Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce

Membership Services

The regular meeting of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce Membership Services Committee was held on Friday, February 6, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. at the Wilber Bank on Main Street, Cooperstown.

Present: Becky Davidson-Nielsen, Chair; Ken Meifert; Susan O’Handley; Mike Otis, Brigitte Priem; Elise Schiellack

Absent: Janice Eichler, Jane McCoy, Margaret Savoie

The following was presented and discussed, and action items for the Board of Directors and/or Committee are

noted.

The Committee approved the following businesses as potential new Chamber members:

· Curves Fitness center for women located in the Maple Ridge center south of Cooperstown on St. Rte. 28. Juliana Hanbridge, contact.

· Jerry’s Place Restaurant and ice cream shop north of Cooperstown on St. Rte. 28. Gerald Miller, contact.

· Leatherstocking Corvette Club Based in New Berlin. Hosting an event in Cooperstown in September. Jerry Howard, contact.

· Milford Inn & Restaurant Formerly The Elm Inn located in Milford. Renovated and turned into a sports bar as well as accommodations (pending inspection). Pat Governale, contact.

· The Committee voted to recommend the following member programs to the Board:

- Energy Next

- Mozy

- Constant Contact

- Rx Drug Card

· Lily’s of Cooperstown (formerly the Inn at Hickory Grove)

The owner of the Inn at Hickory Grove, now called Lily’s of Cooperstown, spoke with Susan about joining the Chamber. The Inn was a member several years ago, but their membership was revoked due to a number of issues. The Inn is scheduled to re-open to the public in March, after being shut down in the summer of 2008. The committee decided that the Inn must pass the standard Chamber inspection of the property, and a one-year probationary period will apply. If the Chamber receives even one complaint in a year’s time, the Inn’s membership will be suspended. The owner of the Inn agreed to these terms, and Elise will schedule an inspection.

· Membership exchanges with other Chambers

The Mohawk Valley Chamber approached Susan about doing a membership exchange with the Cooperstown Chamber. The committee decided that exchanges may be discussed and voted on by the Membership Services Committee on a case-by-case basis, depeding upon the benefits received.

· Dealing with customers who are offensive to Chamber employees

A situation occurred in the Chamber office in January in which a member of the Chamber spoke offensively to a Chamber employee. This being the member’s first offense, no direct action will be taken at this time. If a Chamber member were to be repeatedly disrespectful to staff, the Membership Committee would review such situations on a case-by-case basis.

· Review of the Chamber’s inspection guidelines

Becky distributed to the Committee the inspection guidelines that Howard Johnson uses to evaluate their hotel rooms. She asked Committee members to reference these guidelines as the Committee begins to revise the Chamber’s inspection process. Additionally, Elise will try to obtain inspection guidelines from a bed & breakfast and guest house. She will work on revisions along with other Committee members.

• Addressing the high cost of credit card processing fees for small businesses

The Committee will look into a shared credit card processing program for Chamber members.

Next meeting date, time, and location:

• Friday, March 6, 2009, 8:30 a.m. at the Wilber National Bank on Main Street.

Minutes recorded by: Elise Schiellack