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ALDERSON MAIN STREET - NEWS RELEASE P.O. Box 117, Alderson, WV 24910 Improving The Community One Project At A Time Contact: Don Sutherland 1-804-731-9871 or Margaret Hambrick 304-646-2439
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Previous Minutes: No corrections, approved – Margaret moved, Mary seconded, no opposed Treasurer’s Report: Margaret went over budget for the year. We got a lot of income in January for the yearly sponsorships. We have added new sponsorship levels this year, several have gone with the higher sponsorship level, which is great!! Cheryl is making progress on Lion Days, materials have started being purchased. The overall budget looks good for January. We will split out festival sponsorships, so that we will be sure they go on flyers, etc. We got a grant for $2000 for the Artisans Gallery, for lighting and hanging systems. It will go to them. ~$6000 in the interpretive center line item and some was used for plumbing. The town of Alderson graciously only had us pay for the parts, they did not charge for labor. We have $34k in our general account. That will go down as the year goes on. Town asked for $350 for LED lights to go on the big tree on Railroad Ave. The finance committee recommended we pay for ½ the price of those lights, which is $350 Motion to approve: Sophie, Mary, approved. Membership Report: Don - Treasurer report - Waiting for some businesses to reply. Ask anyone you know who might want to be a member. Old Business: AMS Logo. Sheena will email Christmas Tea recipe book. In Progress Annual planning calendar (cy 24 draft). Don - Living document. Changes periodically. Gazebo renovation/refresh. Don - The shingles will be replaced, 2 parties have approved it. Will be getting estimates for labor from 3+ companies. Will paint around roof, then shingles, then decking, ramps, then railings and benches. Start from top to bottom. We will put the word out when we need volunteers to help with labor. Lion Days 2024. Don - Decisions need to be made. Next year, we need to stay away from Easter, even though spring break is a good time to each kids. Flyers need to go out. Activities: Lion pet photo submissions, will be included in poster/facebook. Cheryl - Youth art project FREE (Giant Lion Paintings) at the Methodist Church downstairs on Tuesday, March 26 - will promote art project for kids, Parents MUST pre-register via email/phone. Ages probably kindergarten + Teresa has volunteered to assist Flags - Don plans to get 16 flags out and put them on the lamp posts by March 18th. Don will ask lamp post adopters to decorate for Lion Days. Culminating activity - maybe tag onto Easter egg hunt at the church. Depot Sat. 30th 2pm, after the egg hunt. Photo of kids with their Lion, lion story, meet and greet with Leo 18-30th, - Tues 26th Paintings, 30th - Culminating event Teresa - can we do a ribbon for lamp post winner? Fawn volunteered to judge posts Strawberry Festival 2024. We had our first 2024 meeting this week. We need Volunteers for Vendors to Unload, and We need someone to do Kids Activities Music - in the past we’ve had Frank Sinatra, he will be at the farm instead. Goodson Boys are good to go 11am-1pm, 2-4pm is open. Maybe Allan Sizemore? Maybe Chad Nichol? Grant $? We should be good to go. Strategic Planning Session: Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives. Next thursday 2/22 10am at Old Victorian Inn Think about goals for Alderson Main Street and specific objectives to meet those. Flags at Alumni Park. Done! Grand Openings: Morgan Meadows and Jessie’s Market Wanted to wait for warmer weather, maybe the week of Lion Days New Business: Sheena will create a new event under AMS page for “Strawberry Festival on the Bridge”. Next meeting: 21 Mar 24, Big Wheel, 10 am 1st Strawberry Festival Meeting of 2024 At Old Victorian Inn Sheena Pendley Date: 25th May, 10am - 4pm Summary of Events: Vendors on Bridge - Sonya handling Mary is speaking w/ Humane Society about coming for adoption, pet parade and pet blessing - at pavilion Youth Activities - Need a Coordinator Music/Entertainment - We usually do Elvis/Sinatra and Goodson Boys booked for 11am-1pm Sheena will ask Margaret about how much $ we have to use for music Food vendors - invite past vendors back AMS - will do lemonade, lamposts will be decorated, Depot will be open Flea market? - at end of Depot? Would be great to have crafters/artists on bridge and flea market across from Old Victorian Inn More vendor $$ Baby Parade - Sonya will coordinate with ALS contact Pony rides? Maybe petting zoo - Huckleberry Farm Can we add a note to ask vendors/food to focus on Strawberry Theme Mass Gathering permit - Sonya’s got it Flyer/Poster - Sheena will work on 25th April Marketing Grant - Sheena will work on the CVB grant Sponsorships - will be for yearly AMS, won’t be Signage - Don will work on sandwich board to put up early Photo/Video support - if Sheena is free she will, Marcia will cover if Sheena can’t make it Vendors on Bridge - Don will re-mark spots, will only be on the East side. 34 spots on bridge, can be more on aprons of bridge and 2-3 along fence line. 40ish. More - flea market will be along tracks - 12-20 Food truck spots - first lamp post down, on Railroad Ave Vendor Fee - We did $50 last year, $40 this year. Flea market same price? $20 for Non-profit Town Website for Registration - We can start taking payments on the town’s website so that we don’t have to take checks. Website will have Event tab, with Strawberry Festival with a link to sign up as a vendor. Sonya will screen them, then be able to send them a payment link on the town’s website where they can pay registration fee. Vendor Check in - Sonya, Sheena (if available), any volunteers we can get please come and help out!! �� Volunteers to help vendors set up/unload/assist - Scouts? Archers? Maybe Dwayne could help? Need Kids Activities Food Vendors - we’ll try to get a good mix Strawberry Sales - farm goes at green building. We will talk to tri-county about sourcing from them additionally. Open to other sources, Mennonites, etc Trash plan - Herbie has done this in the past Lamppost decorations - there are unclaimed posts, so those will need to be adopted Depot will be open Porta potties - 4 with 2 handwashing, Matt Butcher Budget - Amounts will be nailed down later Street performers - It would be nice to have street performers, maybe Gum Street Studios? Maybe pageant queens?? - Doris G and Charlotte - 4th of July pageant is April 13th Revenue - Maybe we could use last year’s extra $$ for petting zoo or Glenn Singer
February AMS & Strawberry Festival Meeting Hello all, here are the minutes from the Strawberry Festival meeting, the February AMS meeting. Happy reading! There is a lot going on--as usual! And, as usual, we can use help to make sure these activities are safe and fun for all and bring positive energy to our town. (notice new proposed AMS logo above.) Please especially note the new event--Lion Days. It has an incredible kids activity with the painting of the large lion posters; opportunities for everyone in town to participate by decorating on a lion theme; and a reason for people to visit our businesses because of lion theme activities. Let's see how successful we can be in a month which is still a bit slow. M for AMS