The Greater Blairstown Business Association
Unity in Business & Community
www.shopGBBA.org


Agenda for 1/16/2019 GBBA General Meeting
Today’s Message: “We’re only as strong as our membership.”

Networking from 6:30 to 6:40 pm:

• 21 people in attendance
  
• Board members present: Sandy Roberts, Karin White, Dave Tillisch
  

Opening Remarks at 6:40 pm:

• Thank you to all for attending and to First Presbyterian of Blairstown for hosting.
  
• Self­-introduction of members and guests.
  

Formal Business at approximately 6:50 pm:

• Board Changes - 5 minutes
  
  • Recognition and thanks to those leaving the Board
    
  • 2019 Board Announcement - Chair Sandra Roberts, 1st VP (Membership) Dave Tillisch, 2nd VP (Board Development) Ravi Romano, Treasurer Keith VanDerzee, Secretary Karin White
    
  • Two Member-at-Large openings - Publicity Committee Chair, Events Committee Chair.
    
    • Dave made a plea for members to step up and be part of the board and reiterated that we can only fulfill our mission if people are willing to step up and get involved.
      
    • Reach out to any Board member if interested, or send email to info@shopgbba.org.
      
  • Committee openings - Publicity, Events, Membership, Scholarship
    
    • Committees are a great way to get involved without a big time commitment.
      
    • Scholarship Committee forming soon. Needs chair.
      
• Board Reports/Board Meeting Summary - 5 minutes
  
• GBBA Mission Review - 10 minutes
  
  • “The Greater Blairstown Business Association’s mission is to encourage and support existing businesses in the Northern Warren County, New Jersey area, promote the development of new enterprises and foster high business and civic standards in the community. Inherent in our structure is the commitment to give back to the community, thereby helping to establish willingness on the part of the general public to do business locally.”
    
• GBBA 2019 Goal Setting with Members - 15 minutes
  
  • Current Suggestions include:
    
    • Increase interaction with BEC and Township Committee
      
    • Create a GBBA Member Discount Card for Community
      
    • Increase visibility through events
      
    • New Business welcoming
      
    • Better define what we do to the community
      
    • Take a proactive stance in identifying needed businesses
      
    • What are your ideas?
      
      • Rosemary DiTrollio suggested we highlight each other’s businesses in our promo efforts.
        
      • Dave Tillisch suggested a discount card...businesses participate and a company organizes it.
        
      • Karin reminded everyone that we all are GBBA - there is no “you guys” - we are all on this together and all need to participate to make us effective.
        
      • Goal setting: led by Sandy
        
      • increase interaction with the BEC and township committee.
        
      • A welcome for new businesses? A basket? Free or discount membership? Highlight business on GBBA site.
        
      • Increasing visibility for businesses? Networking...share each others websites...maybe have individual pages for each business to share (terri trapp)
        
      • Events? Bed races/ fall festival or spring fling, “Live after 5” (David Paulson) capitalize on bike races (Dave Tillisch) Use Acme shopping center for an event?
        
      • EMS/Fire fighting competition (Bob Halberstadt) can GBBA be a part of that?
        
      • Re-route the parade back to main st. as it was years ago?
        
      • The rotary runs the Memorial Day parade...can we partner with them?
        
      • GBBA days at the farmers market...once a month
        
      • Event at the winery...Ducks unlimited (supports duck habitat). GBBA could participate?
        
      • Overall, at least 13 area events that are run by GBBA or other organizations were identified. Need to build partnerships with organizations so GBBA business can have a presence at these events.
        

• Membership Drive Brainstorming - 10 minutes
  
  • Renewal notices went out December 18th
    
  • How can we increase our reach?
    
    • Why become a member? Advertising, jingle on main, sip and shop and other events….farmers market monthly free spaces. Member to member benefits
      

• Upcoming Meetings - 5 minutes
  
  • February 20, 6:30 pm at Kaleidoscope Enrichment, 1077S Rt. 94, Blairstown, NJ. Speakers Terri and Mark Trapp on “Your Prosperity Picture” financial planning for your business and home.
    
  • Need volunteers to host and/or present at upcoming 3rd Wednesday meetings
    
  • Suggestion to host quarterly meetings either Weekday Early Morning or Saturday Morning.
    
    • need volunteers to help.
      
    • Brunch? Breakfast?
      
    • Joint meetings with BEC...township Committee
      
    • Lunch and learn?
      

• Upcoming Events - 5 minutes
  
  • Spring Sip & Shop -- Coordinators needed.
    
    • Do we want to change the venue?
      
    • Change to May?
      
    • Try to be inside at the Winery? Would that incur other costs?
      
    • Need events chair
      
• Business Personality Profile. Discussion and analysis tabled. - 5 minutes
  
  • Asked members to fill out profile to go over at a later date.
    
  • Keith will discuss at a future meeting.
    
  • Survey available at http://bit.ly/2FzaHpP
    

Public Participation at approximately 7:50 pm:

• Please sign up to present your activities, news, events, etc. Please, no direct solicitation. Everyone will be given 3 to ­5 minutes to share.
  
  • Dave Tillisch, Pastor of United Methodist Church...
    
    • January 26th 9-1030 active shooter presentation by Warren County prosecutor's office at the Methodist Church.
      
    • Also a pasta dinner for a senior scholarship Feb 2nd.
      
    • A new ministry has been formed with the focus to allow the seniors to age at home. Also how to make their homes safe to live in as they age and transportation.
      
    • Dave offered his church to the community for events.
      
    • Summer mission trips...home improvement projects in the poorest communities in the country….youth volunteers….about $600 a person. Fundraising efforts get it down to about $200.
      

Closing Remarks at approximately 8:00 pm:

• Thank you all for attending.
  

Video of this meeting is available to GBBA Members at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GBBAmembers/permalink/2263604397255194/

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Join us for the January meeting of the Greater Blairstown Business Association!

This month's meeting will be hosted by First Presbyterian Church Outreach Center. We'll be exploring Business Personality Profile (see more below), as led by Keith VanDerzee and Dave Tillisch. All meetings are FREE!

All local businesses owners in Blairstown, Hope, Knowlton, Columbia, and Hardwick are welcome to attend to learn more about joining the GBBA. GBBA Members are encouraged to bring a few items to promote their business: brochures, flyers, business cards, etc. to display for the other attendees. We hope to see you there!
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We thought we might all have fun with taking a Personality Profile and then having a roundtable discussion at our January meeting regarding our different personality types, what they mean to our working relationships and for ourselves. Some of the potential value in this exercise is for you to best utilize your talents and skills in the workplace and understand how your personality might impact your work environment and those you work with.

The Personality Profile tool comes from the YMCA, and is utilized by its’ tens of thousands of employees to help them do their best in the workplace and work with one another.

Read more in the January Newsletter.