MARCH 11, 2008

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In Attendance: Carol Milazzo, Mike Page, Carol O’Rourke, Rob Kash, David Singer, Jayne Carr & Al Jenkins.

The minutes of the February 25^th meeting were approved as presented.

David Singer and Jayne will be meeting with Michele Doolan on Friday at 10 a.m. to review the availability and the needs for the 4^th of July fireworks to move forward.

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny is scheduled for this Sunday at the Cornerstone Café from 8 to 3 with Al Jenkins playing the part of the bunny. Jayne was able to purchase a bunny costume on line for a little over $100.

The Antique Fest will be held on Sunday May 18^th from 9 to 4 on East Main Street. Suggestions for the event were: inclusion of the Metz’s Bicycle Museum, art from original artists, sculptors sculpting, contact and invite Kortez, one of our resident artists and Around the Corner Art Studio in Freehold Twp as well as working with Teri Thomas from the Monmouth County Arts Council.

The criteria for the upcoming newsletter were reviewed. Suggested for inclusion: a letter to businesses and residents that was written by Lisa Schofield, the event schedule, and all legally required items for the upcoming annual meeting. It was suggested that Lisa’s letter be redesigned with the same info but converted to question and answer format.

In addition to the events that will be financially covered through sponsorships, the committee will be requesting $5000. to be included in the 2008/2009 SID budget for communications and specifically for development and mailing of the postcard and rental of space at the Chamber’s Kiosk space at Freehold Mall.

A new design of the postcard was brainstormed at length. Some of the final recommendations:
Shop: Photos of a Rolex from Ballew’s, a floral arrangement from Especially for You, an antiques from Main Street Antiques, a rare coin from the coin shop and a motorcycle from Joe’s.

Dine: Photos of a martini, an outdoor café, kids eating ice cream or Rita’s Ice

Discover: Photos of a historic house, ReMax, Metz Bicycle Museum, the Liberty statue, the Hepburn House

Mark Lamhut, Lisa Schofield and Suzanne Pease will work on the final design recommendations.

Rob Kash is working on negotiating with Beatlemania to play at our concert series this summer. It was suggested that if they were not available at that price that we should look to booking Del Sol. Bob Byrnes is still working to get a Jeep donation for the Idol prize.

With no further business the meeting adjourned at 10 a.m.

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FEBRUARY 25, 2008

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In Attendance: Al Jenkins, Teri Thomas, Mike Page, Bob Byrne, Lisa Schofield, David Singer and Jayne Carr

David Singer Chairman called the meeting to order. David provided time for introductions since there were a couple of new members in attendance.

The minutes of the meeting of February 4, 2008 were approved as presented.

The committee reviewed the proposed schedule for the 2008 event season in order to set date and times as well as to start to delegate the associated tasks. The schedule proposed is as follows:

In addition it was decided that there will be fireworks for the 4^th of July, the concert series will consist of the Party Dolls, the Nerds, the gospel concert and an additional large named band. The holiday schedule will consist of tree lighting, breakfast with Santa, Santa on the firetruck, the Comcast holiday concert (will work to book Marena Alexander), the menorah lighting and a holiday trolley ride.

Tasks Identified:

Breakfast with the Bunny

- Need costume/rent or preferably buy. If rented it was suggested to go to Phoenix Productions in Red Bank

- Need a human for the costume. Everyone will look for a willing participant.

- Jayne will create in house advertising. Too late to go pro.

- Jayne will meet with Eric to go over details for the event.

Antique Fest

- Teri Thomas will list in the Monmouth County Arts Council Newsletter

- Teri suggested the Atlanic Highlans for artisans, Hot Sand in Long Branch for glass blowers and Asbury Park

- Lisa will work to identify and solicit craft and antique vendors

- Jayne will work on proto of new application and develop vendor mailing.

- Jayne will apply for Borough event permits and insurance riders

- Rob will draft contract for BarterPays and banner and print media will be bartered

Farmer’s Market

- Jayne will contact farmers for their participation

- Jayne will contact County with required letters and insurance

Fireworks

- Jayne will contact tract to obtain available date

- See if Gucci is available and at what cost

Idol

- Jayne and Mike will meet with Spook to set contract

- Bob will contact George Mackey to solicit a Jeep for 1^st prize

- Teri will include a call for entries in the MCAC newsletter

- Suggested prizes: Recording time, opener for a band, cash

Concert Series

- Jayne and All will work on the Gospel concert

- Jayne will continue to reach out to the Wiggles

- Bob will make contact with the Homegrowns De Sol

- Available dates – 7/10, 1/17, 1/24, 8/7, 8/14, 8/21

Kruise Nite

- Natalie and Carol will be co-chairing the Kruise Nite committee for 2008. They will contact Mike Page t set up an initial meeting with the Borough Council and the Police Department

Budget:

Farmer’s Market                           $     200.00

Easter Bunny                                $     300.00

Fireworks                                      $15,000.00

Concerts      Party Dolls               $ 5,000.00

                   The Nerds                  $ 5,000.00

                   Gospel                        $    700.00

                   Bigger Act                   $10,000.00

Fireworks                                        $15,000.00

Idol                                                  $     700.00

Idol Prizes

Spooktacular                                   $  3,500.00

Holiday Concert                              $  2,500.00

Tree Lighting                   

Trolley Ride

Kruise Nites

With no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

The next meeting was scheduled for 3/11/08, 8:30 a.m. @ FCP Offices.

