| GaYbor Meeting Minutes

GaYbor Meeting Minutes

7/9/10

Carrie West starts off the meeting with greetings and welcome.

Carrie West thanks Robert Boyles and the staff of Muvico for hosting the meeting.

Carrie West tells how busy last week was with press and events for GaYBOR Days.

Carrie West thanks all who participated in GaYBOR Days 2010.

The meeting starts with introduction of member’s present and upcoming events. In order to save time all present introduce them self to the meeting and tell everyone about their upcoming events and are asked to keep things to 1 minute.

Rich Kerin Co-Secretary Report (Clerical/Graphics):
Rich Kerin asks for any additions or corrections to last month’s minutes and accepts them into record. No corrections and minutes were approved.
We had 6 new members join the GaYBOR District Coalition that puts the membership at 219!
Special thank you goes out to Hamburger Mary’s for their $1,063 donation from the amazing Bingo for GaYBOR Days.

Mark Bias Co-Secretary Report (Media/ Social Networking)

Myspace – www.myspace.com/GaYBOR 24,100+ friends 900 people read the blog last week alone.

Facebook Fan Pagewww.facebook.com/gaybor 4500+ friends

New Fan Page – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tampa-FL/365-Things-To-Do-In-The-GaYBOR-District-Tampa-Florida/115171708520667?ref=ts

John Gorman Treasurer’s Report:

Last Month Balance: $5993.88
Balance on 7/8/10: $5,899.94
501c6 status is approved by the IRS. We are now tax exempt.
Treasurer’s Report accepted.

Old Business:
Stephen Moss discusses the signature cocktail for Ybor and Soco will underwrite the process as well as the glasses they will be poured into. Those who want to participate in the development and tasting please get with Stephen Moss about the process and where they will go from.

Stephen Moss announced it was suggested that GaYBOR member put together a Haunted House for Halloween with all proceeds going back to GaYBOR. Tom Keating says that it would be available to do that inside the fence. Stephen Moss and Tom Keating will meet in relation to that.

Stephen Moss talks about the coming together of GaYBOR after an incident related to coming GaYBOR in here.

Stephen Moss talks about the official National Drag Pageant Oct 6, 7, 8 2010. 45 contestants competing on a national scale.

Stephen Moss encourages that each member grab a friend and bring them to the next meeting.

Carrie West re-caps St. Pete Pride, over 50 GaYBOR businesses represented at the St Pete Pride Parade.

Carrie West asks for volunteers (10 People) to sit on a committee for GaYBOR Days, pros, cons and things to delete. Jorge (Umbrella), Deb (PLAY), Melanie (Hamburger Mary’s), Mama (Reservoir Bar), Mike Hammonds (Umbrella).

Welcome the Bricks of Ybor to the neighborhood and support them please.

Letter from Pepin about a GaYBOR boycott of Pepin and Budweiser. This is just a rumor and there is no truth to that what so ever.

New & Continued Business:

Letter sent to Jane Castor, Tampa Police Chief showing our sympathy to the two police officers that were killed and anything we can do to help let us know.

YCDC Grant application for GaYBOR District Event, open discussion – August 1st deadline. $50K grant.

Suggestions:

Pianos of Ybor

New Art Show Centro Ybor

Southern Exposure

Pride on 7th

GayBOR Days

4 page application needs to be in August 1, 2010.

Florida Together’s Statewide LGBT Leadership Conference, Saturday July 24, 2010. Get with Florida Together about bringing the convention to Ybor City. All GaYBOR members can participate.

The Gay Travel Association of America has approached GaYBOR about bringing the convention to Tampa Bay, GaYBOR and Tampa Bay and Co. will work together on this great venture.

Fete d’Twilight, TIGLFF Social Event, July 24, 7pm at Lions Center in Ybor City

Pride On 7th, Saturday, August 28th.

Shriner’s Convention, Ybor City Parade, August 18, more info from Tampa Bay & Company.

Francis House GalaatRitz YborAug 20.

Labor Day Weekend Events.

Orlando Pride, Oct 7-10th, GaYBOR Booth with a car and or marching brigade.

