November 2009 Meeting Minutes

Westside Association meeting minutes- November 5-2009

Meeting called to order at 12:00 by President Connie Drexler

Approval of October minutes- moved/2^nd and passed

Treasurer’s Report:

• Pledge for the Grand will be over a three year period
• Low activity this month

Chamber report

• November Newswave Magazine contains the annual report
• Jan 28- Business Expo
• Feb 18- Economic Outlook Breakfast
• Website contains resources for H1N1
• China trip
  • Hope to have between 50- 60 people from the Fox Valley area
• Schenck office opens Nov 25 on Koeller

Survey Project

• Met with Mark Rohloff the end of October
• Board was split whether to continue the survey in the light of the changes at city hall
• Decision was made to postpone the survey for now- see what changes occur with the new personnel that will be hired

Board Elections

• Jeff is working on the slate of nominees
• Vote will be held at the December meeting

Guest Speaker:  Jerry Murphy- The New North

• 18 counties make up the New North
• Business development
  • Small business
  • Targeting clusters
• Manufacturing in the area was connected to the paper industry in some fashion-
• NE WI- could produce components needed for the Wind Energy Industry
• Getting businesses educated in turning their capabilities to the wind industry
• WI has the infrastructure
• WI is centrally located for emerging Wind Generation projects
• New North has more than 250 resident businesses potentially qualified to be suppliers to the Wind Industry
• WI has excellent logistics, work force, location
  • Multiple manufactures already in the wind industry
  • WI Wind Works understands the supply chain
• Promoting industry/companies
  • Trade shows
  • Advertising in trade publications
  • Supply chain event in Appleton March 2009
• Overall WI Wind Works
  • Provides comprehensive solutions to wind industry needs
  • Connects wind industry to capable suppliers/vendors
  • Maximizes connectivity among the cluster members leading to innovation and collaborations
• Future
  • Continue efforts to attract 1^st/2^nd tier buyer markets
  • Expand and strengthen WI Wind Works collaboration across the state
  • Continue to partner with AWEA
  • Support for programs that strengthen WI Wind energy supply chain and industry alignment

Meeting adjourned at 1PM