Downtown Elkin Inc Meeting Minutes June 4 2009 Present Larry Irwin Chairman Vicki Roberts Lynn Childers Otis Gillette

							                                   Downtown Elkin, Inc.
                               Meeting Minutes ~ June 4, 2009


Present: Larry Irwin, Chairman; Vicki Roberts; Lynn Childers; Otis Gillette Ashley Jones;
Phillip Lyles; Ruth Hutton; David George; Matthew Morrison; Lovie Phillips; Ann Mayberry;
Laurette Leagon; Suzanne Puckett; Connie Song; Martha Smith; Teresa Howell; and guests:
Jennifer Brady and Pete Shaw

Otis Gillette gave July 4 th events update. Children’s patriotic parade line up at noon in True
Textiles parking lot (formerly Chatham’s) traveling at 12:30 down Main Street, turning right on
Front Street (where the 0-5 year olds will join the parade from the library parking lot), crossing
Market Street entering Elkin Park walking track, parading in front of the judges at the bandshell.
First on the agenda will be Opening Ceremonies with announcement and presentation of awards
for parade participants. All registered parade participants will receive $2.00 off all day pass for
pool and giant inflatable play center. Performances beginning at 1:30pm with gospe l group,
followed by children’s band, Dance Upstairs performance, motorcycle show, the Big Band for
event will be Nautical Wheelers beginning at 5pm with fireworks at dark. There will be
numerous activities in the park including: food vendors, face painting, giant inflatable center,
pool open, pony rides, arts and crafts vendors. Phillip Lyles made a motion to give 5 - $20
Downtown Elkin Bucks (totaling $100) to parade winners, seconded by David George, motion
carried. The grand prize for the “most patriotic” will be $50 US Savings Bond donated by
Wachovia.

Ann Mayberry announced Brushy Mountain will have new wine release on July 4th .

Teresa introduced Pete Shaw (from Raleigh – Travelhost owner/publisher of Triangle area) and
Jennifer Brady (Travelhost owner/publisher from Greater Charlotte area). Mr. Shaw explained
Travelhost is #1 Travel magazine in America and is placed in motel/hotels also online at
www.travelhost.com. For a winery guide their corporate office in Dallas Texas allowed them to
combine their efforts. This means there will be an 8-page winery section in both the Charlotte
and Triangle area publications. Also included will be information on places to shop, dine, and go
for recreation. To make it more affordable to individual merchants they would like Downtown
Elkin, Inc. to have ad that would include our individual members. By combining publication ads
both area publications they can offer for price of one (2 for 1). Additional copies of the Winery
Guide will be printed for stand alone distribution. Editorial copy is sometimes created by Lynn
Shaw, or submitted copy. Articles would tout the Elkin area and focus on the businesses with
paid advertising. Connie volunteered to organize Downtown Elkin, Inc. cooperative advertising
if the group wishes to participate. Ms. Brady distributed ad specifications, rates along with
publication deadline dates, listing of the in-room distribution sites in Charlotte and the Triangle.
Besides 125+ finest hotels in the Charlotte area and 120+ hotels in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel
Hill area they are distributed in all 9 North Carolina Welcome/Visitor centers and visitor centers
in both market areas. Individual businesses can contact Pete or Jennifer for advertising.
Jennifer’s phone is 704-564-0855, email: Jennifer@thcharlotte.com
Pete’s phone is 919-329-2859, email travelhostraleighdurham@yahoo.com

Connie gave treasurer’s report - $73.77 spent on ink, notebook and printer paper; $100 for
website fee; 3 membership deposits $150.00 (37 paid members to date); gift certificate purchase
$50.00; Lamar – billboard advertising fee $1,500 for 6 digital billboard spots and 5 paper
billboards – $1,500 deposited from individual businesses utilizing billboard advertising (no cost
to Downtown Elkin, Inc.); $4991.33 balance. Feedback from the billboards has been really good.
Connie was thanked for her hard work.

May minutes were review and approved upon motion by Phillip and second by Dave.

Reeves Fest did not get as many festival goers as had been hoped for but still netted
approximately $3,000 profit. Being a holiday weekend most likely hurt attendance.

Fourth Friday went well with the band oriented toward East Main Street. It was suggested we
close only portion of Main Street between Church Street and the Wachovia Bank parking lot
(leaving their drive-thru and ATM accessible), which we will try on June 26th . We want children
to feel welcome and have fun at these events; however, several were carelessly in and out of
shops without any parental supervision. Good music needed larger audience.

BMW Rally had over 100 BMW’s with great comments about our downtown. Phillip noted
several stopped by Yadkin Valley General Store that day.

Wine Festival hosted 2,300 wine tasters same number as last year. There were 6 additional
wineries participating some sold less wine than in past years several sold out. Attendance figures
were 10,000-12,000.

Connie announced Song’s Jewelry will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary June 19-27 with
Customer Appreciation Sale and drawings for ten (10) pearl necklaces to be given away to mark
each year they have been in business.

Martha Smith left flyers about the library’s summer reading program school age programs on
June 18th @ 11:30 and 1:30 ~ June 25th @ 11:30 and 1:30 ~ July 9th @ 1:30 ~ July 16th @ 11:00
and 1pm ~ July 23rd @ 1:30. The Teen Programs will be Jun 19th @ 1-2pm ~ June 22nd @ 4:30-
6:15pm ~ July 6th @ 4:30-6:30 ~ July 13th @4:30-6:45 ~ July 20th @ 4:30-6:30. These would be
great times to draw the parents into your businesses!

It was mentioned the parking lot diagonally across from the library on the corner of West Main
and Front Street is looking shabby with all the weeds growing and could the Town pull weeds
and clean out the debris? It is private property and does not belong to the town. The codes
officer can inspect.

Permission was given to Habitat for Humanity to host a dog show on the Hippo Lot (corner of
Market Street and Bridge Street) on June 27th from 12:30 until 2pm proceeds to Habitat.

Respectfully submitted,
Teresa Howell, Secretary