Tampa Intl Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, October 7-17th

Speakers:

Former Tampa City Councilwomen Linda Saul-Sena speaks to the Coalition and is a fan and member of GaYBOR. She has an interactive guided pod cast tour for Ybor. We want a community that cooks, fun exciting and sexy. She asks for GaYBOR’s help to get elected as a countywide Commissioner to the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners. She speaks to her long public service and help in creating the Human Rights Ordinance. It is imperative that we step forward for human rights in the county. She also speaks to her support of transportation in the county. She also speaks to her support of environment. Please help support her buy a T-shirt, host a party go to her website www.lindasaulsena.com. She really needs our help! Please come to the events please support her.

Carrie West announces that he has put in his paperwork for Linda Saul-Sena’s seat on Tampa City Council.

Susan Williams – Tampa Bay and Company speaks about the Shriner’s Convention and bringing a parade to 7th Ave in Ybor City. Wednesday 9th , August 18 short parade route. About 8000 people will be here and the buying power is great. Tampa Bay and Co is producing flyers with discounts for the Ybor City area. There will also be posters.

Jorge Alverado speaks about Pride on 7th August 28th 8am at The Heights (old abandon trolley warehouse) at the end of 7th Ave on the Hillsborough River. Please participate in this event. He is asking everyone to be a part of this event thru volunteerism, sponsorship and participation. Pride walk, vender show till 5PM and then dance party at 10PM.

www.Prideon7th.com step up and show your pride.

Ed Turanchick speaks about the upcoming high speed rail in 2015. Special thanks to President Barrack Obama. This project is the project in America, we are the only high speed rail project in the country. There will be strategic partnerships and many meetings with all different people in all different sectors. The rail hub will be in N downtown and will open in 2015. Tampa to Orlando to Miami is the projected project. Tampa to Orlando is funded by stimulus dollars. This will make Tampa the center of Florida.

Two proclamation given to GaYBOR Days one from Hillsborough County Commission and one from Mayor Pam Iorio.

Prizes were given out! Meeting adjourned!

6/11/10

Carrie West starts off the meeting with greetings and welcome.
Carrie West thanks James Howard and the staff of Creative Loafing for hosting the meeting.
Carrie West welcome Tampa Chief of Police Jane Castor.
Chief Castor gives her history and tells of the reshaping of the TPD and crime reduction.
There was a Q & A session after her speech.

Special Thank You goes out to Florida Entertainment Group for their $1,500 donation from the amazing White Party at the Honey Pot.

The new GaYBOR Maps are out and are being distributed. New features on the map are categories and alphabetized within the categories for easier readability it was a print of 5,000. There were also 9 business card size ads on the maps this go around. The maps have been delivered to all the members on the members listed on the map and samples were left with 31 non-member businesses with invitations to come ot the GaYBOR meetings. They are also being distributed to the Tampa Visitors Information Center in Channelside and downtown.

The pool party posters and GaYBOR Days posters and brochures were also distributed with the maps. We are also printing a poster for the Bar Crawl and designing a poster and printing it for the 15th St Community Health Fair. They will be distributed as well when done. We ask that all members please hang the posters so people know what is going on and they come down into the district for the events.

The Bar Crawl T-shirts are being printed and for sale at MC Film for $20 presale and $25 day of the event. There are 13 members on the Bar Crawl and we thank them for their participation.

Mark Bias Co-Secretary Report (Media/ Social Networking)
Myspace www.myspace.com/GaYBOR 24,100+ friends
Facebook Fan Page www.facebook.com/gaybor 4,575+ friends
New Fan Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tampa-FL/365-Things-To-Do-In-The-GaYBOR-District-Tampa-Florida/115171708520667?ref=ts

John Gorman Treasurer’s Report:
Last Month Balance: $5993.88
Balance on 6/11/10: $3060.46
Treasurer’s Report accepted.
The IRS 501c6 Tax Exemption Status was granted to the GaYBOR District Coalition on June 2. We are now tax-exempt and the Co-Secretaries are working with all the vendors to make the changes to save monies on tax when purchasing things for the Coalition.

