Brownsville Business Association

Minutes

January 15, 2008 • 5:30 p.m.

 

Fourteen members were in attendance Tuesday, January 15, 2008, for the monthly meeting of the Brownsville Business Association held at the Delta Room. Two visitors were also present. Members present were: Sonia Outlaw-Clark, Albert Campbell, Daniel Thornton, Darlene Knoz, Betty Morris, Brenda Cain, Harvey Livingston, David Levy, Richard Carraway, Joe Stephens, Jim Haywood, Joe Ing, Jerry Rogers and Danny Dean.

In the absence of President Pat Bailey, Secretary Sonia Outlaw-Clark welcomed visitors and called the meeting to order. Vice President Albert Campbell opened with prayer and Sonia read the Mission Statement.

Due to time restraints, secretary and treasurer reports were not given.

First item on the agenda was the election of new officers. Four positions are up for election: president, secretary, treasurer and director at large. Due to the lack of a quorum at this meeting, a motion was made to table elections until the next meeting. It was seconded and motion carried.

A Nominating Committee was then formed to contact the membership for nominations and bring back to the membership for voting. Nominating Committee members are Tim Stokely, Richard Carraway, Danny Dean, Sonia Outlaw-Clark and Betty Morris.

Next, Sonia Outlaw-Clark led a brainstorming session geared to help members field ideas and lay out a plan of action for 2008. Members were first asked what they believed was unique about our community. After several minutes, members were then asked what the BBA could do to meet three objectives in 2008: Promote Tourism, Increase Business and Enhance the Community. From this list of ideas, the group choose three main goals for 2008: Increase signage at interstate and place promotional flags on poles leading into town on Anderson, Beautify  the downtown area, and look into possibility of purchasing vacant corner lot at Washington and East Main for use as an event area. (Complete list of all brainstorming ideas are attached).

With these goals in mind, a committee consisting of Joe Stephens, David Levy and Danny Dean was asked to find out about the lot and the possibility of the BBA using some grant money for downtown development that has not been used. The committee will report to the membership at the February meeting.

The next meeting of the BBA will be at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 19, at the Delta Room (behind Backyard Barbecue), 703 East Main. At the conclusion of the regular business meeting, Sharon Taylor McKinney will conduct a seminar on the “Small & Minority Owned Business Assistance Program.”

 

 Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Sonia Outlaw-Clark, Secretary

 

 

 

Brainstorming Session Results

January 15, 2008

 

What is unique about Brownsville/Haywood County?

(Or what do you like about our community?)

 

What can the BBA do to …

               Promote tourism?

·      Fall Fest

·      Haywood movement/Square Bash

·      BSG Phone book

·      Billboards

·      Signage at Interstate

·      Tourism Director

·      Open Hatchie Refuge up more

·      Horse trails on Hatchie

·      Street Fairs

·      Spring Fling

·      Park of Dreams

·      Ag-related festival/event

·      Advertise out of town

·      Advertise in Memphis

 

               Increase Business?

·      Advertise in Memphis

·      Promotions/Advertising

·      Signs off of Interstate ramp and 4-Way stop at Bypass

·      Landscape ramps @ I-40

·      Anderson kept more cosmetically pleasing

·      Flags on poles leading into town from I-40 to court Square

·      Business put forth more effort and money

 

               Enhance Community?

·      Street lights downtown

·      Recycling

·      Become a more “green” community

·      Beautification downtown and all over city

·      Promote agri-tourism

·      Buy vacant lot corner of Washington/East Main

 

 

Of above items listed, what goals can we accomplish in 2008?

o      Road signs

o      Flags