Minutes:  Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corporation (GHHCDC) Meeting
Mainstreet Community Center, May 30, 2014, 10 a.m. -11:30 a.m.

Attending: Jan Costello, Nadine Rivers-Johnson, Phyllis Frierson Joyce Russell, Charlene Taylor

After a brief welcome, we discussed the June 24 meeting. Flyers have been distributed to businesses. Wendall Ervin covered the east side of Hairston/Redan. Jan did some of the north side of that intersection. Nadine covered Panola/Redan. Phyllis did the west side of Covington/Hairston, and Jan did the east side. They both hit Pep Boys! Letters were mailed to the landowners of three strip mall sites (two at Redan/Panola and one at Cov/Hairston). Char is going to the nursery on Covington.

The AJC ran two articles. Releases were also sent to CrossRoads Newspaper, On Common Ground, and the Champion.

Refreshments for the meeting: Joyce is bring 75 small waters, Phyllis is bring cookies, Nadine is bringing nuts and napkins.

Paperwork: Nadine is printing the brochure, membership form, sign-in sheet and surveys; she will bring them to the meeting.

Intro at meeting: Jan will prepare remarks and slides.

We will meet at 5:45 to set up.

Other business:

We decided to try and tour Columbia Residential’s senior living communities on July 12, 19, or 26, if that works for Mr. Khalil.

We need to get a phone to add to our contact info. Jan will look into it.

We like the business card with some changes. The group wants a back/front card.

We continue to work on the 501c3 paperwork. We will set up a meeting with Jerome Chavis in August. Before we meet, we want to answer the question, “What will we have accomplished in five years?”

We will have the next general meeting Sept 23 (or later in the week, depending on the crowd preference.) We will try to have it at APD Solutions if the date works for the firm

Next board meeting: July 26.(If the tour interferes, we will reschedule).

Notes from the last Board Meeting

Minutes:  .Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corporation (GHHCDC) Meeting
Mainstreet Community Center, May 30, 2014, 10 a.m. -11:30 a.m.

Attendees: Nadine Rivers-Johnson, Charlene Taylor, Phyllis Frierson, Jan Costello, Joyce Russell, Lois Dunlap
prepared by Jan Costello

1. Welcome

2. Brief Update from Committees

Marketing and Communication (chaired by Nadine Rivers-Johnson)

Letterhead is done. Information about access to the Gmail and WordPress accounts was given to the Board. Noted a correction to a typo. Corrected document will be sent to the Board by email.

Need more paper for brochures. Char will check with her source. Joyce is looking into retail options.

Finance and Budget (chaired by Secretary-Treasurer Phyllis Frierson)

No changes…still have $98 in the credit union. The $85 expense for the corporate filing fees was donated. Phyllis will work on setting up online access to the account. Jan is working on ordering checks.

Streetscape Committee (chaired by Charlene Taylor)

Char is testing ClickItFixItSeeIt. Jan will work on getting it linked to the website. Right now, the template we are using does not allow a widget for easy clicking.

Membership Development (chaired by Joyce Russell)

Joyce created a membership form using the new letterhead. We had minor modifications. Nadine made them and printed out forms.

Nadine has approached businesses about the GHHCDC and they have expressed interest. We are all going to take brochures and membership forms to businesses and ask them to participate. We are going to approach our own neighborhood organizations to join. We are going to make a concerted effort to raise enough funds to file for the 501 (c)(3).

Nadine will check back with the County about a small grant to fund the October business development seminar. We discussed whether to have it on a Saturday morning or weeknight evening. More business owners may be able to attend in the evening.

3. Zoning Update

Site near LA Fitness – still no more word on what is going on there. The county says it is work for a sewer hook-up and driveway, but much land has been cleared. We have sent another inquiry to the county.

Medical Offices: 6826-6846 Covington Hwy – this development is just getting underway. It is east of the Kroger and Wells Fargo on Covington Highway.

Note: Community Council meeting on June 16, 6:30 p.m., Redan-Trotti Library. This is a good place to find out what is going on. The developers and planning department reps are there.

4. Discuss Kick-Off Plans

The October seminar planning is still underway. We’re looking for a site, and determining the best time.

In the meantime, in late June or early July, we’re going to have an open meeting with a guest speaker. The focus will be on the importance of businesses and residents working together to revitalize the community.   June 24, 7 p.m.   Location and speaker to be announced. One DeKalb Director Bettye Davis is helping us.

5.  Set priorities for next quarter

We will recruit business, neighborhood, and resident members. We will have the October seminar. We will work on the 501 (c)(3) application.

6.  Old Business

Nadine set up a meeting with Jerome Chavis, owner of NTRC Accounting on Rockbridge Road, to give us advice on the 501 (c)(3) process. The meeting was June 2, 7 p.m.

7. Date for next board meeting (public welcome): June 21, 10 a.m., Mainstreet Community Center

8. Open Meeting with guest speaker/expert on community revitalization. Focus on importance of businesses and residents working together to revitalize the community. June 24, 7 p.m. Location and speaker to be announced.