Continued New Business: We want to thank everyone that was at the Mayor’s Luncheon. The Mayor had a great time and was serenaded by the Una Voce’ UV Rays.
St. Pete Pride, Sat. June 26th Promenade Parade and Vender Fair on Central
St. Pete Pride GaYBOR Float Georgie’s Parking Lot at 9am. No street cloths! Think Outrageous
St. Pete Pride GaYBOR Booth on Central 9am – 5pm. Need Volunteers for 1 hour shifts.

3rd Annual GaYBOR DAYS 2010 June 27, June 30 – July 5th
June 27 Sun GaYBOR Brunch @ Gaspar’s Grotto 11am – 2pm
June 30 Wed Hamburger Mary’s GaYBOR Days Bingo Benefit with great prizes from Best Buy.
July 1, Thursday, Chelsea Nightclub Opening Night Reception and Recognition/ Proclamations. Food by St Car Charlies.
July 2, Friday 15th St Health Fair 11am –6pm Open to all community on 15th St between 7th Ave and 9th Ave. 6 Medical Testing Mobile Units. St Car Charlies hospitality & Ybor Social more medical set up
July 2, Friday GaYBOR Muvico Movie Night 7:30pm before dine all over Ybor City
Movie Guest : Ghost of Ybor, Charlie Wall Story by Dr. Pete Guzo with Q & A.
July 3, Saturday GaYBOR Days Bar Crawl, $20 presale $25 Day of event. 5pm – 9pm starting at Reservoir Bar 13 member bars participating (Reservoir Bar, Centro Cantina, Hamburger Mary’s, Crowbar, PLAY, Muvico, Green Iguana, Good Luck Café, Gaspar’s Grotto, JJ’s Café, Honey Pot, New York, New Yorkand G. BAR. Southern Comfort is donating T-shirts for this and 2 other bar crawls. The shirt is debuted with a picture of the back new logo. Jeff Italiano will pay any additional costs for printing of the Bar Crawl T-shirts so there will be no cost to GaYBOR! Special Thanks to Italiano Insurance for this generous offer!
Chelsea will be having a 1 year anniversary that evening as well.
July 4 Sunday GaYBOR Days Pool Party 3pm – 8pm
Green Iguana’s NEW Hawaiian Village – Days Inn on Dale Mabry.$10 Kill the Kegs (4 Kegs), 2 DJs DjCK and DJ Jeffrey J, Drag Show with Daphne Ferraro, Amy Demilo and Esme’ Russell, Fashion Show by Tmuj
And their new remodeled pool area is amazing and we are the first event at the new venue. Rooms available for $79 a night at the Days Inn ask for the GDC rate..
July 4, Sunday Closing Party at Honey Pot with International Recording Artist Andy bell of Erasure at 9PM.

We have $69 All Access VIP Passes available at MC Film, Honey Pot G Bar Ybor Social and Ybor Eagle and they are available now. This gets you into all the parties as well as entrance in Ybor Social, Ybor Eagle, Honey Pot and G BAR all weekend with no waiting in line.
Good luck Café Complex will have 2 for 1 cover at all three venues for the weekend. Drag shows, dancers will be spotlighted.
We need volunteers! See Mark or Rich for listed events.

We urge all businesses to help support and advertise GaYBOR Days, with hanging the posters and talking it up with their customers. This will bring people into the district and everyone will benefit.

New Business:
Booth at Homemade Music Symposium 6-12-10 come out to the VIP Party at Don Vicente’ after the meeting.
North Pinellas Pride June 18, 19 20 the City of Dunedin is behind it all with grants given to get it going.
We are trying to create a branding cocktail for Ybor City a type of ice tea thru Brown Forman! Submit your ideas. We ask all bars to get together and do a test tasting fine tuning. Brown Forman is looking at only 10 cities for doing this type of target marketing and Ybor City is one of the 10.
Meeting is adjourned.

Prizes are given away and Networking Event follows.

5/14/10

Carrie West starts off the meeting with greeting and welcome.

Carrie West thanks Damon and Tessa Shiver as well as Rhonda and Trish and the Don Vicente Historic Inn for hosting the meeting.

