The meeting came to order at 8:30am. Sixteen members were present.

Introductions: Pres. Sherri Mewha had everyone introduce themselves and their businesses.

Treasurer’s Report: Beverly Lindeen presented the Treasurer’s report, which was approved and accepted by the membership. Beverly also noted that membership is currently at 51 paid members.

Coupon Book: The coupon books will be distributed to all merchants that are members of the NCBA. They will each be provided with 50 copies to give out. Kim Behmer is coordinating the production of the booklet.

"Where’s Wooliam?": Wooliam is now "back home". Many thanks to The Pendleton Shop for the concept and the use of Wooliam. He traveled throughout Northville and $25.00 gift certificates went to winners who guessed his location each week.

Sidewalk Sale: The focus of the Sidewalk Sale will be on merchants and on advertising as a Sidewalk Sale, (not a "Jubilee"). Many hours of planning have gone into the planning to avoid a "flea market" setting. It will also include food vendors and more "high-end" crafts (they will be juried entries). Pat Finnegan suggested asking the local restaurants if they would like to have a booth to sell from. Chris Van Dam will look into it.

The cost for vendors will be: $200.00 for non-NCBA (outside) vendors; $50.00 for downtown merchants who are not members.

Janet Bloom (Northville Chamber Events Coordinator) then presented an update on the Sale planning:

-Typical street closings are 5:00am Friday until 8:00pm Sunday.

-Restrictions for banners across the street are being looked into.

-Lori Ward of the DDA mentioned insurance "add-on" for banners.

-Brackets could be added to buildings that could be used throughout the yearly events.

-Lori Stempien suggested having banners the week before the event, rather than on the days of the event, when streets are already closed.

-Lori Ward noted that there was a consensus for "no banners" in the past, but that the idea had not been revisited in quite a while and maybe it was time to resubmit it to the City Council.

-Chris Van Dam called surrounding cities after last year’s event and found that the majority do not allow outside vendors.

July 28- we will begin an advertising Blitz for the Sidewalk Sale. It will include Northville, Novi, and South Lyon.

-2-3 sponsors are being considered at $500.00 each, so there is definitely interest in our event.

96.3 FM Radio- they will be remote broadcasting from Northville

-They will run 28 actual commercials for the event the week before.

-Fifteen 30-second advertising spots will be available at $50.00-300.00 per time slot

-There will be advertising on the 96.3 homepage

-They will provide 96.3 prizes.

-They will have a contest wheel and we can participate with $50.00 gift certificates. There will also be a cost to participate- 50.00 for the certificate and 50.00 to participate for merchants.

-The DDA is willing to contribute ½ of the cost (per Lori Ward).

-The cost to have 96.3 and their "package" is $4000.00 for the weekend.

The Bob Gibbs report compared 105.1 and 96.3 demographics and found that the Northville area demographics fit 96.3- a pop music station.

-Window posters will be available at the end of this week for advertising.

-Sherri M. mentioned that Terri O’Brien Street Marketing has been instrumental in helping to design the Sidewalk Sale logo.

-The hours for the sale will be:

Friday, 10am-8pm (Friday is also a First Friday with the usual art-related events)

Saturday, 10am-6pm

Sunday, 12pm-5pm

On Friday-

-The 126th Army Band will perform at the Gazebo (a 40 person band), 3:00-4:30pm

-The 96.3 FM station will broadcast 5-7pm

-The Clock Concert will take place at 7:30pm

-Maps will be provided to show where all vendors and activities are located.

-The entertainment for Saturday is TBA.

-Please talk this event up with your neighbors and encourage them to participate.

Victorian Festival: Please encourage merchants to participate in the theme.

The August meeting for the NCBA will focus on easy and inexpensive ideas to create new activities at the event, and to advertise it and get the merchants involved. Sherri M. noted that the merchants have a greater energy and excitement this year in participating in events.

Lily Lembree would like to serve complimentary tea at the Victorian Festival.

Bob Gibbs Report: The City Council has chosen a strategy consultant to continue with the Bob Gibbs Report.

Fire and Ice Event:

This will be present in cooperation with the Super Bowl in Detroit, which takes place on Feb. 5, 2006.

-There will be a Chili Cook-Off and Ice Sculptures

-There will be a Polar Bear Plunge at Mill Race Village

Final New Business:

-Announcement that the Grub Crawl will take place on July 28, 2005 and is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Posters were distributed.

-August- the parking decks and elevators will be refurbished- painting, etc., which will take about 5 weeks.

-Singh Co. will provide interim parking with 40 available spaces at 10.00 each

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00am.

Thanks to Beverly Lindeen for taking the minutes. Respectfully submitted by Karen Rae Mehaffey.