LBOT Annual Report DECEMBER 7 2021
LAUREL BOARD OF TRADE
ANNUAL REPORT
DELIVERED AT THE
ANNUAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
DECEMBER 7, 2021
During the 2021 Board Year the Directors have continued to diligently work to make LBOT an important part of the business community. At the same time they have guided the organization thru COVID and its repercussions not only to the LBOT but the business community at large.
As part of the dealing with COVID, LBOT had to cancel the 2020 Main Street Festival, our biggest source of income each year.
We closed the Office and furloughed the Office Administrator. This was done to save on expenses, conserve our limited resources and keep our Administrator, Maureen Rogers, safe.
The May 2021 Main Street Festival was also cancelled
Although it was hoped and planned to hold a Main Street Festival in October 2021, that, too, had to be cancelled
With the implementation of a new, better tracking system for membership and dues combined with conservation measures and a couple of grants, the Board was able to re-open the Office on a limited basis and bring Admin Maureen back on board in August 2021
Monthly meetings with the Mayor and City Officials switched to virtual and have continued all thru the past 2 years. We have been able to stay informed and share with you how the City is working to help businesses thru the pandemic as we share your thoughts and concerns with them.
Through all this, the Board has met regularly by Zoom (first Tuesday each month).
Committees have been “Chaired and staffed” and begun doing what they were set up to do. (although due to COVID several committees are on hiatus)
The Board is constantly working to improve how it functions for the good of the organization and for ways to provide more benefit to the business community and of course, increase membership.
I believe this is the moment to recognize our out-going Board members who have dedicated their skills, expertise and countless hours to LBOT not only in regular meetings but also in Committee work to benefit all of us in the business community.
Garry Wilson of 98.6 Sound has served on the Board for several years and in 2021 has been our Vice-President. He is almost single-handedly responsible for our website and its constant updating and tweaking. He has also served as Co-Chair of the Networking Committee as well as the Zoom Link Master for many of our virtual meetings. And, as VP, he has been in charge of the Nominating and Election Committee this year.
We thank Director Ann Bennett, Director of the Laurel Historical Society for her work in starting an On-Boarding process for new Board members as well as her work on the LARS Liaison and Social Media Committees.
Thank you to Director Sean LeVere at Total Copy and Marketing for the endless hours working on “The Map” and being part of the Marketing LBOT/Main Street Committee.
Director Brian Keys will also be leaving the Board. He has worked on the About Town TV program. His humor will be missed.
Since January 2021 the current Officers and Board of Directors have:
Begun implementation of an On-Boarding process for newly elected Board members. We look forward to expanding on what we started in 2021 as we seat new Board members in 2022.
Procedures Manual and Continuity Manual Committees are both headed by Jim Cross, LBOT Chairman. Progress has been made to compile these vital documents but they are not yet complete.
The Website Committee headed by VP Garry Wilson has continued to add to and improve the functioning of the website. Members are now able to join or renew membership on the website, including making dues payments. The Vendor Registration forms and payments for Main Street Festival will soon be online. Zoom links for virtual meetings are imbedded in the Calendar for the event date. Each month a Member Business is featured on the website. It continues to be a work in progress as new tech becomes available and as suggestions are made and needs arise.
This Committee is in need of a Chairman and several committee members to share the load
The Newsletter Committee (President Marilyn Johnson, The Marilyn Johnson Sewing Design Studio) has continued to publish monthly (sorry about October). Each issue highlights the Featured Business on the website, welcomes new and renewing members, reports on the Officers/Mayor monthly meetings and shares info on so many business relevant issues from so many sources. Still to be finalized are guidelines for member businesses to contribute informational articles in their area of expertise. And this is your reminder that you can promote your special events and announce your awards in the newsletter.
The Networking Committee has been Co-Chaired by VP Garry Wilson and Director Jody Broughton of Social Tailwaggers. Due to COVID they smoothly transitioned from “in real life” meetings to Zoom meetings. These are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month starting at 12:15 pm. The Zoom link to join the meeting is on the LBOT website in the Calendar. These meetings have provided attendees with many opportunities to build relationships with other local businesses, get information about issues that affect them and learn more about what LBOT is about and has to offer them.