Carrie West brings up that HGTV will feature Ybor City this Saturday night.
There was also a great article written about the GaYBOR District Coalition in Cigar City Magazine.

Rich Kerin Co-Secretary Report (Database/Clerical):

Rich Kerin asks for any additions or corrections to last month’s minutes and accepts them into record. No corrections and minutes were approved.

Special Thank You goes out to Fun Maps for a $100 donation.

There were another 3 new members joining the GaYBOR District Coalition since the last meeting. The Coalition stands at 208 members.

At the request of the IRS and after deliberating with the GaYBOR District Coalition Board, we have decided to change the Non-Profit Status from 501(c) 3 to 501(c) 6; which has been filed at no addition cost. The 501(c) 6 designation is for Chamber of Commerce, which better fits what the GDC does.

Mark Bias Co-Secretary Report (Media/ Social Networking)

Myspace www.myspace.com/GaYBOR 24,100+ friends
Facebook Fan Page www.facebook.com/gaybor 4,395 friends
GaYBOR blog being read by over 800 people!

New Fan Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tampa-FL/365-Things-To-Do-In-The-GaYBOR-District-Tampa-Florida/115171708520667?ref=ts

Mark has Sign Up Sheets at his table for the events to volunteer; please we need your help with volunteering these events.

John Gorman Treasurer’s Report:

Last Month Balance: $6,931.95
Balance on 5/13/10: $5993.88

Treasurer’s Report accepted.

Old Business:

Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-31st, events

Stephen Moss ask that if anyone has any special events coming up for Memorial Day weekend please get them to Mark Bias or Rich Kerin so we can get them on all the GaYBOR social media sites.
Gay Day’s Orlando June 4-6th Need volunteers to work booth – Sign Up Sheet

Please come out and support the GDC at Gay Days if you are interested, please see Stephen Moss with your information.

The new GaYBOR District brochure maps are out and special thanks to Rich Kerin and Mark Bias for designing the maps. There was a run of 5000 and there will be a new run done soon for Gay Days and St Pete Pride.

St Pete Pride is coming up on June 26th and we need help with manning the GaYBOR Booth and helping with bead distribution.

St. Pete Pride, Sat. June 26th Promenade Parade and Vender Fair on Central
GaYBOR has bought the center spread of the St Pete Pride Booklets, with a distribution of 25,000 copies. If you want to be on the GaYBOR float you need to sign up, there are 25 spots on the float. We also need help working the GaYBOR booth at St Pete Pride. If you can help, please sign up.

Special Thanks to HotSPOTS for picking up half of the GaYBOR float!

GaYBOR DAYS 2010 is in planning stages. June 30 – July 5th (See proposed line up below). We need volunteers to help staff the events.

Continuing New Business:

Mayor’s Recognition Luncheon will be on June 1 from 12PM – 1:30PM at Streetcar Charlie’s due to the closing of Teatro on Seventh. The cost is $30 and included a salad, one choice of three entrées, dessert and soft beverage. The tickets are available today at the meeting and will be on sale at MC Film Fest. The tickets and seating are on a first come, first serve basis, as this event will be sold out. The room that the Mayor will be in holds 50 people but we will be utilizing all three spaces at the restaurant but the first 50 people paying will be seated in the room with the Mayor.

GaYBOR Days: We need volunteers! See listed events. We urge all businesses to help support and advertise GaYBOR Days. There will be buses coming in from Legendary Journey’s with package

The 15th Street Health Fair held on 15th St between 7th Ave – 9th Ave 11am – 6am on 7/2.
FL Blood Mobile
ASAP Mobile Unit
St Joe’s Hospital
Hillsborough County Health Dept

Tampa Black Pride will also be going on the same time as GaYBOR Days.

The 1st N Pinellas Pride will be held in Dunedin there is an ad in Watermark check it out!

We are looking into advertising on the trolley cars it is $275 a month. The members approve to have advertising on the trolley car. It will be on the advert to stop into MC Film Fest for the GaYBOR map.

