By Willa Boisseau
Scanews Senior Editor
The Olive Business Association met on Thursday, May 16. Because of
the unusual meeting date, attendance was small for this important budget
meeting.
President Lynn Rossel reminded the group that the new By-Laws have set membership dues at $25 per year for Active (voting) membership and $10 per
year for Associate (non-voting) membership. In the future dues will change,
with a sliding scale for large and small businesses. She showed a large
stack of letters she had received opposing the designation of "Chinatown" for
the western zone of Olive Street in U. City.
President Lynn Rossel
Najah Haquiqah, representative from U. City East, had the most
exciting report. She said that funding for the grant proposal made by the
OBA to the Daughters of Charity, overall source of community project funding,
had been approved. The goal of the OBA has been achieved. The grant has
been made.
The proposal of the OBA totaled $24,286. Of this amount, about one-third, or $6,800, would be raised by the OBA itself. Nearly two-thirds,
or $16,710, would come from the funding organization. Clerical assistance
and office supplies will add $6,320 to the yearly budget, so we will need
$13,120 for the year's full operations. At slightly more than $1,000 per
month, this seems highly reachable for an area with many more than 100
businesses involved. The grant request was very successful.
Underway is planning for fund-raising, to the benefit of all Olive businesses. An annual summer Olive Business Expo will include special
promotions for and about businesses. It will include entertainment and food
from restaurants, as well as outdoor displays. Merchants must become
involved in development. Dan Savory from the Olive Street Deli and Meat
Market, West Zone Manager, pointed out that success will come from the work
of many along the street, rather than just a patchy few along the way.
The president suggested that nominations for Association officers be made by mail, as well as at the June meeting when elections will take place.
The Newsletter will be a quarterly publication, due to the need for volunteer
personnel and publication and mailing expense.
Progress can be seen already. Seafood City has greatly increased the size of its parking lot, thereby helping to solve the traffic problem in its
area of Olive. From now on the operations of the OBA will go forward at full
speed.
The next meeting of the OBA will be on the regular meeting date, June 11, at the U. City Community Center at 6:00 P.M. A light meal will be
served. Be sure to be there to be a part of the action.
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