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FEBRUARY 4, 2008

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In Attendance: Jayne Carr, Mike Page, Rob Kash, Lisa Schofield, Carol Milazzo and Al Jenkins.

David Singer as the Chairman called the meeting to order.

David introduced Lisa Schofield as our newest member. Lisa is a member of the Communication and Information Committee for the Borough. Jayne sits on the CIC as the liaison from the FCP, likewise Lisa will be our laiason from the CIC.

David announced that he had a conversation with Natalie Kober-Dallenbach and Carol Millazo soliciting their interest in chairing and co-chairing the 2008 Kruise Nite Committee. They have both accepted with Natalie taking the Chair and Carol the Co-Chair.

 Jayne went through her review and recommendations for the 2008 event schedule. The following items were eliminated from the 07 schedule: Spring AntiqueFest, The Kootz Band, Del Vikings, Soul Cruisers, Dine Around, San Gennero and Lantern Walk. The Dine Around will be revisited when the American Hotel reopens. The event will become a taste of Freehold with everyone at the same location, the Hotel. This may occur at the end of 08 or be pushed to the 09 calendars. On the 07 calendar it was noted that the following events were not produced by FCP but will remain on the 08 calendar for cross marketing purposes: National Night Out, Spooktacular, Born to Run 5K and the Santa Train.

It was decided by the committee to transform the spring and fall antique/San Gennero events into a new event that will kick off this spring. The tentative date is June 21^st. The whole committee will check all of their known resources to see if this date conflicts with anything else scheduled in the area.

Rob expressed that this event should be something unique that builds on itself to bring larger crowds each year. There were some ideas for a food festival akin to clam fest at the shore.  After much brainstorming the final recommendation was they wanted an emphasis on the history that is inherent to Freehold. There will be a reenactment on Main Street, a Battle of the Bands and the old Restaurant Battles. A name for the event was not determined but will have something to do with the battle theme.

It was decided that the 4^th of July event should continue but we will approach Freehold Township to propose a joint venture. Last year Freehold Township did theirs on the same night as our. One combined effort of sharing the cost could make the event bigger and cheaper to produce. We will be researching different locations. Freehold Raceway cannot accommodate anything larger then what we have put on in the past.

The Party Dolls, the Nerds and the Gospel concerts will continue with their schedule to be set around the availability of a better-known band. Lisa has contact with an agent she will reach out to and see who might be available, at what cost and their availability. The committee would like to see if they could solicit Beatlemania. The concert dates for last year were July 12 and 19, August 2, 9 and 16. It was agreed that if availability became an issue that we are not locked into Thursday night.

Freehold Idol will continue. Rob again suggested that the prize needed to be big. He would like to see get a Jeep donated. The Jeep could remain parked by the gazebo, which would provide advertising for the event as well as the sponsorship. Lisa has a contact at the Hyundai dealership, which also owns the Jeep dealership. Lisa will make the contact and let Jayne know how far that proceeds.

The Christmas tree lighting, Menorah lighting, Comcast holiday concert, breakfast with the bunny and Santa will all continue as in the past. The hayride event from last year will become the candlelight caroling trolley tour in 08. Rob will work with the Center Players in the development of the event.

There was extensive discussion on pr for events, business development and the Partnership as a whole. It was decided that Jayne and Lisa would work up a prototype for the next meeting incorporating FAQ’s, funding sources, sponsorship opportunity, photos & graphics. This will be designed to be made as a large postcard and a regular sheet size with a space to individualize it for sponsorship and business development solicitations.

David added that it is important that we participate in the Chamber’s mall kiosk opportunity. Jayne has this on the agenda for the Board’s approval next week.

It was decided that we would be giving several opportunities for community input through mailings, flyers and the Internet. It was suggested that those who participate could be offered to have their names entered into a drawing for a prize. We could call it the “Our Town” survey.

Jayne recapped with commitments to the following tasks by the committee members :

Jayne

–         Work with Lisa on marketing profile piece

–        Contact Dorothy Avalonne, Mayor of Freehold Township to discuss putting together a joint fireworks display for the 4^th of July. At the end of the meeting, at David's request he will be contacting Mayor Avalonne.

–        Contact Lee Ellen Griffith and Randy Gabriellen to discuss the reenactment in the spring

–        Draft a letter to the restaurants explaining that the restaurant directory signs were purchased the restaurant committee with the approval of a variance through the code department for the nonconforming use. If they are being used in any other capacity or are standing empty they should be returned to the Partnership office. Those who continue to use them outside of the permit for restaurants only are in jeopardy of receiving a fine from the code department.

Rob

-   Will meet with Bernice Garfield to set up guidelines and plans for the trolley ride.

-   Will have Hank Goodsen of G&M Metal Workers create a prototype metal sign frame to offer to the businesses for consistent, attractive signs in town. Rob will take this prototype to code for a variance as we did with the sandwich board signs.

Lisa

-   Work with Jayne on the marketing profile with a target for completion of the prototype in two weeks.

-   Contacting Steve Levine to discuss moving the Battle of the Bands to our spring event.

-   Reaching out to her contact Hyundai to see the viability of getting the Jeep for the Idol contest.

The committee will reconvene in two weeks on February 19^th at 8:30 a.m. to review progress on these tasks and set next steps.

With no further business the meeting adjourned at 10 a.m.