This Committee is in need of someone to act as the “Host” of these meetings so if you are knowledgeable about Zoom and Breakrooms, etc. please get in touch with Jody
The Marketing Committee led by Director Bob Mignon and committee members Treas. John Donohue and Directors Sean LeVere (Total Copy) and Nadol Hishmeh (Olive on Main) have been super busy. Bob and John spent several weeks literally walking Main Street to speak to each business. They now have the most accurate and up-to-date list of businesses located on Main Street ever. Their feedback on the experience was hugely positive and the Board plans to make this an annual event. They were able to re-establish relationships with previous members, answer all sorts of questions and several new businesses joined. All this adds to the strength of our organization. All the information gathered on these walking trips will be used to update the “Map of Main Street” businesses, a long term project of LBOT. All the Main Street businesses will be listed and LBOT members will be highlighted. It’s almost ready to go to print….there are 18 business card sized ad spots available and they are selling fast. When printed, the 2000 brochures will be available at the LBOT Office and City Hall. We will also share them with Paddock Pointe to include in their Welcome Baskets that they give to new residents. We are also putting plans together to provide copies to Real Estate agents to give to Laurel home buyers at closing. Copies will be available for any LBOT member or Main Street merchant who wants them.
The Membership Committee is led by Pres. Marilyn Johnson. This year a Welcome packet has been developed and sent to each new and renewing member. This Committee works closely with the Marketing, Website and Networking Committees and the Treasurer. Ideas are always welcome, especially if they come with help to do them. Thanks to the efforts of Treas. John Donohue we now have the most accurate and up-to-date membership list ever.
The LBOT for LARS Committee led by Director Ann Bennett has tightened the relationship between the two organizations. We now exchange newsletters and work in other ways to support LARS efforts in our community.
This Committee will need a new Chair since Ann is leaving the Board. If you are interested in this committee please let Ann or Marilyn know.
The Main Street Festival Committee has been completely restructured so we can be more effective and efficient in the planning and organizing for the event. This year all the Vendor forms were reviewed, revised, updated, placed on-line on the LBOT website and we just finished all the testing in preparation for going live with them. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 Main Street Festivals a process had to be worked out with 2020 Vendors who had paid fees for the cancelled event. Treas. John Donohue led the effort to communicate with the Vendors and offer to refund or roll-over the fees they had paid and track all that information. Plans are well underway for the 2022 MSF.
The Business Forums Committee has not been able to get started but there are plans to get it going in 2022.
This Committee needs a Chair and a couple of committee members.
The Riverfest, Back2School Jam and Trick or Treat on Main Street Committees are all on hiatus during COVID. It is hoped we will be able to host these events in 2022.
Each of these committees could use help, some need Chairs in addition to committee members
The About Town TV program has also been on hiatus and again we hope to bring it back in 2022. This is an program where member businesses are interviewed about their business. It is broadcast on Laurel TV and permanently available on Utube.
This program needs a Chair and an Interview Host.
Two new Committees were created this year.
First is the Social Media Committee headed by Directors Ann Bennett and Reshma Bourne (1-800 Water Damage). The goal is to establish a social media program that promotes LBOT and informs and educates the public about LBOT and its activities
The other new Committee is Sponsorships. Corp Sec Jan Able and Pres. Marilyn Johnson form this committee. The goal is to create two sponsorship programs, one for members and the other for LBOT events. We are looking for great things from this in 2022.
The past 3 years have been focused on the management and functioning of LBOT from revising and updating the By-Laws to creating processes for procedures, continuity, record keeping and finances. A lot of work has been put in to re-invigorate the organization, create value of membership and to claim credit for what LBOT contributes to the business and greater community through its events and programs. All of these efforts are on-going and will continue.
Now that LBOT is better defined and has a firm administrative/management structure, it is time to look to the General Membership and encourage their participation in the well-being of the organization.
The Board has created the Committees needed to run the operation but this can’t rest only on the shoulders of the 11 members of the Board. We now reach out to you, the Members, to join a committee, participate in planning events, share your skills and expertise with LBOT.
I have listed all the committees and all their work for the past year. Where do you think you could fit in? Some committees, honestly, require a generous time commitment but others don’t. What committee fits your schedule? Could you run Zoom once a month for the Networking committee? Maybe you could make time to help coordinate Trick or Treat on Main Street once a year. Are you an event planner? Business Forums could use your talents 4x a year.
Joining a committee not only helps LBOT, it helps you, too. Your business network will expand, you will make new connections, you will earn respect (and referrals) from people you might not otherwise meet. Invest time and energy in LBOT and you invest in yourself.
Think about it, where can you help? And when you decide, call any of the Directors or Admin. I promise, you won’t regret it.
