DON’T FORGET TO LOOK FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FOR CIBA MEMBERS AT THE END OF THE NEWSLETTER!

£ Watch your mailbox for your CIBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ballot and be sure to VOTE! All current full business members are invited to cast a ballot (one person member business). Return the ballot by 4:30 p.m. on May 29 to the CIBA, c/o A&S Accounting, 316 SW Washington, Corvallis 97333. Or, bring it to the May Membership meeting . . .

£ Yes, it’s time for the MAY MEMBERSHIP MEETING – Wednesday, May 30. Join CIBA from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the First Alternative South Store Community Room for our annual meeting. Network with other local business owners, hear about upcoming Buy Local events, and turn in your ballot for the CIBA Board of Directors. Be sure to invite another local independent business owner to come along, too!

£ CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS ON JULY 7! As you know, there will not be a Buy Local First Breakfast series this year – but there will be a BUY LOCAL FIRST BRUNCH! If you’ve volunteered in past years and are ready to pitch in – here’s your chance. Haven’t volunteered before but are interested in being part of the fun – sign up now. As part of Celebrate Independents Week, CIBA will be co-sponsoring the 2012 Buy Local First Brunch on Saturday, July 7, 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Methodist Church on Monroe St., and we need your help! Contact Dee Mooney at dee@footwise.com or call at 541-754-5021 x216. Cooks, servers, setter uppers, table bussers, food re-stockers, greeters, cleaner uppers, and more – come join the fun. And the food will be locally delicious! Yes, the super-yummy pancakes and tofu scramble will be returning – watch for other great local items like fresh green salad, roasted potatoes, and biscuits & gravy. There will be gluten-free options available as well. Help us celebrate with the community!

£ CELEBRATE INDEPENDENTS WEEK! Get ready, Corvallis, we’re going to party for an entire week! July 1-7 is National Independents Week, sponsored by the American Independent Business Alliance. CIBA, and the Buy Local First Steering Committee, are sponsoring our area’s first foray into this celebration of all local independent businesses. Be watching for more events and activities as they are added to this listing:

* July 1 The Buy Local First Committee kicks off the “Business of the Week”

* July 2 Celebrate Independent Business Night at the Knights baseball game and fireworks (see attached flyer to order your tickets by June 1; help us invite ALL independent local businesses in the Corvallis area by sharing the order form with your business friends.)

* July 3 & 4 Enjoy the Downtown Corvallis Association’s Red White & Blue Riverfront Festival

* July 5 Still planning!

* July 6 Still planning!

* July 7 Buy Local First Brunch (10-1, Methodist Church)

CIBA will provide member businesses with a poster and a supply of trifold brochures to distribute that will list all CIBA members. These items will help identify you as an independent local business during this week, but you don’t have to do anything else besides hanging up the poster and putting out the brochures. If you would like to do something more in honor of the week, here are some ideas from AMIBA. Pick a day during the week and:

* Have local musicians playing in-store

* Invite local artists/writers to talk about, demonstrate or read from their work

* Give away balloons

* Provide food samples (from local restaurants) or ice cream treats

* Provide craft activities for kids that have to do with your business

* Have a sale on locally-produced or grown items

* Hold cooperative events with other CIBA-member businesses, such as joint coupons

* Have sidewalk chalk available for kids – or anyone who is a kid at heart – to create art on the sidewalk in front of your business

* Think up additional fun & creative ways to celebrate your local independence!

If your business will be celebrating Independents Week, let us know – and we’ll post your activity/event/sales on our FaceBook page!

And, yes, CIBA is planning to do our traditional Independents Week GT ad. Help us show the impact of our local businesses in the Corvallis community by purchasing ad space in this umbrella ad format. More details coming soon.

£ And for future planning: The date has been set for the 2012 BUY LOCAL FIRST DAY. Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 1. More information from the BLF Steering Committee will be coming in the next few months – be thinking about how your business can participate in this fun and exciting event! Interested in helping to plan this year’s BLF Day? Contact our office at 541-752-0047; info@corvallisiba.org.

£ THANK YOU to American Toy LLC, Kattare Internet Services, Northwest Realty Consultants, Peak Sports, Shonnard’s Nursery Florist & Landscape, and The Clothes Tree for RENEWING BUSINESS MEMBERSHIPS in CIBA! Your membership dues help CIBA work for you!



ANNOUNCEMENTS & SPECIALS

Congratulations to Sibling Revelry, celebrating their 15th year in business this month!

And this month marks the 53rd anniversary for Schmidt’s Garden Center – hooray!

If you have an announcement, a special or a coupon for CIBA members, please let us know – 541-752-0047; info@corvallisiba.org.

Have you joined the CIBA FACEBOOK Page? Stay up to date on Celebrate Independents Week activities at https://www.facebook.com/CIBACorvallis.



2012 CIBA CALENDAR

MAY
5/30 – Membership Meeting, 5:30-7:00 pm


JUNE
6/02 – Buy Local First Breakfast, 7:30-9:30 am


JULY
7/07 – Buy Local First Breakfast, 7:30-9:30 am

7/25 – Membership Meeting, 5:30-7:00 pm


SEPTEMBER
9/26 – Membership Meeting, 5:30-7:00 pm


NOVEMBER
11/ 14 – Holiday Social, 5:30-7:00 pm