At-Large Membership November Meeting Minutes

DCG/At-Large Meeting
Meeting Minutes
November 17, 2009 at 8:30 1011 Galleria
Present: 11 members


Welcome with introductions by Wade Luther started the at-large meeting

Edwin the interim President started the discussion on the Halloween Follow-up

Goals achieved:
Established a sense of place and community
Raised $1200
Legitimized DCG efforts
Exposure to merchants
Increased foot traffic
Desire for more activity downtown
Vendor Permits approved

Lessons Learned:
Early planning
Book entertainment early
We need to duplicate activities on both ends of Broad

Blog Orientation
Downtowncamdenguild.blogspot.com will give a tutorial of how to blog

Laying the Foundation
Alternatives:
Advertising Co-op
Façade Grant Increase
Zoning changes
Street clean-up
Festival vendors

Executive Committee Proposals:
-Jockey Silks: Edward Hinson is working on this concept and more details will be available soon.

-Vendor Permits: Have been passed waiting on the final approval

-By-laws: We have by laws that we will doctor to fit our needs and then we will bring to our counsel for overview.


-Crime Watch: Lt. Mike Stone talked with us about Crime Watch and that grants are available to start the program; however, it has to be 50% participation from the organization. We are a long ways from 50% participation, but we can achieve this if it is what we want. He told us about Nixle which is a service that the Camden Police Department uses. There is a registration form that was handed out, but you can download the form that is attached or go directly to the website and register. www.nixle.com
-Hospitality Fee: will soon be available and Wade is asking for ideas as to where the money should go. We passed around the brochures that we liked and collectively agreed on the Greenville Brochure.

Public Policy Committee

No one showed up for this meeting. We will need participation because the following information will have to be discussed and voted on to get the DCG on solid footing.

Things to be discussed:

By-laws
501(c) 3 vs 501(c) 6
Financial
Vendor Permitting Editing done by City of Camden’s Attorney
Budget Planning
Membership Drive
Shawn Putman, Camden’s City Manager, spoke with regarding the rezoning of Campbell, DeKalb, Mill and York Streets.
On Tuesday, December 1, at 6:00 pm, there will be a presentation by the DPZ on the “smart code” at City Hall.

Committees:

Executive Committee will meet on Dec.1st
At-Large meeting is December 15th

Meeting was adjourned at 9:30