Pick Up for Walkabouts:

• Pumpkins for October 1 decorating -- courtesy of Specialty Produce -- are available for South Park storefront businesses to pick up at Alchemy Restaurant this week.

• Reminder -- Decorate your business for Tour de Fat bike parade this Sat. Oct. 1, 11am-Noon. Balloons, signs, costumes! The festival begins at 10am at Golden Hill Park and should bring hundreds of new visitors into South Park during the day.

• Holiday lights for outside your business, for "Twinkle, Twinkle, Mix & Mingle" December 3rd. If you need more, please pick them up at Studio Maureen (619-233-6679).

SPBG Meeting Minutes, 9/28/11

By Jeniffer Thompson

1. Police & Safety:
   a. Laptops are being stolen from ground level homes - breaking windows.
   b. Crime stoppers is looking for someone to volunteer in this area
   c. SDPD is looking for a suspect: Jeremy McNeil, born 1975, White male, short brown hair, brown eyes, 5”10” - hangs out near the corner of 31st and Cedar. Thief - trades stolen goods for drugs. If seen call: 619-531-2681
   d. In La Mesa area: people have been posing as water officials to gain access to homes and stealing jewelry, etc. when the homeowner leaves the room.

2. South Park Community Group (Matt Thomas):
   a. MAD just lost the law suit, maintenance assessment district going to be dismantled.
   b. City going through initial draft of Comm updates. CPAUC planning an Oct. 5 meeting - need a location. Matt indicated that they are looking for volunteers and people to donate $ to help cover costs. This is important for our community.

3. SPBG - not-for-profit:
   a. Maureen speaking with local attorneys about the pros and cons of this option. They recommend it. We are growing and need to take the next step.
   b. Attorney Chris Taylor explained in more detail: A Mutual Benefit Corporation - a legal entity separate from an individual. Costs are small: $30 filing fee, $50 minutes book, Chris will file at no fee to SPBG. Will need to run as a corporation, with articles of Inc., a board of directors, monthly meetings, annual board meeting, and minutes from all meetings—not much different than what we already do.
   c. Will need to find and hire an accountant
   d. Will have to file a tax-return, but will not owe monies.
   e. Connie McDonough asked if this new entity could serve as a fiscal agent - attorney recommends we seek advice from an accountant on this subject.
   f. Maureen mentioned that the PR Committee met last Wednesday [Maureen, Anne Mery, Christy (Progress), Matt (Alchemy), Jeniffer Thompson (Monkey C Media)] and everyone agreed this was a good idea - all volunteered to serve on the board.
   g. Voted: Unanimous YES.
   h. Round of applause for Chris Taylor (attorney)

4. Walkabouts:
   a. Send Marsha (spbg@lucyslist.net) details to be included in the handout and mentioned on the trolley.
   b. Tour de Fat same day in our neighborhood from 11 to noon. Jinna Albright (Thomas Bike) mentioned what a benefit this and that everyone should spruce up their store fronts and open early to support this event. Jinna will contact CDC to see if we can utilize their tent (usually at the Farmer’s Market) to use for a booth at the event to promote SPBG. Jinna will send parade route to Marsha to include on South Park Scene and distribute to SPBG
   c. 2012 Event dates: Voted: Unanimous: YES.
   i. Walkabouts -- March 24, July 14, October 6, December 1
   ii. Old House Fair – June 23

5. (Not listed on agenda)

6. PR Committee:
   a. nothing new , other than details discussed under item #3

7. Social Media Seminar:
   a. Maureen announced next meeting; Oct. 5 - topic: WordPress websites. Round of applause for presenter Jeniffer Thompson (Monkey C Media).

8. Community Reports:
   a. CDC Business mixer at Monkey C Media tonight (Sept. 28, 2011 from 5:30 to 6:30).
   b. MAD: David Skillman explained further the MAD ruling and how this effects SPBG. City will likely not appeal. As a community we will need to put in place a plan to remove trash and keep streets clean. Asked for volunteers to discuss – Sam Chammas (Station Tavern) volunteered. Details to be sent to SPBG members in more detail (says David).
   c. Councilman Todd Gloria’s office: Anthony Bernal mentioned that Todd will speak to the CDC on Oct. 20th about the MAD topic and how we can proceed to keep neighborhoods clean. His District now includes all of Golden Hill.
   Matt mentioned that bike lanes are now being established in our neighborhood - on A street for example.

9. New Business and Announcements:
   a. Maureen: Lights are here for local businesses to take and hang in the trees in front of their buildings (not inside stores), for the holiday season. Must be up in time for Sat. Dec. 3 Walkabout.
   b. Pumpkins available to take and decorate at Walkabout. Matt had them donated from Specialty Produce.
   c. Next Walkabout is the Art and Pumpkin theme - Maureen says: take post cards, posters, SP guide, and promote event.
   d. New businesses will be added to website, poster and guide when they sign up to join SPBG - notify Marsha to be added. (Next printing of the Guide will probably be January. Website version is updated monthly.)
   e. Walkabout blurbed on KPBS radio - the announcer went into detail about the event “the name was cute,” he said, some reported at meeting who heard the mention.
   f. Luci noted that logos/images have been removed from the Business page on the website and that links do not work. (This is a temporary situation due to web design issues and new businesses made single page too long. Will be fixed soon.)
   g. New Business opened last week: Crow Thief (Melissa) will have their Grand Opening on Oct. 15 (beer, wine, food).
   h. Audrey of Frost Me Cupcakes is new to the neighborhood and works out of The Big Kitchen.
   i. Ryan from The Vishuddha Creatives tattoo parlor attended his first SPBG business meeting.
   j. Brian from the Farmer’s Market: Due to community response, they are going to change the hours of the Saturday Market (located in Golden Hill). Log on to his website to vote on proposed hours: either 9:30 to 1:30 or 10 to 2:00. Event has been a success, thank you for support, he says. $25 to rent a booth + 10% of all sales. Alchemy has a booth - a huge success, says Matt.
   k. Monkey C Media is hosting an event for SPBG members on Friday the 30th from 7-9:00 p.m. Will feature the art of Lindy Ivey and serve refreshments.
   l. Hamilton’s celebrates 5 year anniversary - celebration on Oct. 15
   m. South Park Doctor is asking people if they would like some sort of a yearly, pre-paid plan to offer their employees.
   n. Dr. Joy Boatman mentions that the Albert Einstein cooking classes put on by Alchemy Chef are all the rage - kids fight to get included. Happens 3 times yearly.
   o. Remember your lights. Boxes of 300 and 100. Pick up at Studio Maureen (619-233-6679). Put them up before December 3. Try to keep for re-use next year.

NEXT MEETING – Wednesday, October 26, 8:30am at Alchemy.