Summary: Small Business Assistance Committee Meeting
Monday, January 6, 2003
11:35 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

ATTENDANCE:

Present: 
•	Peter Cook, Chair
•	Katherine Swarts, Secretary
•	Moe Singh, Kevin Tucker, Joanne Pearson, Richard G. “Putter” Wilken [sp?], Jay Grossman, Arnold Goldberg, Martha Putnam, Jim Hughes, Nancy Ehrenkranz, Cheryl Wise, Dick Myers, Teri Walter, Gary Alexander

Unable to Attend:
•	Sharon Williams, Mike Ryan, Kelly Cook

DISCUSSED:

Mini Trade Tables:
•	Kevin Tucker and Teri Walter will reorganize the Mini Trade Table (MTT) program.
•	Chamber leadership favors a monthly theme for MTT’s: e.g., all related to the luncheon speaker’s topic. Issue of competitive vs. complementary businesses may need to be addressed.
•	“Package deals” (for more than one MTT within a certain time period) are now available. Packages of 3-6 MTT’s a year were suggested. 
•	The question of actively soliciting MTT participants came up briefly.
	
Breakfast Programs:
•	Arnold Goldberg is in charge of scheduling upcoming speakers. Program suggestions are needed.
•	Garrison Wynne’s “Being the Best vs. Being Consistently Chosen” program has been rescheduled for the February 6 breakfast. Flyers are being prepared for distribution.
•	Question of terminology: should the breakfast programs be called “workshops” or should the term be reserved for the more interactive Brown Bag programs?

Workshops:
•	The business continuity workshop, organized by Gary Alexander, received no response. It will likely be rescheduled. Cheryl Wise suggested turning it into a series.
•	Peter Cook suggested developing a more structured workshop program and posting upcoming workshops online.
•	Low participation of Chamber members is a frequent problem. Jim Hughes, who is preparing a detailed evaluation of Chamber demographics, recommended organizing a focus groups program to evaluate interests and needs.
•	Nancy Ehrenkranz and Dick Myers will help Jim design an action plan to increase member participation.
•	Peter suggested that info sheets and/or booklets on program topics be made available to all Chamber members. (Sharon Williams is in charge of publications.)

GSWHCC Membership Directory:
•	The directory, particularly the online version, is not particularly “user-friendly.” Overly broad categorization of businesses seems to be the problem. 
•	Cheryl Wise suggested preparing an improved site map.
•	It may be necessary to win the cooperation of the website contractor before redesigning the site. Cheryl will investigate the contract.

CEO-Roundtable Program:
•	Participation in roundtables has been minimal. Lack of experienced facilitators, failure to stick to the program, and budgeting to implement improvements are all issues. 
•	Teri Walter suggested replacing the roundtables with a business-panel program.
•	The roundtable program was suspended for the present.

Intra-Committee Projects:
•	Kevin will arrange a meeting with the Communications Committee to discuss developing a more user-friendly GSWHCC directory.
•	Cheryl suggested a joint project with the Ambassador Committee to redesign the New Member form. Ideally, the form should not only encourage new members to become involved immediately, but suggest specific ways to become involved.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Peter Cook is the new Chair of the Small Business Assistance Committee. Katherine Swarts is the new Secretary. Dick Myers remains in charge of online postings.