Westside Association Meeting Minutes-Oct 6-2011

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

Approval September minutes (Marcus/Gary) passed

Treasurer’s Report

  • Balance just over $7386.66
  •  Most of the expenses during September were costs associated with the Economic Insight meeting on Oct 20- (mailing, postcard design, mail list purchase)

Chamber Report:

  • Glass Nickel- new location on Jackson St ( the old Rail) ribbon cutting 10/07/11
  • Soup a Go-go- 429 N Main St
  • Olive Garden – on Koeller- worked started
  • Algoma Club- now open
  • Chic to Chic- open on Main Street
  • Express Apparel – open on Oregon St
  • 24,000 addition approved by Plan Commission on Koeller
  • Jay Manufacturing expanding
  • Ultimate Rides now open on Washburn
  • Kwik Trip bought the Lang Station on 9TH
  • CVS still in the works
  • Sage Hall on UWO campus opened
  • Citizens First- will build on Witzel – spring
  • Downtown Hotel- Wogenese Group and UWO Foundation still looking for equity partners, working on the TIF
  • Riverwalk – close to completion
  • 55+ senior living on Murdock
  • Green 3 open on Hwy 44
  • Direnzo and Bomier open on Koeller
  • Business after Hours – November 17
  • Annual meeting Nov 1- at Convention Center
  • Holiday Parade Nov 10-2011 6:30PM
  • John Anderson – new chairman of the chamber
  • Rollout of – new marketing campaign beginning of the year

Sign committee

  • Met with DOT – working with Alan Davis
  • 9 different signs
    • members will have 1st choice
    • $35.00 per logo per sign
    • letters to members1st
    • then opened up to non members

Membership

  • Drawing for free lunch- winner- Julie Belville
  • Brochures put out at each meeting
  • Send out thank you notes for guests
  • Welcome letters to new members
  • Letters to acknowledge member renewals

Executive Meeting:

  • Fall Economics Insights Meeting-
    • Oct 20- 7:30-9:30-At LaSures
    • Greg Pierce- from Reinhardt Partners will be the speaker

Guest Speaker- Doug Bisbee- Executive Director- Community of Hope of Greater Oshkosh

  • Suicide is about people
  • Lots of mystery about suicide- not many studies
  • Suicide not about death- about pain- narrowing of options- until the person sees the only way of the pain is suicide
  • 2007- 35,000  in 2008- 36,000  vs. homicides of 16,000
    • Wisconsin – about 700 suicides
    • Winnebago County- 20-22 per year on average ( 2010had 24- a record)
  • Teens  are high risk group ages 14-24
    • Teens- brain not fully developed until age 24-26
    • Value risk over consequences
  • Men – fastest growing demographic
  • 90% that die by suicide have some mental health illness, such as depression
  • alcohol- use as self medicating, prescription drug use
  • tipping point for most teens- relationship issues (breakups)
  • working being done community- collaborate with other groups in the area
  • working on anti stigma campaign about mental health issues
    • depression and anxiety- #1 disability in county)
  • work with school system – produced 30,000 folders- for students in public schools
  • provide grief support for family and friends
  • need to pay attention to others
  • train people – to recognize people that need help

 

Next meeting Thursday November 3, 2011- guest speaker Rob Kleman- OAEDC

Meeting adjourned at 12:55PM