HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-21 AGMNewcastle Downtown Business Improvement Association 2020 Annual General Meeting
January 21, 2020 6:OOpm at Newcastle Griddle.
In attendance: Bonnie Wrightman (CBOT), Greg & Marni Lewis (Desjardins Insurance),
Theresa Vanhaverbeke (Syvan Developments Limited), Masood & Helen Vatandoust
(Keller Williams), Debbie Miller (Newcastle Home D6cor), Jane Black (Chamber of
Commerce), Donna Wood (Enovations Design), Karen & Gus Bastas (The Massey
House), Janet Hodder& Wendy Westwood (Parade Committee), Lina & Bill Schmahl
(Studio 37), Mayor Adrian Foster, Janeen Calder (Newcastle Massage Therapy), Tracy
Yates (Lang Enterprises), Leslie Ray (Ray & Company), Valentine Lovekin (Lovekin
Law), 2 New Owners of the Massey House
Regrets: Krista Klawitter, Ann Harley, Kevin Adams
1. Call to Order by the Chair — Valentine Lovekin - The BIA is evolving. It is very
welcoming to newcomers. You can make a difference doing business in a small
town.
a. Greetings from the Mayor
i. Thank you for the invite and all the work the BIA does in the
community. All your events and activities in the village are
appreciated. Our doors are always open if you ever want to have a
chat.
2. Approval of 2019 Minutes
a. Moved: Greg Lewis
b. Seconded: Karen Bastas
c. Carried
3. Approval of the Actions of the Board of Management
a. Moved: Theresa Vanhaverbeke
b. Seconded: Greg Lewis
c. Carried
4. Treasurer's Report and Approval of the 2020 Budget Leslie Ray
The amount of $40,000.00 was approved for the 2020 budget.
a. Moved: Debbie Miller
b. Seconded: Helen Vatandoust
c. Carried
We did have a surplus this year, just under $10,000. This is due to event
committees doing their own fundraising and getting sponsorship throughout the year, so
that will give the events a bit of money to start planning.
5. Report on Safety and Decor — Theresa Vanhaverbeke
Businesses are reminded to take responsibility of their own sidewalks in front
of their businesses, once the initial snow is cleared by This will avoid
any slip and fall incidents that may result in lawsuits.
This year there will be money in the Safety and Decor budget to use to install the
over street banners, promoting upcoming events. Committees will not be
responsible for those fees. James Printing will do it for an annual fee. If the
Chamber or local businesses would like to hang a banner for their event there will
be a small fee charged.
6. Report on Special Events
Karen welcomed and thanked the parade committee for all their hard work
(Wendy Westwood, Jane Black, Janet Hodder). Their budget was on track this
year, they are still waiting for a few checks to come in.
Harvest Festival hasn't starting planning yet, but they have put a posting on
facebook asking the community for things they would like to see at this years
festival.
The Santa Breakfast was a huge success. Close to 500 people attended the event.
Thank you to the Vatandoust team for all the support and advise they shard from
their years of running the event. This year's breakfast is scheduled for November
28, 20120 and Greg and Marni are planning it again.
7. Advertising Report
Facebook likes in January of 2019 was 1366. NOW 1613
In the last month our engagement was 3300 on Facebook.
Instagram followers (page started in 2019) - are now at 741 last year at this time
was 346
Website stats for 2019 - we had 24,000 users and overall 43,000 page views on
our site. With top sections of the site being viewed are the events, the
community/town hall page, then the business directory listings.
I will be doing weekly Facebook/Instagram business features. If you would like a
certain aspect of your business featured, please come and see me. Or if you have a
video you preferred to share, I can do that too.
I also have individual business stats from the website for 2019 here available to
view.
8. Motion to Adjourn
a. Moved: Helen Vatandoust
b. Seconded: Tracy Yates
c. Carried