January 2026 Meeting Minutes 1/9/26
In attendance: Jackie Perrrydore, Sharon Hassett, Mike Walker, Elaine Salter, Joe Bartley, Cathy & Dave Courtney, Sue Bellows, Brandi Overholt, Elaine Fleming, Matt Miller, Kim Dold, Cecelia Nesbitt, Amy Smith, Dawn Parker, Mickey Edell, Natalie Thurmond, Julie Slabaughmm, Rabeeh Hammoud
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Call to order: 9:04 am
Welcome new members, Now & Forever Florist, Apex Realtors
Guest Speakers - Cecelia & Julie from the GC Garden Club. 3/14 all day conference from 9:00 am - 3pm. Beyond the Bloom Gardening Conference. Garden City High School www.gcgardenclub.com for more information. They have ad spaces available if you want to promote your business as a sponsor for the event.
The garden club plants the flowers at the commons at Ford & Middlebelt every year, they plant the butterfly garden at GC Park, and give a $1000 scholarship to a GC High School student. They also hold an annual garden walk that is attended by people all over Michigan as well as out of state.
Approval of November’s minutes: Sue Bellows first, Sharon Hassett second. Approved.
Treasurers report - Mike Walker. As per printed $12904.46 new balance. Any questions, concerns, see Mike Walker or give him a call. The report is accepted and filed.
Proposed budget for 2026 passed out to all - any questions, comments, suggestions? Motion to approve: Elaine Fleming first, Amy Smith, second. Adopted and approved.
Installation of 2026 board. Mike Walker is now the treasurer, and Elaine Fleming is the one year trustee. We have a VP position open. Motion from the floor to nominate someone for that position. Sue Bellows nominated Amy Smith, seconded by Mike Walker. All in favor - Amy has been elected as the new VP - Congratulations!
Joe Bartley was on the board since the beginning of the GCBA and we honor his commitment and presented him with a certificate of thanks.
Ongoing business:
Scammers have been relentless in trying to scam our members out of $$ - do not engage, do not give them any money!! We will NEVER ask you to send money or gift cards on our behalf.
Goodfellows paper - we purchased an ad in the paper that was distributed the week after Thanksgiving. It listed every member of the GCBA. This is another example of how the GCBA promotes it’s members.
Our tree at Radcliff looked awesome. Amy Smith and LaWanda Hines put it up and Sharon & Amy took it down. We would love more business cards for next year.
Question: Pig Races - should we have a pig this year? The cost is $100. A quarter page ad is included in the cost of the pig. All in attendance voted to continue hosting the pig.
MITP - We have our dates - June 18, July 16, & August 20.
Elaine Salter - bands & food - currently booking both food & bands
Elaine Fleming - sponsorships & vendors - Elaine will start contacting all from last year
We are considering paid volunteers that can help us with setup and breakdown. The payment would be paid to a charity of their choice. We have a new level of sponsorship for $200 that will include a dasher board at the ice rink for 1 year. The parks & rec sponsorship will also offset the cost of all the lawn games the parks department had at our 3 events last year.
Elaine Fleming - Bookkeeping made simple
Rabi Hammoud -Apex Realty Centers - just opened in GC on Ford Road just east of Merriman
Kim Dold - Hometown Spirit Awards - GC Schools & PTA has an annual dinner at the Hellenic center. Students submit essays and awards are given. The event is Feb 11 and they are looking for sponsors. Motion for the GCBA to sponsor the business spirit award first Mike Walker, Joe Bartley second - approved for sponsorship of $250.
The planning commission had a meeting last night to discuss allowing Sheetz to build at Ford & Hubbard. It still needs to go through council for approval.
ACE Binova is having a ribbon cutting on Saturday in the old Larry’s auto parts store.
Everfresh at Ford & Middlebelt held their grand opening last Saturday - the store is really nice and so far seems very successful.
Cecelia Nesbitt - member of the Garden Club and Auto’s for Autism, which is having their 25th anniversary show on Monday, June 15 at the Middle School
Matt Miller - community development director for the City of GC. Regarding Sheetz; it will still need to pass through council and the planning commission. A lot of questions regarding competition were raised at the planning meeting, but that is not a reason the city can accept or deny an applicant. The city is not responsible for limiting specific businesses as long as they are businesses that are allowed per our ordinances.
Lucky Squirrel dates for 2026: 5/16, 7/18 & 9/19. A new program for choosing vendors - an online registration where they can register and pay online ahead of time. All vendors will be required to pre-pay to hold their spot. The parking lot has been seal coated and the spots have been repainted. There will also be additional parking available.
Chili Cookoff 9/25 and there will also be a pancake breakfast sponsored by Kiwanis.
Sue Bellows - Plymouth/Canton AAUW. Their annual children’s play is coming up next month at O’Leary Auditorium. Snow White. Proceeds go to scholarships for women.
Cathy & Dave - GC Rotary. They just finished their holiday season where they helped out families for Christmas and handed out over 60 coats for kids in need.
Natalie Thurmond - Shaklee ambassador and health and wellness advocate.
Brandy Overstreet - PSCU. CDs are available for 5 or 7 months. They are awarding up to 7 scholarships for $300 each. There are lobby days where small businesses can participate and set up in their lobby to promote their businesses.
Amy Smith - Mary Kay cosmetics. This Saturday she is holding an in-person event to show which products Mary Kay has available.
Joe Bartley - J&J taxes & more, tax season is opening on Jan 26 to start submitting returns. www.jandjtaxes.com.
Sharon Hassett - Straight Farmhouse - The Nativity scenes are coming to an end for the season soon. The Grand Parlour is open for rentals and lots of craft projects coming up.
Elaine Salter - Elaine’s gift baskets - all baskets made to order and local delivery is always free
Mike Walker - Liberty Tax. If you purchased a new American made vehicle in 2025, you can get up to a $10000 rebate. Also OT & Tips can be deducted for eligible taxpayers. Bring in your final pay stub to show the breakdown of regular wages vs.OT wages. The IRS will no longer mail checks or take paper checks for payment. 65 or older? You may be entitled to a deduction of $6000 or $12000 for a married couple filing joint.
Jackie Perrydore - Apex Realty in Garden City - Happy to be back in GC
Adjourn at 9:55 am
