Annual Meeting was total success with record attendance, gifts, and new members!
The Billings Industrial Revitalization District’s 2023 Annual Meeting was held June 15th at the 406 Events Lawn which was very generously donated! The event started at noon and went on for about three hours, with mingling, updates on projects and BIRD finances, and wrapped up with some lunch catered by Montana Outlaw BBQ. The meeting attracted over 70 people including Yellowstone State House Representatives, Billings City Council Members, State Official representatives and small business owners of Billings.
New Director, new meeting
This was Michelle Harkins first annual meeting since taking on the role as the Director of the BIRD in January. Since taking the position, she has been determined to increase the BIRD’s impact on the district. She has rebranded the organization into one that is more welcoming to anyone who wants to learn more and created a strong focus on community outreach. The BIRD has started their own volunteer events, starting with Nesting Day, a litter and graffiti clean up, and a day to touch up the asphalt art in North Park. Part of the community outreach includes making the Annual Meeting available to anyone who wants to come and extending invitations to people outside of the current member pool. Michelle is trying to grow the BIRD’s presence and make the entire community aware and involved in the district.
Attendance and membership set a record high
Invitations were sent out to all the current BIRD members, as is done every year, but invitations were also extended to Montana Legislature, local Billings officials, and business owners in the East Billings Urban Renewal District that are not currently members. About 75 people attended, including people from each group mentioned above. Unveiled at this meeting was the new type of membership the BIRD has. Previously there had only been a Voting Membership for EBURD residents or property owners, but there is now a Community Membership for anyone who has an interest in helping the EBURD.
Another first at this year’s meeting was that attendees had the opportunity to become a member right there! The BIRD gained 4 new Community Members and 1 new Voting Member at the 2023 Annual Meeting. Members have access to the member exclusive page of the BIRD website, access to a member directory, and will be invited to quarterly member events. There are even member exclusive discounts in the works with EBURD businesses. If you don’t want to miss out on these benefits or the next annual meeting, be sure to become a member! You can join the BIRD at this link: https://www.billingsbird.com/membership/.
So many prizes…
Prizes were donated from local EBURD businesses. There were over 15 gifts to give away at the meeting ranging from gift cards and certificates to tools and pottery. The prizes wrapped up with a grand prize which was reserved specifically for members only. The grand prize was tickets to this year’s Yellowstone International Air Show which were very generously donated by BIRD Board Member and Air Show Co-Chair, Matthew McDonnell. All businesses who donated to the meeting will be listed below with links to their websites as well.
The BIRD thanks all that donated their time, goods, and services to make this meeting one for the books!