There will be a Rex Maniscalco Room at Metro Wellness Center donated by GaYBOR District Coalition.

If you get a chance spot by the new location of the Metro Wellness Center it will be a gateway into Ybor City and the GaYBOR District.

Speakers:

Peter Clark – Publisher HOT Spots Magazine
Speaks to the inspiration of the community in the State of Florida that the GaYBOR District Coalition has inspired. The Rainbow Coalition forming in S Florida is using the GaYBOR model and was inspired by GaYBOR. It comes down to speaking in one voice as a district. It is magical and GaYBOR has achieved that by what they do. As the states longest running gay publication our growth comes within. It is time to reach out to Central Florida and the rest of the state to market the LGBTA community to the rest of the world. HotSPOTS Magazine now has 7 contributors from GaYBOR in helping getting the word out. He thanks everyone for the inspiration. There is an exclusive for Florida about Sex in the City because of Muvico Centro Ybor and the next cover of HOT Spots will be woman!

Jim Nixon – Metro Wellness Center
There are still some spaces available for naming rights of rooms. There are drawings of what the inside and outside of the building will look like when complete. It will be a state of the art facility. When the move is done Metro Charities will be the 2nd largest of it’s kind in the state.

Anthony Farver and Zeke Fried from Stand Up Florida
Thanks to the GaYBOR District for all their help. We are a Non-profit 501(c)3 geared to standing up for the LGBTA community and teaching youth about the LGBTA community and issues. There are booklets about what Stand Up Florida has been doing and accomplished. They are also very active in different aspects of the LGBTA community building relationship with other similar organization; which stands at over 100. Come out to the Harvey Milk dinner all donations will be donated to Francis House. He urges that you please call your senators to push thru bills on the agenda. He also thanks all the media for covering their organizations workings.

Damon Shiver speaks about the history of the Don Vicente Historic Inn. He speaks to the renovations to the Inn. He then gave a tour of the Don Vicente Historic Inn facility with a networking party afterwards.

Meeting is adjourned.

Prizes are given away and Networking Event follows.

4/09/10

Carrie West starts off the meeting with introductions.

Carrie West thanks Melanie Minyon and St Car Charlies for hosting the meeting.

In order to save time all present introduce them self to the meeting and tell everyone about their upcoming events and are asked to keep things to 1 minute.

Rich Kerin asks for any additions or corrections to last month’s minutes and accepts them into record. No corrections and approved.

Rich Kerin’s Co-Secretary Report (Database/Clerical):

There were another 8 new members joining the GaYBOR District Coalition since the last meeting.

Special Thank You goes out to Geo Vax Labs for their donation of $1,000 to the GaYBOR District Coalition.

Renewals are and the database has been updated. With newer organizations membership grow large and then levels off. We would like to inform everyone that we have faired well even in hard economic times. The coalition stands strong at 209 members. Decline was due to the economy and businesses closing.

The date has been secured for the Mayor’s Send Off Luncheon and that will be on June 1 from 11:30AM till 1PM at Teatro on Seventh. Tickets will go on sale next Wednesday at MC Film. He encourages everyone that they get their tickets early: as this event will sell out.

Mark Bias Co-Secretary Report (Networking)

Myspace 24,015 friends
Facebook 3,978 friends

John Gorman Treasurer’s Report:

Last Month Balance $6051.23
Balance on 4/09/10 $7101.02

Treasurer’s Report accepted.

Tony LaColla Web Report:

He will be doing renewal updates on the website and removing none renewals, and will be adding new members. He asks for a week to get this done. He encourages all members to check the website to make sure they are there and that the descriptions are correct.

Old Business:

The Italian Club Festa Italiano 3/28/10
Rough Riders St Patrick’s Day Parade 3/13/10
Memorial Day Weekend 5/28-31/10 nothing planned if you have an event let us know and we will plug the event.
Gay Days’ Orlando 6/4-6/10 Need Volunteers sign up sheets up front. Scott Spars speaks about Gay Days and Hotspot will be the media sponsor. He will be heading up the vendor booth for GaYBOR and needs volunteers.
St Pete Pride 6/26/ Promenade Parade. We have secured the center two pages for advertising and sell up to 12 business card size ads. The cost will be $195 We will also be putting our non-profit logos as well in the empty spaces.
St Pete Pride Float Participants and Vendor Booth Volunteers needed sign up sheets up front. All participants must wear GaYBOR hats that can be purchased at MC Film.
GaYBOR Days 2010 planning stages sign up sheets for volunteers are up front for all GaYBOR “Official Events”. The line up was presented if you have any other events let us know and we will get in into the GaYBOR Days brochure.

