Lewiston Business Group - January Meeting Recap

Lewiston Business Group Meeting – Committee of the NRRCC
Tuesday, January 24, 2023   9am   Lewiston Village Hall
Chairperson – Sara Morreale, The Rose Hanger
Meeting Summary

~Sara welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the year.  Attendees introduced themselves.

Lewiston Business Group Events– Secure Dates / Times / and WHO is the lead on the event.

Valentine’s Day Event – February 4
Businesses are encouraged to decorate their windows, offer a promotion.  Christina from Revamped is organizing this.  Promotion is by social media. 

Sip, Shop, Eat – March 11 beginning at 1pm
Businesses are encouraged to partner with another business and donate a $5 – 10 gift card for the gift basket raffle.  Kathy (Inspirations on Canvas) and Donna (Town Clerk) have in the past gone around to pick up cards.  Punch cards will be distributed at 4 different businesses for people to pick up and once filled, can be entered to win.  Contact Kathy for additional details: 716-316-4955

Trick or Treat on Center Street – SUNDAY, October 29
This event has been changed to Sunday.  Mayor Welch said that the Village Board had already passed and approved the street to be closed for this event from 4th – 8th.  Jennifer confirmed with the Mayor that the Village will take care of the paperwork, insurance and determining the security of the street with Chief Previte and the Lewiston DPW.  The Fire Dept. also has to be contacted as well as the DOT street permit.  John DiMino had mentioned to Kathy for the group to contact him in the summer to order candy at wholesale prices.  Each business went through an average of 2,000 pieces of candy. 

Mayor Welch stated that the Village is just finishing up the contract for the BPO to perform at Academy Park on July 1st, sponsored by Anthony DiMino.  The mayor will send the Chamber the information  so we can create the pr.

Chamber Marketing – Lewiston
The Chamber took out a full page ad in the Destination Niagara Falls Visitors Guide with a focus on Lewiston.   The Chamber also has a two-page info sheet in the American Bus Association Tour Operator Binder.  We will have more of an emphasis on bus tours.  We hope that our businesses would consider offering a no frills coupon that we can offer to bus tours.

The Chamber is going through a rebrand and strategic planning process.  A new name and logo will be revealed in February! 

Future Meeting Dates – 3rd Tuesday of the month (January as exception)
February 21,  March 21,  (NO APRIL MEETING), May 16, June 20, July 18, (NO AUGUST MEETING), September 19, October 17, November 21, (NO DECEMBER MEETING)

New Business:

Jennifer mentioned that the Chamber will repost social media – just send a DM.  We cannot monitor the social media 24 hours for things to repost, so please send us the info and we will gladly include in our stories, feed, etc.

Marianne Gitterman from Beautification / Garden Club expressed their gratitude for the businesses who decorated for the holidays.   A new sculpture will be placed outside of Artpark. 

The Peace Garden is currently in need of volunteers to help maintain it.  This may be something the Lewiston Business Group can have volunteers sign up to rake/pull weeds / tidy up throughout the year. 

LEWISTON CONFIRMED Festival / Event dates Calendar at a Glance!

GardenFest - June 17-18, 2023

Art Festival - August 12 - 13, 2023

Jazz Fest - August 25-26, 2023

Peach Festival - September 7-10, 2023

Harvest & Hops Festival - September 23-24, 2023
Chamber Awards Dinner - November 9, 2023

Small Business Saturday - November 25, 2023

Holiday Market at BBC – November 30, 2023
Lewiston Christmas WALK - December 1-3, 2023

Lewiston Christmas Lights Parade - Sunday, December 3rd at 5:30pm

Attendees:  Sara – The Rose Hanger, Mayor Anne Welch, Marianne – VOL Beautification/Garden Club, Tammy – Howard Hanna, Alex – Paychex, Butch – Toshiba, Marcy – NFP Publications, Brooke – Queen B’s Cottage, Kathy – Inspirations on Canvas, Matt – Trait Carré, Roger – Viva Nostalgia, Brandie – Hearth & Haven, Judy – Antique to Chic, Alex – Kin Loch, Jennifer - NRRCC


Submitted:
J.Pauly, President
NRRCC