KEY PENINSULA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MINUTES
Sep 15, 2006

Place: Blondie’s. The meeting was called to order at 12:00 pm.

Upcoming Events: ( none discussed this mtg )

Present:
Bek Ashby presiding.
Ruth Bramhall, Dexter Reuhl, Myrtle Keizur, Marvin Keizur, Jeff Harris, Chuck West Joe Hendricks, Barbara Heard, Marlise Van Cise, Ann Waldo, Marty Marcus, Joe Rhea, Jody Hamilton, Dennis Taylor, Lynn Marshall, Jud Morris Leif Hansen

Secretary’s Report:
Minutes approved for 09/01/2006.
(hard copies needed at future meetings for those without email)

Treasurer’s Report (since last minutes):
Income: $0
Expenses $300 (KPBA After Hours Event)
Current balance: $4382.58.
Upcoming Expenses for approval:
$28.00 for PO Box - approved

Guest Speaker: Peninsula School District Superintendent, Terry Bouck

34th yr in education – started as elementary teacher. Also worked in Africa in education.

At GH High School there is a Chinese Student Exchange Program – soon to be added to KP as well, as part of ongoing work to increase equity between the two peninsulas.. Boys Club on KP in planning stage.

Terry has a particular focus on struggling kids. WASL serves as a benchmark, to help every kid gets needed help with reading and math. Terry is also pushing hard for Junior Achievement program and will be on that Pierce County board.

Communications will be improved – for example, new software will allow rolling calendar events on the website (except athletics).

Q&A:

    Q: Plans for capital Improvements (add’l schools, etc)?
    A: New committee starting this fall thru March 2007, to look at growth. How to retain current students, vs inet-schools, private schools, etc. Conducting a 20yr projection study to guide planning.

    Q: Are there programs to help high schoolers prepare for job market?
    A: Yes, Business Week and Junior Achievement.

    Q: Don’t smaller size community schools avoid kids getting ‘lost’ in larger schools?
    A: Terry also likes smaller schools, but they are expensive, because they still require much of the overhead as in large schools.

    Q: What about increasing teacher burn-out and disillusionment?
    A: Terry agrees and warns new hires it will be ‘tough’, and the under-funding of mandates (like ‘No Child Left Behind’) doesn’t help matters.

Individual Reports:
Bek Ashby: Port Orchard Planning Commission – experience there is reinforcing at least some need for designs standards, ie EMP. New fence with salmon life-cycle at Bek’s offices.

Ruth Bramhall: Tomorrow is workshop day for Fair Committee. Fair broke even this year.

Marvin Keizur: Business slowly increasing to offset large client loss. Lions Club needs volunteers. March 10 is Citizen Of Year Banquet – please think of nomination potentials (last year there were 35 names submitted).

Chuck West: Fire Dept: very busy at the fire dept – brush fires almost daily. Levy coming up next week, will have a big impact on overtime, etc. Land Use Planning: prioritized intersections roads that needed to be fixed. Next will be ‘community character’, including signage, etc if anyone wants to offer input. Watch for announcements on public discussions. County is considering a transportation impact fee (TIF) for new construction.

Barbara Heard: Annual Staff meeting was in Tukwila.

Marlise Van Cise: Business good, Canada trip in Sep.

Ann Waldo, Garden Club on second Wed now.

Marty Marcus, shipping mice!

Jud Morris: buddies program starting at KPMS with high school students mentors.

Dennis Taylor: please get the brochures out.

Lynn Marshall: They have changed underground add-on to be a wedding/private banquet facility – available now, please spread the word! Just got ex-Green Turtle chef on board, watch for his new ‘Pacific Rim’ menu additions.

Leif Hansen: (YMCA-Camp Seymour) great summer, he was on committee to host an inter-faith camp. Leif will be leaving Camp Seymour to get some family time and pursue some other opportunities.

Jeff: 2 new Community Council members. Emergency Preparedness is next Thursday.

Joe's cool small biz/small org marketing link of the day:
some new free online webinars announced for the Fall at Office Depot's Web Cafe, covering:
- "Easy to Understand Financial Concepts for Small Business "
- "Search Engines: How To Be In The Top 10!"
- "Negotiate Your Way to Success"
- "Building Your Sales by Closing More Sales "
http://www.officedepot.com/promo/webcafe