Tuesday, January 8*, starting 7:00 p.m.
ABA meeting at the Library

*Please note date change -- not the first Tuesday of this month

Presentations/Speakers:

• Cindy Raabe – Career Specialist at the Ashland High School
• Stephen Ledogar – Middlesex Savings Bank merchant services (credit card processing)

If any members are interested in giving a presentation at future ABA meetings, please contact the officers at officers@ashlandbusinessassociation.com.

Nomination of ABA officers for next year, which begins April 1, 2008
The 2008 ABA officers election process will start at this meeting. We will appoint a chairperson to solicit and accept nominations for potential officers. Those nominated will be identified at the February meeting, and the actual election will take place at the March meeting. Serving as an officer of the ABA brings increased exposure for your business or organization, including having your bio and photo publicized on the Web site. The current officer positions from our Bylaws are shown below:

President
Controls the Agenda for all meetings.
Presides at all Steering Committee meetings and monthly Business Association meetings.
Liaison between the ABA, and the Town of Ashland and the Community.

Vice President
Assists all Steering Committee personnel in any portions of their positions. Parliamentarian for both the Steering Committee and the monthly Business Association meetings, using Roberts Rules of Order as a guideline. If the President should be unable to chair a Steering Committee meeting and/or a monthly Business Association meeting, or to complete his/her term of office, the Vice President will assume the duties of the President.

Secretary
Responsible for taking Minutes of both the Steering Committee meetings and monthly Business Association meetings. Drafts the monthly newsletter. Maintains official ABA files.

Treasurer
Responsible for the receipt and disbursement of all funds of the organization. Keeps accurate records of all ABA financial business. Maintains current membership lists and mailing lists, both print and online.

Publicity Coordinator
Finalizes the monthly newsletter and puts it online. Prepares and distributes news releases and other publicity. Designs and produces advertising items such as flyers, ads, and posters.

Members-at-Large
Attend Steering Committee meetings and monthly Business Association meetings. Assist all Steering Committee personnel with their duties.

ABA Holiday Potluck Dinner
Thank you to Stones Public House for hosting the potluck dinner. The potluck dinner was fabulous! The location was great, the food excellent, and many members walked away with prizes from the games and drawings. We also collected a number of items for Ashland's food pantry.