Social hour 6:00 pm – Dinner 7:00 pm. Prayer was given by Carri Holst. Dinner was prepared by Nick Whitmore and Sandy Wilson, and dessert was by Country Road Cookies.

The November 3rd, 2022, Traer Chamber of Commerce annual meeting was called to order at 7:44 pm. 2021 Annual Dinner Minutes – Approved by Marv Boldt/ Gwen Seda. 2022 Financial Statements – Approved by Lexi Edwards & Marv Boldt 2022.

Board of Directors: Donna DeBoef – President (after the resignation of Jon Crisman), Kris Whitmore -Past President, Lisa Eikamp -Vice President, Meghan Renslow -Secretary/Treasurer, Martin Halstead, Lexi Edwards. There was a motion to approve the resignations of Jon Chrisman and Lexi Edwards. (Sandy Wilson & Patty Suess).

2023 Board of Directors: Donna DeBoef – Past President, Lisa Eikamp – President, Meghan Renslow- secretary/treasurer. We had the motion to approve Martin Halstead as Vice President. (Haley Blaine & Alex Pick). Nomination of Amber Monat as director- (Meghan Renslow & Sandy Wilson). Nomination of Kelly Jantzen as director- (Meghan Renslow & Marv Boldt). Nomination of Madison Snider as director – (Lisa Eikamp & Marv Boldt).

Thank you to Anderson Collision for providing appetizers. To City Hall and TMU for their work behind the scenes to help the chamber. Dave Calderwood for helping move Santa’s Workshop. Jake Thiessen and Kate Kolsrud for the use of the former Lion’s Park. Patty Suess, Lisa Eikamp, and Perfect Circles- for the landscaping work.

Membership – Currently, we have 66 business memberships, and five new members joined in 2022. (Eikamp Insurance, Midwestern Texan, La Terraza, Rugged Edge Cuts, and KtKennedy Consulting). Trish Kennedy, with Kt Kennedy Consulting, was hired as our social media consultant. We appreciate her hard work as she spotlights the chamber members and their businesses on social media.

This Year’s Events

Ladies’ Night was a great success, with over 88 participants. Storefronts across Traer provided yummy treats, drinks, and special deals for ladies to enjoy. We had a blast while auctioning off fabulous prizes from participating businesses! Thank you to the businesses that contributed to making this event such a huge success.

The Annual Picnic – held in the former Lion’s Park, had lower attendance this year due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts. We had a nice day for the picnic, and those who attended had a lovely time. Mark your calendars for June 1, 2023, for the next Chamber Picnic. Shine & Show Car Show was held on July 9th instead of during the Winding Stairs Festival. We had many positive comments regarding the change of date, as it gave a separate opportunity to bring people to our community and the downtown businesses. It was a beautiful day, with over 80 entries! Next Shine & Show Car Show will be held on Saturday, July 8th, 2023.

Halloween Costume Contest – We had 83 registered children from ages 0-12. After the contest was over, the kids trick-or-treated their way down 2nd street. Thank you for contributing chamber members, community members, and churches to making Halloween special for our community. Michelle Podhajsky and Wendy Barnes spoke about the annual Taylor Park Holiday Lighting, Sesquicentennial events and Holiday Happenings.

150th year – The Sesquicentennial Committee, the Taylor Park Landscaping & Beautification Committee, and the City of Traer is focusing on a long-term landscaping and beautification initiative in Taylor Park. Phases for a long-term overall landscape design, including trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, and other hardscape features, as well as maintenance and repairs to the gazebo/bandstand, restrooms, driveways, play equipment, picnic tables, park benches, and the entrance archway monument. A community input and idea meeting for Taylor Park on 11/15/2022 at 5:30. There will also be input from Iowa State University Community Design Lab. A packet will be emailed to local Chambers regarding the free historical plaques with historical records of businesses and building owners over the years. Park lighting will be Saturday, November 12 and 19. Many volunteers will be needed. The first lighting will be on December 2 after the holiday happenings parade. Please turn on your rooftop lights and test them out. Please have lights on Dec 2nd through Christmas. We especially ask you to have them on for:

Holiday Happenings weekend, Dec 2nd & 3rd.

Mail letters to Santa from Nov 26- Dec 15, mailbox by Winding Stairs.

Small Business Saturdays- Nov 26- Dec 3.

Holiday Happening- Friday – Lighted parade @6:30. Winner announced Fri at 8:30 at Junkyard. Trolly Ride 7:00- 9:00-Pickup and drive-thru Taylor Park. Santa will be in his workshop Friday after the parade and Saturday 12:30 – 2 pm. Saturday-Santa and Mrs. Clause reading a story at the library at 10. Free movie at 11. Lion’s Soup meal and vendor fair at the Memorial Building 10-2. Ugly sweater contest 7:00 pm, 50/50 drawing 8:00 pm (tickets $5 each or 5 for $20- profits go to park lighting)-Small business Sat Drawing – Drawing 12/3 at Golf Course.

Grant funding – Traer Community Foundation funds were granted towards the installation of a downtown sound system, which we hope to have completed this year before Holiday Happenings. Funds were also granted repairs to Santa’s Workshop, the welcome sign landscaping, and a lighted bow for the north welcome sign. City local option tax funds were also awarded toward the downtown sound system, as well as a second lighted bow to sit on the south welcome sign. Both bows were delivered Wednesday. Santa’s workshop painting is being completed by the North Tama Art Club, and repairs thus far have been completed by Martin Halstead and Mike Renslow. The outstanding service award for 2022 was presented to Laurie Schafer.

Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 pm. Approved by Chase Rohlfsen & Martin Halstead. Minutes submitted by: Donna DeBoef on Monday, Nov 21, 2022.