Gladwin Business & Professional Association

Meeting Minutes of A
August 5, 2026

Meeting called to order by President, Stacy Plude with introductions.

Meeting minutes of 7/1/2026 were emailed to members and distributed at the meeting.  Motion to accept as read by Lori Stout.   2nd by Blair McGourty.   All ayes.  Motion carried.

Treasurers Report was read by Lori Stout.

Checking Account:   $ 4,993.96

FOL:                            4,216.12

TOS:                           11,527.87

Shop Gladwin:                248.51

Arts Events                        27.89

Street Festival             5,515.67

59 Paid Members

Motion to accept Treasurers Report as read by Michael Murray.  Seconded by Jennifer Feuerstein.  All ayes.  Motion carried. 

Old Business:  

Membership Update:  59 Paid members. Jennifer reached out to businesses sending letters concerning membership.  GBPA dues are due on January 31 in the amount of $100.  Working on a Rack Card with benefits of GBPA and clings to stick on windows.  Andrew has done a great job updating the website.  Invite people to come to meetings.  There will be a SBA event at Michigan Works on August 19th. 

GBPA Schedule of Events for 2026:   The Street Festival and Classic Car and Bike Show was a great success.  Many vendors and cars participated along with many who attended.  Thursdays in the City is going very well  with many people in attendance.  The DALMAC Bike Tour is September 3rd. Thank you to several businesses for donations for the goodie bags.  The Bike Tour loves Gladwin.   Fall in Gladwin/Cornstalks and Decorating in September and October.  Pumpkin Painting October 17th at Riverwalk during Jeep Creep.  Christmas Tree Lighting and Festival of Lights Christmas Parade (Theme is Winter Wonderland) December 5th, Downtown Gladwin. 

Thunder on the Strip:  The website needs to be restored.  Registration began August 1.  September 12 will likely be the last Thunder on the Strip at the Gladwin Airport due to FAA rules.  Ashley Haines put together a basket for Mike Hargrave for all the things he has done to make Thunder on the Strip a success. Karen Moore will take it to him.       

Social Media:  Andrew Rhind is keeping the website up to date.  Send Andrew business updates. 

Miss Gladwin County Update:  The Queens were introduced at the beginning of the meeting.   They said it was a great learning experience for all of them. 

Public Arts Update:  The mural is done and loved by many people in the community.  Many people at the Street Festival helped paint the mural.  Thank you to the muralists that made it such a success.  Thank you to Riverwalk for providing rooms for the muralists. 

BABA Updates: Many July 4th events.  Gearing up for the Holiday Hunt event.

Car Calendar:  Tyler from the Gladwin Record had emailed the board about placing a GBPA ad with events for 2027 at the bottom of the Record Car Calendar.  Discussion was had.  Kim Bruner made a motion to transfer $1000 from the Thunder on the Strip account to the general account to pay for the ad in the calendar.  Seconded by Lori Stout.  All ayes.  Motion carried.  Kim Bruner made a motion to put the ad in the Gladwin Record calendar.  Seconded by Karen Moore.  All ayes.  Motion carried. 

New Business:

Business Spotlights on Facebook: Jamie from Hospice will highlight businesses on facebook.  Jamie thanked the GBPA for their support of the Duck Race during the Street Festival event. 

Sound System:  No new updates.

City Update:  The Primary election is done with about 600 voters.  Check for City updates on their website.  

County Updates:  Reworking of the Master Plan.  Moratorium on solar and data centers.

Chamber Updates:  Legislative events will begin on July 10 with the second event being August 14.  The ORV Funfest will be August 15th with the route being extended 3 ½ miles.    Andrew Rhind is now doing the Chamber website.  Gladwin Leadership event will be August 26th at Rivertown from 5 p.m-7 p.m. There will be an upcoming Charcuterie Board Class coming up at Gladwin Recreation.      

Gladwin Rural Urban Fire Dept.:  Gladwin Rural Urban Fire Protection District sent a letter asking for a donation to them for the purchase of coloring books to hand out to kids at events.  A motion was made by Jennifer Feuerstein to donate $150 to the group for coloring books.  Seconded by Tyle Schlitzkus.  All ayes.   Motion carried.  

Jeep Creep:  The Pumpkin Painting will take place in the backyard at Riverwalk during Jeep Creep. Jeep Creep brings many people to the Gladwin community.  A motion was made by LaVel Smith to sponsor $1500 from GBPA to the Jeep Creep event.  Seconded by Lori Stout.   All ayes.  Motion carried. 

Business Updates and Announcements: 

Karen Moore will be having a Mid Michigan College Board get together at her home on this evening from 4 p.m-6 p.m.  People will be highlighting the community.  Two Scoops event went well.  There will be an event at Two Scoops on August 13 from 3p.m-6 p.m.  Sheryl from the Char Stonehouse said they have hired 35 people.  Possibly the Grand Opening will be near the end of August.  Selena said things are going well at Myers for Tires.  Kim Bruner from the Transit said employees participated in the State Rodeo.  A representative from Skeels School said good things are happening at Skeels School. Open enrollment from PreSchool through 12th grade.  Lori Stout from Council on Aging got a grant from HUD in the amount of $250,000 for a new fire panel at Maple Manor.  Shannon from Macon Marine said they are preparing for the Fall season.  Yvette from Sacred Heart Mission introduced her assistant..  Friends and Family Night will be October 14th from 5 p.m-7 p.m. at the Mission.  Yvette discussed the increase in services from 2021 to 2025. 

Motion to adjourn by Lori Stout. Seconded by Andrew Rhind.  Meeting adjourned.

The next meeting will be Wednesday, September 2 at Riverwalk Place. 

                                                                                                                                                      LaVel Smith, GBPA Secretary