Congratulations to OBA New Co-Chairs Dan Savory and Joe Hahn

By Shari LeKane-Yentumi

The University City Olive Business Association (OBA) met Tuesday, July 8, 2003 at 6pm in the Heman Park Community Center to elect new board members for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.  Congratulations to new co-chairs Dan Savory of Olive Street Deli and Joe Hahn of Norge Laundry mat, Treasurer Ralph Broeker of Royal Bank, Corresponding Secretary Lynn Rossel of Rosco Electric, and Director Ching Ling of Asian Market.  OBA seeks to fill two more board positions: another Director and a Recording Secretary.  

Eligible OBA board members are business owners on Olive in University City (or a designated employee of a business owner on Olive.)  OBA Board Nominations are encouraged and will be presented at the next OBA meeting on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 at 6pm in the Heman Park Community Center.  For more information about OBA Board roles or OBA membership for businesses or associate members (non-business), please contact Ralph Broeker at 212-1520.  

The new OBA Board received unanimous approval from OBA membership to enter into contract with a private agency to develop a logo and branding identity for OBA promotional pieces ($2,000 maximum.)  

President Joe Gray of Gray Communications & Marketing spoke to OBA membership about establishing an identity for OBA, a grand awareness with which consumers can identify that brings attention to the businesses along Olive in U. City.  He suggested the development of a plaque or decal boasting OBA membership for storefront identification, in addition to the street banners and directory.  He also spoke about promotional events to showcase the talent, services, and businesses along Olive.  

OVERVIEW: The Olive Business Association (OBA) is a volunteer leadership group of business owners along Olive in University City.  They have succeeded in raising awareness about OBA initiatives through their monthly meetings.  OBA board consistently invites more than 300 businesses along the three-mile stretch of Olive in University City to become members of OBA and to attend the monthly meetings.  They offer professional development and speakers at each meeting.  They raised $1,600 in membership dues this year alone ($25 per business on Olive; $10 for associate members who do not own a business) which will be used for an OBA business directory.  They have engaged youth from the local Adult Education Center to canvass Olive and draw attention to OBA while the youth learned about employment opportunities along Olive.  OBA has plans to develop street banners that will be hung on approximately 40 utility poles along the 3-mile stretch of Olive in U. City to draw attention to and promote OBA and Olive businesses, and they hope to have them up this summer.  OBA also has planned a business Expo featuring a "taste of Olive" as well as promoting the diversity in services and industry.

Originally the Business & Transportation (B&T) Committee of University City East was accountable for the development of OBA.  However, now that OBA is up and running, the B&T leadership decided to combine meetings and efforts into one concentrated leadership core, the OBA Board.  

OBA was awarded seed monies in 2002 from the Daughters of Charity Healthy Communities Initiative through University City East, a community organization dedicated to creating a healthy community.  The OBA Board Members are committed to fulfilling the objectives and realizing the outcomes defined in that proposal by July 1, 2004, and to expend the funds for the purposes outlined in the original grant proposal.  Within this fiscal year, OBA plans to realize the completion of the banners, the storefront membership logos, the directory, the business Expo, and the redevelopment study regarding parking along Olive in U. City.  OBA will solicit help and input from University City government, from the community stakeholders, and from the county and state contacts.  Community input is welcome.

Olive Business Association Pending Projects 2003-2004 Timeline 

Approved by OBA membership on June 10, 2003

I.   Olive Blvd. Street Banners (40 total along 3-mile stretch) - August 2003 - Committee members: Lynn Rossel (OBA Co-Chair), Ralph Broeker (OBA Treasurer), Thomas Moton (Asst. City Mgr.), Shari LeKane-Yentumi (UCE Dir.)

II.    OBA Directory - September 2003 - Committee members: Lynn Rossel (OBA Co-Chair), Thomas Moton (Asst. City Manager), Shari LeKane-Yentumi (UCE Director) 

III.  Olive Blvd. Redevelopment Study - February 2004 - Committee members: OBA Board Members, Thomas Moton (Asst. City Mgr.), Andrea Riganti (Asst. City Planner), Lee Scott (OBA Assoc. member), Najah Haqiqah (OBA Assoc. member.)

IV.  Olive Business Expo - June 2004 - Committee members: OBA Board, U. City Arts & Letters Commission

Much of the OBA initiative fosters the economic leadership and development along Olive Street in University City to realize a stronger, healthier business community that directly supports the local tax base, the schools, and all community services.  

NO OBA MEETING IN AUGUST.  Speaker at the September 9, 2003 meeting will be Doug Schell of the St. Louis County Economic Council.