NEWTOWN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER MINUTES: Mr. Roberts moved to approve the minutes of October 3, 2002 as presented. Ms. Buras seconded; the motion carried.

Present: Thomas Harwood, Marge Frederick, Don Harris, Judy Setar, Linda Mitchell, John Bissert, Rita Cummins Sappenfield, Mark Byelich, Tim Ireland, Belinda Buras, Hal Roberts, Linda Kruse, Mayor Glenn Hains, Barbara Anne Fowkes.

CALL TO ORDER – Tom Harwood called the meeting to order in the absence of the Chairman. 

PUBLIC COMMENT

None. 

CODES DEPARTMENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Mr. Harwood distributed and reviewed the report for September 2002. 

APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER MINUTES:  Ms. Cummins-Sappenfield moved to approve the minutes of September 5, 2002 as presented.  Ms. Frederick seconded; the motion carried. 

LOWER BUCKS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Lisa Kruse distributed a list of upcoming Chamber of Commerce events, and noted the following: 

        Percolator Program & General Membership Meetings   8:00 - 9:00 AM   2^nd Thursday

                October 10       @ Bucks City Technical High School, Fairless Hills

                November 14  @ Philadelphia Quartett Club, Philadelphia          

        Business Card Exchange   4:30 – 6:30 PM

                Wednesday, October 30   @ Northampton Country club, Richboro

                Wednesday, November 20   @ LBCCC, Fairless Hills  

        Sharpen Your Edge Business Technology Seminars   8:00-9:00 AM

                Wednesday, October 29 - Web 101:   “What You Need to Know Before You Pay For a Web Site”

                        Presented by Howard Carson (InTech), Gudrun Frank (Object Tools, Inc.)

                Wednesday, November 27 - Web 102:  “How To Get The Best Bang For The Bucks You Spend On

                        Your Web Site”.       Presented by Jay Kravitz (Schedulebynet)

        Get Acquainted With Your Chamber  -  Presented by the Member Recruitment & Retention Committee  

                Wednesday, October 30   3:30 pm  @Northampton Country Club

                Tuesday, December 10   4:00 pm  @Best Western Hotel

        “Be Your Own Boss” Seminar Series  -   7:00-9:00 pm

                Presented by the Small Business Resources Committee

                Four consecutive Tuesdays, October 8-15-22-29 

        Presented by the Legislative Action Committee

        Forum on Property Tax Reform    Friday, October 4 @ King’s Caterers

        Candidates Debate   Thursday, October 31,  8:00-9:30 am              

JOINT DOWNTOWN NEWTOWN CORPORATION

JDNC board member Lisa Kruse reported that plans are being made for a visioning meeting regarding the proposed Stockburger move to the Bypass.  The date has not yet been set; the purpose of the meeting is to provide information and facilitate discussion.  Ms. Kruse also announced that JDNC is sponsoring a “My Favorite Newtown Event” coloring contest; a monthly winner will be chosen to receive prizes from various sponsors and their entry will be put on the website.  Two sponsors thus far are Goodnoe’s (free ice cream cone), First National Bank (a savings account with a balance of $10); Bill Marsh Ford is underwriting the cost of the printing of the entry forms.  Ms. Mitchell said they would distribute the contest forms at the sales desk and in the nursery at the NAC, and that NAC would also contribute prizes as a sponsor.   

SYCAMORE STREET

 No report. 

SUBCOMMITTEE - Concerned with a YMCA in Newtown - Doug Terry, Chair

No report. 

OLD BUSINESS 

NEW BUSINESS

New Monthly Report

Ms. Mitchell requested that the Newtown Business and Professional Association be added to the agenda as a regular monthly report.  She said that at their last meeting the Stockburger organization shared information as an informational service to their members.  She said their next meeting was Tuesday, October 22 at 7:30 am at Chandler Hall.  As their new members meeting the meeting is open to guests on a complimentary basis. 

Membership Mailing

Ms. Dunleavy distributed a draft of the revised membership brochure; members present made suggestions and changes.  Ms. Kruse will further revise the brochure, and Ms. Dunleavy is gathering cost estimates for the printing and mailing of the brochures.  The revised brochure and cost estimates will be brought to the next meeting. 

Business Handbook

Ms. Dunleavy distributed copies of the old New Business Handbook for members to review.  The handbook will be on next month’s agenda. 

Map

Ms. Dunleavy presented the new map she had located, dated 2001.  Mayor Hains said that when the older map was produced, they did not give Newtown addresses to the company, as they felt that the company wanted to sell the list.  He said that the map that was produced was better than any other comparable one is in the area, and that the quality was high.  Ms. Dunleavy was directed to investigate the terms of the company’s contract, and ask about mailing list handling.  The issue will be placed on next month’s agenda. 

Speakers

The new maintenance director of PennDOT was suggested as a speaker for an upcoming meeting. 

NEXT MEETING

The next luncheon meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 7, 2002 at the Goodnoe Farm Dairy Bar at 12:00 PM.  The cost is $10; please RSVP by November 1, 2002 to the recording secretary (contact information is included on the attached agenda).  

ADJOURNMENT:  Upon motion by Ms. Cummins-Sappenfield and without objection, the meeting adjourned at 1:04 pm.  

Respectfully Submitted:________________________________________
                                             Leslie P. Dunleavy, Recording Secretary