Annual Meeting

All LSC members and guests are invited to attend the annual members meeting. Usually featured with a keynote speaker, this is a formal business meeting at which the LSC reviews its past year accomplishments and all of the events sponsored by the Council. At this meeting, we announce the officers of our organization and the new members of the Board. We also take nominations for future Board positions.

2008

This year's annual meeting was held on March 18th from 8:00 - 9:30 AM at Old Arizona, at 29th & Nicollet. A panel of local community development experts took questions from us and the audience: Jay Walljasper (The Great Neighborhood Book), Mary Keefe (Hope Community), and Mike Temali (NDC, The Community Economic Development Handbook).

2007

Lake Street Council's 2007 annual meeting was held March 13th at the Midtown Global Market. Ten area businesses and groups, representing a wide variety of Lake Street, were presented with awards in recognition of what they have brought to the business community in the past year. Three Hispanic businesses were awarded: La Poblanita for expanding into a restaurant and bringing new life to the Bloomington area, Taqueria La Hacienda for their investment in La Hacienda Plaza, and Mercado Central for spurring economic development and attracting people of all ethnicities.

Businesses new and old were recognized for their achievements. Schatzlein Saddle Shop is celebrating its 100th year in existence this year, and is still going strong. Ingebretsen's is over 85 years old now, and owner Julie Ingebretsen maintains this unique Scandinavian location while also serving the community in many ways. Hirshfield's has been on Lake Street since the 1930s, and is now in its 4th generation of being a family-owned business.

Newer businesses add a lot to Lake Street as well. Penn Cycle combines sales of efficient transportation with value and a social conscience. The Midtown YWCA, which opened in 2000, brought a wide variety of services to the area and helped economic development near Hiawatha. The Midtown Global Market (run by NDC, like the Mercado Central) and Town Talk Diner both opened in 2006, and have created a lot of buzz about Lake Street in their short lives.

2007's meeting also featured a presentation from Gene Goddard, of the Department for Employment and Economic Development. He spoke about how to connect local, state, and regional efforts for the benefit of Lake Street. He also gave many marketing tips for the area. You can download his presentation at the link below. If you don't have PowerPoint, you can download the free PowerPoint Viewer to view it.

Gene Goddard's PowerPoint presentation (2.6 MB)