Meeting Minutes

• President Leporino said there was nothing to report at this time.

• Membership – President Leporino reported that membership on the following:

• Only “Welcome Letters” will be mailed to new members in the SPBA and

• There were a few membership renewals received that were not complete and/or members who have been inconsistent with their yearly membership dues. These membership renewals will not go to the Membership Committee/Executive Board/General Membership for review and approval until their paperwork is complete.
• Prospective Members: Zoning Certificates are received from the Business Advisory Group and the Committee is in the process of setting up spreadsheets and labels for future mailings. Also, letters welcoming the new businesses with an introduction to the SPBA for membership will be included with these letters.
• President Leporino will be using the letter openers with the business card inserts as handouts when she visits prospective members.
• Referral Service – will now be changed to “Promoting Business in South Plainfield”.

• Career Mentoring Program – President Leporino reported that an email was sent out to SPBA members, the SPBA’s mailing list and last year’s participants with a follow up letter in the mail asking for participation in Career Day. Nancy Grennier asked those attending today’s meeting to sign up and three members present did. To date, half a dozen signed up and the Committee will meet with Elaine Gallo, Director of Guidance, in the near future.
• Public Relations/Community Projects – President Leporino presented a letter from the SPBCA requesting help in their annual Volunteer Litter Clean Up Week from Saturday, April 17 th thru Saturday, April 23 rd and will follow up with an email to SPBA members requesting their support. The Committee met prior to the General Membership meeting and discussed what the SPBA could do for other fundraisers, as well as Clean-Up Week and advertising for the Association and its members in the Observer.
• By Laws – President Leporino reported that a Committee meeting was held on Sunday, March 21 st and the current bylaws were reviewed. The current bylaws should be reviewed on an annual basis with the first set of “proposed” changes to be made will be under “Membership”.
• Website – President Leporino asked for everyone to check their listing to make sure it is correct and that it links to their website. Website statistics for February, 2010 are request(s) 11,547 with 730 page views.
• Golf Outing/Fund Raising – Bob Longo reported the 2010 brochure is in place and a mailing will be sent out soon.
• Scholarships – President Leporino said she is researching scholarships from other Associations and would like to place the focus of SPBA’s scholarships on “Business Students”.  

• 501C-6 Update – President Leporino reported that she will be considering the number of Trustees appointed to the Executive Board after our not-for-profit status is achieved. Determination of who will be considered as a “Trustee” along with the process for choosing a “Trustee” will be decided in the near future.
• United States Post Office – President Leporino took into consideration all factors connected with the issues that were going on with the USPS and decided to not send a letter to our Congressman and a copy to be put in the Observer. Frank Raciti recommended the UPS Store and will reach out to the owner about the services provided as well as membership in the SPBA.
• SPBA Office Space – President Leporino and Paul Grzenda reiterated the benefits of the SPBA having their own office, which include taking the SPBA to the next level of professionalism once the SPBA achieves’ their not-for-profit status. “Office space” will also establish the SPBA more as an Association in the community because they will have a place to have meetings and provides a “location” for the SPBA. At last month’s meeting, President Leporino welcomed any/all concerns about the SPBA having “Office Space” to be submitted to her in writing. Jim Belz of Oak Tree Accounting offered space in his building and presented the benefits of renting office space with pictures of the office and would be willing to rent the first floor office (1D) for $175/month with no charge for utilities.  It would require a one-year lease, with one-month security deposit, and proof of appropriate insurance showing our name . Paul Grzenda said he would follow up with the SPBA’s liability insurance and a decision will be made by the end of March as to whether or not the SPBA will take this space.
• Promoting Business in South Plainfield – President Leporino reported that today’s General Membership meeting is the “Official rollout meeting for the Referral Service”. The Executive Board has decided to no longer call it a “Referral Service” and going forward the SPBA will be “Promoting Business in South Plainfield” in the form of meetings, networking events, marketing and advertising not only for the SPBA but the individual members, fundraisers and scholarships for business students.
• New Members/Renewals – President Leporino reported the following new members: Roth Bros Auto and the following renewals for 2010: Lil’Big
  Ones Child Care and Learning Center, Millco Customer Fabricators, Columbia Bank, Frank’s Automotive, South Plainfield Republic Organization, Muglia Enterprises, McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, WJC Sports, Skylands Community Bank, Unity Bank, Frank Licato Agency, Johanna’s Creations, Binder Machinery Company, Twin City Pharmacy, Lanza & Lanza, LLP, Moretti Realty, Padgett Business Services, Terrance Robak, LLC, Plainfield Animal Hospital, Mike Buteas Construction, LLC, Best Western (The Garden Executive Hotel), Armpco Office Machines, Inc., and South Plainfield Funeral Home. To date there are 46 members of the SPBA with three pending renewals for membership. Paul Grzenda/Frank Raciti made a motion and seconded the motion to approve the new members and the 2010 renewals for membership.