MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE LOWER DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HELD
November 13, 2011
Pursuant to proper notice, a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Lower Downtown Neighborhood Association was held on November 13, 2011 beginning at 5:30 p.m. In attendance were: Mel Cruger, Josh Davies, Lara Davies, Terry Hershey, Diane Huntress, Joyce Lozow, Kirstan Marks, Jim McCotter, Paul Rothman, Jack Tone, and Mike West. Absent were David Cole, San Ong, Chuck Shifflett, and Christine Santucci.
Josh Davies chaired the meeting and Lara Davies recorded the minutes as secretary.
Approval of August and September Minutes: Mel made the motion that the August and September minutes be approved with a date change in the August minutes. Jack seconded this. All were in favor and this motion passed. There were no October minutes because this meeting did not have a quorum and there was no official business.
Union Station Update: Chris Frampton with the Union Station Neighborhood Company and Ferd Belz with the Union Station Alliance gave an overview of their Union Station Project proposals. The board agreed not to take any action on supporting one plan over the other.
Membership Committee Updates: Kirstan motioned that the board approved the new membership application and Joyce seconded this motion. All were in favor and this motion passed. Kirstan also showed the board the new membership brochure. These will be used in recruiting new members – both in hard copy and on the web. The board agreed that if anyone joins as a member from November 1, 2011 until December 31, 2011 then they will be active members until December 31, 2012.
LoDo Cares: Joyce gave an update on the Holiday Project. Joyce reported that the request letters to past donors have been sent out, the loft updates have been sent to LoDo loft reps, and that advertising was placed in the Downtown Denver News. Terry reported that the partnership of LoDo Cares between LoDoNA and LoDo District is working great. Terry was going to confirm that LoDo District is a 501c3 (confirmed). LoDo Cares will have four initiatives next year-Barth Hotel headed by Jim Theye, LoDo Angels headed by Ayn Fox/Susan Kieley, Parks and Environment headed by Lisa May and Community Cares and Shares. We are still looking for someone to head Community Cares and Shares. This doesn’t exclude LoDo Cares from taking on something else – but hopefully it will fit into one of these four categories. These groups need seed money. In 2011 we voted to give $500 to LoDo Angels. Mel made a motion to give $1500 in 2011 to LoDo Cares for the other three initiatives ($500 each) earmarked for 2012. Joyce seconded this. All were in favor and this motion passed. LoDo District has agreed to support as well. LoDo Cares will also ask businesses for sponsorship money.
Annual Meeting: The group agreed to do the annual meeting on February 8th. Our first location choice was the Saddlery. Josh was going to check on this location’s availability. The theme the group decided on was to do a restaurant preview theme for all the new restaurants opening up in 2011/2012. We will also include an update on the old favorite restaurants too. The group wanted someone like John Imbregamo to host and help arrange chefs for the program. Josh will report back to the group on availability.
Presidents Update:
2012 Board Members – San Ong is not going to be running again for her spot on the board. Byron has stepped down from the board and Eric Nakata’s seat is also open so we have three spots open on the board. Please give any recommendations of any board candidates to Josh and a group will interview candidates in January and report back to the group. The new board members’ election will be in February. Needs for the board are someone who can act as a Treasurer and someone to serve as committee head for Social and Community Building. We agreed to keep the board at 17 members – if we can. In January we will also need to reappoint officers to the board – President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer. Josh said he would serve as President again for another term.
DDRO Security Forum – 1/19/12 – We agreed to cosponsor the DDRO Security Forum that Charles Nadler is helping to organize. It will be on public safety in downtown. The cost to co-sponsor the event is $112.50. We will also help promote it.
WeeBoT – The next WeeBoT will be Thursday the 17th of November at Coohills at 5:30 pm. President’s Update: Andrea with Gentleman’s Quarter has agreed to help us update our website and plan the 2012 WeeBoTs.
GNC Update: Jim motioned that we approve the GNA for Coohills and Jack seconded this motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Next Meeting - The meeting was adjourned at 6:57 pm and the next meeting will be December 12 at 5:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Lara Davies