PRESENT: Patty Knight, Amy Sparks, Patti Van Dorp, Laura Hood Beckman

1.     Reviewed Farmers Market Research.  A few organizations remain to visit with regarding the feasibility of a market in the downtown area.  Many downtown business owners have been spoken with and positive response has been given.

2.     Discussion regarding the various avenues for promoting the community outside of Annandale such as Explore Minnesota .

3.     Discussion regarding sending a letter to the downtown business introducing the ACT Discover Downtown group and inviting them to participate.  The goal is to have the letters out in November and go before the City Council in December to present the Farmers Market idea.

4.     ACT Discover Downtown will sponsor the Annandale Holiday Amble.  Amy suggested using a passport format similar to Buffalo with participating merchants providing gift certificates for drawings at the end of the day for those that turn their passports in with all merchants stamped/visited.  Letters will be sent to the downtown business.  Laura will tweak the letter used last year and sent to Patty and Amy.  It was decided to advertise in The Advocate, Maple Lake Messenger, Tri-County News, Drummer and Clearwater Tribune.  Diana Bajari will coordinate the ads.  $40 per participating merchant to purchase ad space.  The event has already been advertised in Style Magazine, a mailing by The Snooty Fox Gallery, an Ad in Buffalo Business magazine and a mailing that will be sent out by Lamprecht and Bajari.

5.     Discussion regarding resource on Downtowns and revitalization.  A number of organizations provide this.  John Bishop dropped of information on The University of Minnesota Extension that provides resources to downtowns.  A request for a committee member to take the resources and contact them for more information.

6.     A special meeting will be held on Thursday November 1 at 6:30 at In Hot Water to discuss the Amble and last minute details.

Respectfully submitted,
Laura Hood Beckman