GARDEN CITY BUSINESS ALLIANCE
MEETING MINUTES
March 14 2025 General membership meeting
In attendance: Jackie Perrydore, Michael Walker, Elaine Salter, Sharon Hassett, Don Nicholson, Elaine Fleming, Sue Bellows, Cathy & Robert Courtney, David Veselnek, Natalie Thurmond,
Call to order 9:06 am
Returning member - Blingz Jewelry / Candi LLC
February members - forgot to print, we will approve both next month
Treasurer's report; Beginning $10718.77, Income $3550, Expenses $550.48, ending $13718.29. Approved as filed
Postcards for MITP available - please take some to put in your businesses or to hand out
Welcome packets - Jackie took another 20 welcome bags to city hall for anyone applying for a new business license. The City of GC, The GC DDA, and The GCBA all included information in the bags. Please let Jackie know if you want any merchandise included
If you receive an email that appears to be from the GCBA asking you for any money, please do not respond - delete the email, it’s a scam. The scammers are hitting all the chambers in our surrounding area.
Ongoing business / Music in the Park
Michael W - sponsorships. Newest sponsorships committed: Liberty Tax, J&J, Shaklee, National Realty
Prior submissions received, Tipton Academy, Gordon Chevrolet, Schoolcraft College
If you wish to be a sponsor, please find the application on our website under Music in the Park.
Bizbee Vendor show - Elaine Fleming/chair. Emails have been sent out to prior vendors and to our current membership. Members are free - non members pay $75 to participate.
Entertainment & Food - Elaine Salter - Bands & Food Vendors booked
Merch discussion - Joe B / we have been discussing merch ideas for our events. We are encouraging people to dress in their best hippy garb in July. We considered buying Tshirts, but realized it’s too expensive with no guarantee of selling. We’re leaning towards small items - necklaces, scarves, pins, stickers, bags. Motion to approve further research and cost: Natalie T first, Sharon H 2nd. Approved.
Porta-potties - Sharon H will order 2 porta potties for July and 1 for August from Scotty’s Potty’s.
There are bathrooms at the park and the ice arena, but we’re expecting larger crowds so the porta potties are there as backup per GC Parks Dept request.
Kiwanis annual Pig Race was last week. The GCBA took out a full page ad promoting MITP in their program.
Semi permanent sign holder for the park. Jackie proposed an idea to parks & rec to place our MITP sign easier with a permanent sign holder. This could also be used for any other organization. Kim Dold suggested having PVC pipe inserted flush into the ground, with a removable cap that can be used to place the sign. We are waiting for approval from Parks & Rec.
Don Nicholson Enterprise will donate the 2 banners advertising MITP that are put up at both entrances to the park - Thank you Don!
First business - People could nominate their favorite GC business on the city website. The winner will be honored as the 2025 GC business of the year. Whoever wins will be awarded an in-kind sponsorship for MITP and be on our posters.
Yard signs - Jackie has all the yard signs previously purchased by GCBA members. Please reach out to Jackie if you would like your sign back and she will arrange pick up. If no response, any signs left over will be disposed of.
We have 8 MITP signs that say MITP This Thursday. Sharon would put them at all the smaller parks and then go back and pick them up. Should we order more? Do we need more?
We would like everyone’s opinion on future evening meetings, what would you like the meetings to entail? Possibly looking at May. Don - meet & greet, snacks, pass out business cards / Networking.Natalie - possible pot luck? Farmhouse / Essence Events as a possible location
Member spotlight:
Elaine Fleming - Bookkeeping Made Simple
Don Nicholson - Don Nicholson Enterprises / Marketplace paper / Cruise events
Sue Bellows - Plymouth Canton AAUW / Long time GC resident & volunteer
Cathy & Robert Courtney - GC Rotary - they will be collecting schools supplies at August MITP
David Veselnek - Schoolcraft College
Natalie Thurmond - Shaklee Ambassador for improving your health and well-being
Sharon Hassett - Straight Farmhouse, many upcoming classes at the Farmhouse
Elaine Salter - Elaine’s Gift Baskets & More
Michael Walker - Liberty Tax Garden City - it’s tax season!
Jackie Perrydore - National Realty Centers
Adjourn 10:08 am
Next meeting April 11, 2025, 9:00am at Straight Farmhouse, honorary member.
