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August 7, 2002
Willow Glen, California Since 1992 |
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WGBPA looks to fill business manager position
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I-chun Che
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The Willow Glen Business and Professional
Association (WGBPA) reaffirmed its commitment
to finding a business manager for the
association at its July 30 general meeting.
The association conducted its first round of
face-to-face interviews with three candidates
for the position on Aug. 1 and is planning a
second round of interviews this week.
WGBPA President Cara Finn said the
association has received numerous
resumes for the position and is
now considering 10 qualified applicants.
"We have a great pool to draw from if the
initial candidates don't meet the criteria,"
Finn said.
The association aims to fill the position by
the end of August.
WGBPA is also moving forward in its
development of a website. The association
expects to launch its website before
Founder's Day.
WGBPA second vice president and Park Place
Vintage owner Linda Waltrip, said she has met
with the website designer, Kim Jennett, and
selected one of Jennett's conceptual designs.
"The design is charming, and the layout is
great," Waltrip said. "I am excited about the
new site."
Waltrip said one of the website's features is
a pop-up story introducing the businesses in
Willow Glen. Merchants need to provide the
association with a written article about
their services or products so it can be added
to the WGBPA database that is currently being
created.
Waltrip said one of the design elements on
the website will be the random selection of a
business story, which will give visitors new
information every time they look at the site.
Finn said the new website will be free
advertising for all the WGBPA members. She
reminded businesses to provide the
association with their email addresses.
"If we don't hear from the business owners,
we will assume that they don't want to have
their email addresses listed," Finn said.
In other news, the WGBPA, has hired an
independent consultant, Jeff Eicherfield,
specializing in business associations to help
update the association's bylaws.
A draft of the new bylaws was sent to
merchants listed on the association's email
list for review and discussion.
Finn said the association will consider the
comments from members and vote on the updated
bylaws at it's next general membership
meeting on Sept. 24 at Bay View Bank, 1099
Lincoln Avenue.
The association also discussed the ongoing
beautification efforts on Lincoln Avenue.
WGBPA is looking for a professional vendor to
take charge of the avenue's quarterly or
yearly decoration.
Waltrip said a lot of the current decorations
have been used for decades and need to be
refurbished or replaced.
The decoration committee plans to put banners
and garlands up and down the streets and is
offering to help business owners with
decoration tips and suggestions.
"The decorations will be traditional and
natural-looking," Waltrip said. "We want to
create a charming village atmosphere."
This will be the first year that the business
association has contracted with a
professional company to decorate the avenue
instead of asking volunteers for help.
"We are not trying to move away from
volunteers," Finn said. "We are trying to use
volunteers more effectively."
The association is also trying to strengthen
the organization's unity and several years of
shaky membership and will be holding a summer
barbecue party for its 300 members on Aug. 22
between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The location is
still being decided.
The group is also preparing for its annual
gala for members, and will schedule the event
sometime before Thanksgiving.
"This will be a big holiday event for the
members," Finn said. "I hope a big
celebration and a new website will encourage
people to become more involved."
The association is still determining how it
will pay for the event, and Finn suggested
that business owners consider sponsoring the
gala as another way to promote their
businesses.
The association is also looking forward to
actively participating in Founder's Day on
Sept. 8, and will be helping set up food
booths and sidewalk sales on the avenue. The
association also decided to set up a popcorn
and lemonade booth near Willow Glen
Elementary School.
Some members voiced concerns about slow
Sunday sales and didn't think Founder's Day
would add a significant boost to merchant
revenue. But Valerie Onorato, WGBPA third
vice president and owner of Q Advertising,
suggested offering coupons, which might
provide an additional incentive for potential
customers.
"I think coupons will bring more people
downtown that day," she said.
WGBPA board members will be participating in
the Founder's Day parade.
WGBPA members can send comments regarding the
proposed bylaws to Cara Finn at
carajane@mindspring.com.
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