T-shirts and Spirits are going to be provided by Brown Forman and will be a title sponsor of GaYBOR Days.

GaYBOR Days is growing by leaps and bounds.

New Business:

Mixer at Don Vicente’ Inn 4/29/10 at 6PM Stephen has been meeting with Tessa and they want to start doing LGBTA ceremonies and if anyone is interested in getting involved see Stephen Moss.

The Ritz will be having their Bridal Expo this Sunday 4/11/10.

USF Lamda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Carrie West and Rich Kerin were on a panel discussion on LGBTA issues at USF.

GaYBOR was invited to come down to Ft Lauderdale to start a new business coalition they are calling themselves the Rainbow Business Coalition. They are using the GaYBOR Logic Model to form their Coalition. We ot back something from that meeting as well to have leadership teams. They ask the individual categories to have breakout teams to have representation under the coalition. The breakout teams would then report back to the GaYBOR District Coalition Board and the membership. Freeconferencecall.com is also available for meetings.

Call for a Graphic Artist to do pro bono or limited cost work for GaYBOR. They would be doing advertisements for different events. What’s Happening Magazine offers their art department support. Sharon Rose brings up special projects the Art Institute may be able to help. USF Mass Communications Department was brought up.

Ybor City was on the front cover of the travel section of the New York Times On-line and GaYBOR was mentioned on National Public Radio as the new Ybor City a great place to shop, dine and enjoy all it has to offer.

Speakers:

Jim Nixon Metro Wellness Center. Two months ago it was brought up in the GaYBOR meeting how to help out with furniture for the new Wellness Center. This will be done thru the Angel Fund and buying naming rights to the different offices and meeting rooms in the wellness center. The floor plan with pricing was presented. The building will not only house the Wellness Center and LGBT Community Center but a pharmacy and USF Services. The projected opeing date for the Wellness Center is projected to be September 1.

Meeting is adjourned.

Prizes given away and networking follows.

2/12/10 Meeting Minutes

Carrie West starts off the meeting with introductions.

Carrie West thanks the Bill and Lee of Teatro and their staff for hosting the meeting.

All present introduce them self to the meeting and tell everyone about their upcoming events.

John Gorman presents USF Pride Alliance with a $100 check to help with their drag show fundraiser.

Rich Kerin asks for any additions or corrections to last month’s minutes and accepts them into record.

Rich Kerin’s Co-Secretary Report:

There are currently 282 members listed in the database with an amazing 13 new members joining since the last meeting.

Renewals are running at 55% but like most dues based organizations a lot of members budget to pay at the end of the renewal cycle.

Second/Final notices will be going out on Tuesday 2/16/10 next week for anyone that has not paid their dues with a deadline of 2/28/2010. At that point, anyone that has not renewed will be removed from the GDC database. If you can, please make arrangements to have your dues paid by 2/28/2010. On 3/1/2010 we will be removing non-renewals from the membership roles.

The GaYBOR District Coalition, Inc. 2009 Non Profit Form 990 E-card Return will be filed once the IRS has updated their system with our application information.

Mark Bias’s Co-Secretary Report:

Myspace www.myspace.com/GaYBOR 24,049 grew by 412+
Facebook 1969 grew by 464+
Facebook Fan Page www.facebook.com/gaybor 3,283 grew by 966+

John Gorman’s Treasurer Report:

Last Months Total
$4,692.26
Checks Cleared
$4,193.76
Deposits
$4,855.55
Total Balance
$5,414.57

Currently, the IRS is working on 501c3 applications that were received the month before ours was files so we should be hearing next month about the first ruling.

