Minutes:

Minutes of February 10, 2009

Minutes from the Monthly Meeting of the
Doylestown Business & Community Alliance
Held February 10, 2009 8:00 a.m.
Doylestown Boroughugh Hall

ATTENDEES:    Susan DeLaurentis/SystemsNet Computer Service, Jack Mikula/Doylestown Alive, Doris Neis/Resident, Shawn Touhill/Kid Glove Dry Cleaners, Donna Allen/Doylestown Observer, Barbara Gross/CB Cares, Nancy Taylor/Attorney, Jennifer Brenninger/The Doylestown Bookshop, Paula Frame/David Frame Shop, Mark Doyle/Resident, Robert & Tara Mitchell/ Precision Artistry, Ron Martin, Jim Sanders, County Theater, Lynne Ann Donchez/LAD & Company, Ellen Mager/Booktenders Secret Garden, Matt Kaminski/DelVal College, Bruce Rutherford/Rutherford’s Camera Shop, Julie Dugery/NOVA

TREASURER’S REPORT – Bill James presented the report. Our ending balance for January 2009 was $20,416.45. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Holiday – Don Stevens

This Sunday, January 22, the Christmas tree located at Starbucks will be taken down.  We are looking for 5-6 volunteers that can come out at 8:00 a.m. to help take down the lights on the tree and surrounding fencing.

The Borough approved that the snowflakes and garland decorations can stay up until the end of February.

Arts Festival - Rich Slabinski

We are ahead of schedule and everything is going well.  Repeat crafters as well as new crafters applications are coming in.

Arts Festival Entertainment – Steve Rock

The entertainment committee is looking for about four new committee members to help this year.  There is not a big time commitment.  In the spring the acts are booked and help is needed the weekend of the show to help with logistics.  The work is a lot of fun and you get to interact with the musicians.  Please contact Steve at the Community Conservatory if you are interested in helping out.

Rich Slabinski’s daughter Sarah should be able to help out and will let Steve know.

Shop Local – Ellen Mager

This is the 3rd year for read across America, which will be held on March 2, to mark Dr. Seuss’s birthday.  Ellen will be asking local businesses to put out plastic jars from Valentine’s day on to donate money to buy books to a begin a Library for the Women’s Place.

The new shop local brochures and decals for the window are done.  This will show customers which merchants are participants.

Membership – Nurit Bland

Many memberships are coming in ahead of time.  There has also has been extra money sent in towards the beautification program for Doylestown.

5K – Nancy Taylor

The race start time has been moved from 10:00 to 9:00.

Looking at giving out shop local cards as awards at the end of the run.

Memorial Day Parade – Nurit Bland

The DBCA will be in the Memorial Day Parade and will do something to mark our 25th anniversary.  If you are interested in helping with this or helping with the parade, please contact Nurit Bland.

Car Show – Bruce Rutherford

Bruce is looking at re-engineering the car show that is held at CB West as the attendance numbers have been declining over the past years.  He would like to take the show away from CB West and do an in town show during the 2010 summer on a Saturday night with street closures.  Bruce has spoken with John Davis about closing West State Street up to Clinton, Court and Main.  These street closures should not interrupt main traffic flow. Help will be needed from local organizations and he would like to recruit the DBCA and is looking for our backing.  Bruce stated that in return for the support, he would like to make a contribution to the hanging basket program.  He will back at a future meeting to discuss further.

DBCA Liaison – No update

New Business

Community Conservatory – Steve Rock

A fundraiser event to support our programs will be held on Saturday, February 21.  It will be an auction with a Mardi Grau theme.  Hand painted instruments will be part of the auction.

Doylestown Observer – Donna Allen

Discussed bringing a new newspaper to our area called the Doylestown Observer.  This paper would have 40% advertising and 60% news and would focus on the community, local people and just the ‘good news’ with a monthly publication.  The paper would love to cover all of the DBCA events.  The paper will start printing in this area possibly by March 20th.

Sales tax update – Ellen Mager

New York State was able to fight Amazon about not charging sales tax.  Pennsylvania is now looking into this.  Please contact your local legislators.

Old Business – No update.

Meeting adjourned at 9:20