Note: the February 5, 2003, meeting was not held due to the fact that a quorum of board members were not present.

The meeting was held at the Mattawan Village Hall Council Chambers.

 

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Lori Anthony, Leslie Benson, Tom Brown, Kim Cox, John Jackson, Rob Keorkunian, Dawn Kobreek, Kayla Ranger-Dean, Chad Slider.

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Dan Carlson, Janet Zagar.

OTHERS PRESENT: Irvin Filipek, Phil Nieboer, Lisa Johnson

The meeting was called to order at 12:20 PM.

Irvin Filipek is interested in forming a research and toxicology laboratory in the area. He and several chemists and biologists are working with SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) to develop a business plan. Phil Nieboer is a retired heating, cooling and home inspection professional. He and his wife currently live in Kalamazoo, but they have purchased a home in downtown Mattawan and are in the process of renovating it. Lisa Johnson is the owner of Uptown Hair and Nails, which recently relocated to the Country Crafts building on Front Street.

A motion was made by Mr. Jackson, supported by Mr. Keorkunian, to approve the January 15^th Minutes without changes.

It was proposed to add: "Discussion of Changing Meeting Times" to the agenda under Old Business. No other changes were made to the agenda. The motion to approve the amended agenda passed unanimously.

Mr. Jackson recommended that Ms. Anthony be reimbursed for the fee paid to incorporate the Mattawan Business Association. A motion was made by Mr. Slider, supported by Mr. Keorkunian, to reimburse Ms. Anthony twenty dollars ($20.00) for the State of Michigan incorporation fee. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Jackson reported a new membership has been received from Biologic Systems Inc. for eighty dollars ($80.00). The balance of the MBA account is currently nine hundred sixty dollars ($960.00). Mr. Brown made a motion, supported by Ms. Cox, to accept the treasurer’s report.

The Mattawan Community Newsletter will have a bimonthly circulation of 5000. It will be distributed as an insert in the Paw Paw Flashes, and copies will be left with area businesses, and distributed with schoolchildren’s take home packets. A new member’s and a current member’s business will be featured in each issue, along with festival news, village notes, school events listings, a classified section, trivia question or mystery picture, and contact information for MBA. Mr. Jackson asked if the Village was willing to split the cost of printing and distribution. Ms. Anthony stated that we need to determine the actual cost and present a proposal to the Village’s finance committee. Mr. Keorkunian suggested that the newsletter contain paid business card size advertising. Ms. Anthony stated that we need to determine rates and membership requirements for advertisers. Mr. Keorkunian said that publication should be free for members and the business directory section should be paid advertising available to either members or non-members. Mr. Jackson cautioned that we must make sure that the newsletter also contains content important to our organization and the community. Mr. Keorkunian added that a pictorial map of area businesses could be included. Fees for non-member advertisers should be set at a higher rate to encourage membership in MBA.

After some discussion, Mr. Jackson moved, supported by Mr. Keorkunian, to change the meeting time to once per month. The first meeting will be March 5^th at 12 Noon and will thereafter be the first Wednesday of each month at noon.

Mr. Keorkunian made a motion, supported by Ms. Cox, to adjourn the meeting at 1pm.