Geovax Labs. donates $1000 to the GaYBOR District Coalition to use to help in the district.

Old Business:

GaYBOR Beads will be in next month for St Pete Pride.

The Pianos in Ybor was a phenomenal success. If anyone has any ideas please come to us with ideas to celebrate art in Ybor. Proceeds from the project will be split $400 to Francis House and $400 to the Homeless Coalition.

Gay Spring Break March 20/21 weekend a rites of spring passage. We are working on an outdoor weekend concert one day for women and one day for men with the largest outdoor foam party in the state. We will keep you posted on that as it develops.
The Board discussed in planning the Gay Spring Break it will be a joint fundraiser to help fund GaYBOR and to help fund the new GLBTA Community Center. It is agreed by acclamation of the membership to use it for the GLBTA Community Center and the GaYBOR District Coalition.

Gasparilla Softball Classic is this weekend and we had new maps done for them. There are over 3000 softball players in Tampa for the tournament from all over the US.

New Business:

Tuesday night 2/16/2010 there will be a Community Redevelopment Area meeting with the Tampa City Council at HCC in the Ybor room from 6:30PM to 8PM. We encourage everyone to attend the meeting and speak his or her mind about redevelopment.

Special Thanks to Jeff Italiano, Stephen Moss, Steve Donahue and St Car Charlie’s for their generous donation for the float.

GaYBOR Days is coming up and we want people to get involved. On the agenda there is a space to let us know what committee you want to be involved in for GaYBOR Days. There will be 6 separate committees, Movie night Wed Committee, Thursday night Game night Committee, Friday night VIP night Committee, Saturday pool party Committee, Sunday Bar crawl Committee. Then there is a committee for executive marketing for out of the area.

Crime is starting to creep back up in the district. Keep your eyes and ears open and report anything that you see that you don’t think is right.

Think about what you are doing as a business with the light rail coming to present yourself as a shining light for tourism.

Cross promotion is important within the district that is how the GaYBOR District Coalition works. Pair up with other businesses and work out joint ventures to pursue.

Fun Maps offers $500 and Geovax Labs offers $500 to fund furniture for the new GLBTA Community Center. Jim Nixon will go to the Board of the GLBTA Community Center and ask them how they want to handle the donations.

Erica Love states that if you have anything to donate they are going to be collecting things for the new GLBTA Community Center Thrift Store.

We are in the planning stages of a send off luncheon for the Mayor of Tampa Pam Iorio it is tentatively set for May and we are working with the Mayor’s office to schedule it and we will let you know of the date.

For the next float we will be getting special hats that all float participants will be required to wear if you are going to be on the float. Check with MC Film Fest to get hats.

As always, the meeting ends with giving prizes away!

The meeting adjourns.

1/08/10 Meeting Minutes

Carrie West starts off the meeting with introductions.

Carrie West thanks the Ritz Ybor and their staff for hosting the meeting.

All present introduce them self to the meeting and tell everyone about their upcoming events.

Rich Kerin asks for any additions or corrections to last month’s minutes and accepts them into record.

Rich Kerin reports the coalition has grown to 269 members with 4 new members since last meeting. This is the 4th consecutive month that we have by at least 4 new members a month.

Rich Kerin reports that the 2009 State of Florida Tax return and the Florida Fund Raising Permit will be filed again on Saturday 1/9/10.

Rich Kerin reports that the renewal letter have been sent out to everyone and if you could please have them back by the end of the month along with the membership application so we can update the database with current information.

Mark Bias goes over the media sites.

Myspace www.myspace.com/GaYBOR 23,637+ Friends grew by 234 friends
www.facebook.com/gaybor Fan Page 2,317+ Fans grew by over 156 fans this month!
Facebook regular page is http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1824918349&ref=ts< month this 235 by grew friends 1,505 > with>
INTERESTING, MySpace grew by 234 & Facebook by 235???

John Gorman gives Treasurers Report:

Beginning Balance $3,175.05
Deposits/Credits $2,400.00
Checks Cleared $851.72
Ending Balance 12/31/09 Account Balance $4,723.33

John Gorman reports the IRS is currently reviewing the 501c3 tax exemption application and the IRS that the first ruling will be handed down by the end of January tells us. Traditionally they ask for more information but the Board will keep you posted every meeting on this matter.

