The Grant Has Been Made, OBA In Full Operations

      The Olive Business Association met on Thursday, May 16.  Because of 
the unusual  meeting date, attendance wasd 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.

       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 totalled $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.