NOTE: Annual Meeting was combined with the March 2009 Board Meeting.

OWACC/OWADC Annual Gathering of Business People & OWACC Annual Meeting

March 2, 2009, 6:30 PM, K & B’s Hayloft, Withee

1.  1. Call to Order after Annual Gathering of Business People: 7:45 PM

2.  2. Roll Call: Present: Borgeson, Hackbarth, Koplitz, Laube, Matkovich, Mauel, Mitchell, Reinke. Absent: LePage. Businesses represented: Steve Amacher, Burkholder Tractor Repair, Century Builders Supply, Century Landmark Group, Clark Co. Economic Development Corp., Community Bank of Central WI, Dairyland Animal Clinic, Del’s Service & Equipment, Eckert Door Co., Flower Farm, Friends of the Old School, Hanson Masonry, K & B’s Hayloft, Kerry Ingredients, Mauel’s Dairy, Midway Steel, Munson Bridge Winery, O-W Enterprise, O-W Realty, O-W Sports & Liquor, Rondi’s Country Café, Sid’s Place, Simington Construction, Forward Financial, Sunset Motel, Tim Swiggum, Tri-County Equipment, Withee Oil Co., Worden-Wachsmuth Law Office.

3.  3. Approve minutes from February 2, 2009 Board of Directors Meeting: A Jim Hackbarth/John Mauel motion and subsequent vote approved the February 2, 2009 Board of Directors meeting minutes.

4.  4. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Kris Koplitz reported checking account balance of $3,973.17 and a Chamber Bucks account balance of $677.07. A Sid Borgeson/Jim Hackbarth motion and subsequent vote approved the Treasurer’s Report as given.

5.  5. Nominations and Election of Board of Directors: Nominations were given and Janet Greschner, Sid Borgeson, and Pat Esker were chosen. A Bonnie Wachsmuth (member)/Steve Amacher (member) motion for a unanimous ballot and subsequent vote approved the nominations cast, electing Greschner, Borgeson, and Esker to the Board of Directors.

6.  6. Discuss/Approve when to have another O-W Community Expo: Attendees discussed having the Chamber Expo every other year in either October or early November 2010 and that the O-W School gymnasium was a good location to have it in.  No action taken.

7.  7. Recap of and Feedback regarding 2008 Goals & Accomplishments and Suggest 2009 Goals:

1. Increased membership

2. Call Center - increased useage

3. Website - continually updated - great source of business awareness in our area.

4. Chamber Bucks - just under $2000 - that all stayed in our community

5. Continued advertising on Waxx radio - keeping our Chamber on the air

6. Recognized the various new businesses in the area with a plant from the Chamber

7. Supported the Clark County Economic Development Corporation

8. Increased community knowledge of the Agribusiness Park and the Ag Innovation Center

9. Supported the Biggest Loser Contest

10. Owen Jr Fair Sponsorship and involvement

11. Business Expo - its huge success

12. 2009 Goals include supporting and promoting the Agribusiness Park and Innovation Center. Other 2009 goals to be decided by Board of Directors.

8.  8. Discuss Agribusiness Park Campus and how to make it a reality: Jim Hackbarth gave an update on the Ag Innovation Center and the Agribusiness Park and encouraged everyone to get out and support it.

9.  9. New Business: No new business discussed.

10.10. A Borgeson/Mauel motion and subsequent vote adjourned the meeting at 8:57 PM.