Tony LaColla nothing to report on the website.

Old Business:

Stephen Moss.
2010 Steering Committee will be meeting at the end of today’s meeting to get the survey out for 2010.

Custom GaYBOR Beads have been orders and will be in for St Pete Pride.

GaYBOR Ritz Holiday Party was an overwhelming party for the holiday and will become an annual tradition.

Carrie announces that the Pianos Silent Auction will finalize today at 7 PM. The biding sheets are in the lobby and you have till the end of the social to bid.

Carrie announces Southern Exposure will not be happening this year due to the midway not being available this year they are moving out of the area. It will go on hiatus this year. What we plan to do is have a Spring Fling in April.

Stephen Moss discusses what we plan to do is develop it into a spring festival where the weather will be more predictable. It will be a joint effort with the nightclubs, bars, restaurants and retail. March 20 weekend will be good. Think of names and shoot us an e-mail if you have any ideas.

Krewe of Sant Yago Knight Parade will be February 6. GaYBOR has a multilevel float. There will be banner sponsorship available. Sponsorship banner would be 20” X 20” cost would be $100 and you would need to bring the banner. The cost of the float totally is about $3000. So we rely on the membership to help out with expenses.

Tom Keating will give left over beads from Guavaween to GaYBOR for the Knight parade. Will Betancourt will sponsor $100 and Hot Spots $100. Fun Maps will sponsor $100 and anyone else sponsoring and getting on the Fun Map he will pay $50. Italiano Insurance will donate $1000. City Blue Print sponsor $100. Mama at the Reservoir sponsor $100 St Car Charlie’s $100, What’s Happening $100, Nikki Chelsea Nightclub $100, S Tampa News $100, FL Entertainment will match Italiano Insurance’s $1000. Budda Lounge $100 Stand Up Florida $100 $2900 Total
The Suncoast Softball Tournament is a great way to get your name out there in the nation. This will be the biggest year for the tournament.

The OUT Conference will be held in Orlando at the end of January the GaYBOR Board will be attending the conference, 9am till 5PM on Saturday January 23, 2010.

GaYBOR Days 2010 is already in its planning stages. The committees will be starting to form to get all the event line. Mark Bias and Rich Kerin will handle the pool party event. Send us an E-mail with what your interest is and what your ideas are for events. You can send them to GaYBORInfo@aol.com. Will Betancourt would like to be involved as well. Scott Spars will also like to volunteer. Hot Spots would like to be the Official Media Sponsor.

Carrie welcomes Tampa Bay and Company.

Lauren Bowles announces that we just partnered with GaYBOR and would like to tell everyone about Tampa Bay and Co. TBC is partly funded by Hillsborough County but also membership driven. They are the driving force in bringing in conventions into Tampa. Susan from TBC we are working on major events one is the Egyptian Shrine, 15K people coming for the event and there will be a parade down 7th Ave Ybor City in August on a Wednesday night. This helps everyone in the community. If you want to get involved please contact Lauren Bowles.

Carrie also announces that GaYBOR is working hand and hand with TBC to bring two conventions in one in 2011 and the other in 2012.

Carrie welcomes Jean Patrone from St Jude Helping Hand.

Jean Patrone speaks from St Jude Helping Hand and they deal with feeding the homeless people. She has been doing this for sometime and is regularly feeding about 150 people every Sunday. Please see St Jude Helping hands Wish List and try to help them out.

Carrie welcomes David Warner from Creative Loafing.

David Warner thanks everyone that took part in the auction.

The GaYBOR Coalition has extended offers to all the candidates in the races in the short election and Pat Kemp (Democrat) is here to speak to the membership. She is running for the District 58 seat State of Florida House of Representative and lives in District 58. January 26, 2010 is the election date.

68 Members present:

Prizes are given out.

Carrie thanks everyone for coming and asks they stay and network.

Erica Love announces that we have gotten 3 more members at the meeting today.