Minutes from:

• 07/13/05

NCABA Minutes

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

The Northern Cambria Area Business Alliance held their regularly bi-monthly meeting on Wed., July 13 at 4:15 p.m. The time was changed due to a conflict with another meeting the officers needed to attend.

Chuck Contres, President called the meeting to order. Those in attendance were: Chuck Contres, Long-Contres Funeral Home; Jeff Lantzy, Jeff Lantzy Insurance Agency; Barbara Kirby, First National Bank; Joe Phillips, Aerofab; Jerry Tibbott, Tri-Country Transportation; Bob Koban, Health Ride; and Fran Filkins, HealthSouth.

Treasurer’s Report:

$1,815.39. The only outstanding bill is for advertising for the business mixer. A motion was made by Fran Filkins to accept the treasurer’s report and seconded by Jeff Lantzy.

The golf tournament will be held Friday, July 15. Jeff Lantzy gave a report on the teams, sponsors and events surrounding the tournament. Food items are still needed. It was decided that we would also have hot sausage, potato salad and baked beans at the tournament. Fran will order these items.

Barb proposed that we open a business account at Giant Eagle to obtain items as we need them. Fran will obtain the paperwork.

Memberships for the NCABA have been reduced from $100 to $50 annually per business. Volunteer organizations will remain at $25 annually. There was some discussion whether or not to continue paid associate memberships. Barb suggested that the membership committee hold a sub-committee meeting to make this decision. It was also decided that the membership committee should prepare the invoices and distribute them. Chuck gave the go ahead for the membership committee to work on this as quickly as possible without needing to table this again at the next meeting. Fran was the only member present from the membership committee. She will contact Tim Whited, chairman; John Rouse and Randy Whited to prepare the membership packet. It is hopeful that the invoices will be mailed by the next meeting. All businesses in Northern Cambria, Susquehanna Township, Patton, Hastings, Barr Township, Carrolltown and surrounding areas will receive a packet. There was some discussion on how to obtain business addresses. Anyone having suggestions on how to find out the businesses and addresses in these areas are asked to notify Fran.

A postcard was received from the Greater Johnstown-Cambria County Chamber of Commerce regarding a small business expo that will be held on Thursday, September 8 from 3-7 p.m. at the North-Central Rec Center in Ebensburg. The NCABA voted not to attend this event last year. However, many members attended through their individual businesses and felt that it was an event that the NCABA should have been involved in. Barb made a motion that we attend the event this year. It was seconded by Fran and unanimously voted that we should attend. Permission was also given to order a table cover with our name printed on it for the show. The group also discussed the possibility of preparing collateral material on available business properties in the area that could be used at the expo and future events. This will be discussed at the next meeting. The marketing/fundraising committee will meet to further discuss the materials needed to properly display the NCABA at the expo.

Barb also received a letter and a booklet from Alan Bassler, Associate Extension Education of the Penn State Cooperative Extension Office, Cambria County. The booklet contains information on Economic and Community Development Resources for Citizens and Local Officials. The NCABA members will look through the book and contact Mr. Bassler on some of the tools that may be beneficial to our area. Barb also suggested that we have Mr. Bassler speak to the group again.

Fran brought up the suggestion of having a "Business Member of the Month". It was agreed that we would honor one business each month and will select that business next month.

Meeting times, dates and locations were tabled. It is hopeful that the NCABA will rotate the meetings throughout the northern part of Cambria County. Jerry suggested that we contact one person in each borough or township to see if they could locate a meeting place for us in their locale. Also, meeting frequency will be decreased from bi-monthly to monthly. The meetings will be held the first week of the month. Sub-committee members are encouraged to meet monthly. Jerry Tibbott and Bob Koban offered the conference room at Tri-County Transportation for the next meeting.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

The next meeting will be held Thursday, August 4 at 8 a.m. at the conference room of Tri-County Transportation, 404 Magnolia Street, Northern Cambria. Coffee and donuts will be provided. Jerry and Bob asked for a number of those attending the meeting.