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City Beat
Association elects new board filled with energy
Members invited to social event at Adobe Hall
By Kate Carter
Members of the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association elected their 2002 board members last week, and already the new executive board is brimming with energy to bring to its new task.
New board president Cara Finn, of The Grapevine, wants to increase regular participation in the struggling organization and clear up confusion regarding its financial situation and activities. She also wants to start her administration with an informal mixer for association members to get to know one another.
"These women are dynamite," Finn said of her new executive board. "We're excited about the privilege of being able to give back."
She also said the new executive board's goal is the same as that in the association's original charter: to advance, promote and beautify the downtown business district.
The business association has experienced declining involvement by its members, merchants along Lincoln Avenue between Minnesota and Coe avenues, over the past several years. The association, which oversees the use of the merchants' city-required Business Improvement District funds, has also had a recent spate of setbacks, including a stalled embezzlement inquiry, its cancellation of the community's annual Founders' Day street festival and the resignation of its previous president, Karen Naegeli.
An investigation by the San Jose Office of Economic Development into some of the association's accounting and membership practices last fall led to several well-attended meetings by merchants wanting to re-invigorate the association. Seven women volunteered to run for the seven board positions up for election this year, to replace veteran board members Chris Carris, David Machado, John Karamanos and others, who have served several years in a row.
First vice president Katie Goforth, of Casa Casa, will act as the association's spokeswoman and is responsible for civic and community involvement.
"I'm really looking forward to walking up and down this avenue and getting everyone involved," Goforth said. "I think people want to help."
Second vice president Linda Waltrip, of Park Place Vintage, will oversee fundraising, the association's newsletter and Internet communication. Finn and Goforth said the association is planning to establish a website and has already created an electronic database of the regular members.
"We really feel strongly that web-based communication will make things flow a lot quicker in the community," Finn said.
Third vice president Valerie Onorato, of Q Advertising, will be responsible for advertising and promotion of association events. This includes the association's summer street festival Dancing on the Avenue, which Finn said she has already begun to work on with event consultant Read Zaro. Finn also said that Onorato will work with the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, which has taken the lead on plans for this year's Founders' Day event, to generate sufficient volunteers, funds and activities for both events.
Treasurer Gina Granada, of Bay View Bank, will be in charge of capital improvements and beautification. Finn said that Granada will be working with city consultants, District 6 City Councilman Ken Yeager and neighbors on a city Redevelopment Agency-funded plan to make Lincoln Avenue more pedestrian-friendly.
Secretary Cathy Adkins, of Willow Glen Books, will oversee programs, meetings and membership.
Recorder Kay Wolf, of Posey Garden Florist, will take and publish meeting minutes, which Finn said will be posted on the association's future website, as well as future meeting agendas. Meetings will begin in late February and take place at the same time, place and day each month, she said.
Each of the 385 members in good standing--those who have paid for their business licenses and BID fees--had a single vote to be made at the Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Company by Jan. 31. Former acting president Carris and office manager Kate Van Lienden then counted the ballots.
The association will hold a social, sponsored by the Willow Glen Resident for all merchants and commercial property owners on Lincoln Avenue at the Adobe Hall, 1352 Lincoln Ave., above Vin Santo Ristorante, from 7 to 9 p.m.
"A lot of people on the avenue do not realize that they are already part of the association," Finn said, adding that the event will be for purely social purposes to allow business and property owners to get to know each other. All business and property owners on Lincoln Avenue between Minnesota and Coe avenues are automatically members of the association, she said. About 20 percent of business owner members are located out of state, she added, and businesses not on the avenue can become association members.
Finn said that efforts to involve more members are already paying off. Peak Travel is helping the association find new office space on Lincoln Avenue, she said, and Tim Casey Construction will take down the avenue's holiday banners for an affordable price "before Valentine's Day." In addition, she and Goforth have received emails from residents with ideas and interest in participating.
"All the energy is out there," Goforth said. "Our job is to take that energy and organize it."
"The timing is right," Finn added. "There's lots to be done so there's room for everyone."
Finn also thanked the previous board members for their hard work over the past several years .
"These people care very deeply and we don't want that to be forgotten," she said.
Carris said he was pleased with the new group and hoped for good things from the future.
"I wish them the best," he said. "It's a hard job."
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
