Street
• Discussed economic issues facing businesses
• Overview of attractions’ plans for 2009
• Hank Aaron and Latin American baseball exhibits and America’s Rome at Fenimore Art Museum
• Discussed effort to collect tourism stats
• Create a survey to benchmark tourism info
• Need to find a committee to head this up
• Motion to adjourn by Will and 2^nd by Mike
• Meeting adjourned at 10:00 am
• Next meeting March 12th
• Submitted by Andrew Marietta