Town Council working on membership

La Jolla Town Council is launching efforts to overcome a financial crisis of sorts with membership.

Dan Courtney, who chairs the group’s membership committee, reported during a meeting on Sept. 10 that an effort is under way to build membership, which has been adversely affected by the recession.

“We have plans to get interns to approach people,” he said, adding that a concerted effort is being made to enlist restaurants by dropping membership dues for them down to $100.

Courtney noted that the number of businesses, which pay larger membership dues, has dwindled because of hard economic times. He added that only a small percentage of the total number of local residents have been tapped to join the group, which serves residents and businesses and assists visitors.

Its committees work on land use, business and professions, beautification and streetscape, and parks and beaches issues in La Jolla.

Membership fees vary, starting at $50 a year for an individual member ranging to $5,000 for a business life membership. Go to www.lajollatowncouncil.org for more information.

Also at the meeting, the group got a progress report on the year-end Christmas parade, which it sponsors, as well as heard about the reincarnation of its monthly happy hour, now known as a sunsetter, which will be held tonight. The group is hopeful that it will help boost membership.

Ann Kerr Bache said the council’s Christmas parade Web site, www.ljparade.com, has been updated. She added that fundraising for the annual event, which costs upward of $40,000 to stage, is progressing.

“Our fundraising goal is $30,000, of which we’ve gotten $7,000,” she said. “We’ve also gotten a $7,500 grant from Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and a has asked for a $5,000 grant from Las Patronas.”

Kerr Bache added that she’d like to complete Christmas parade fundraising by the end of October.

The trustees unanimously approved plans for the art and wine festival and classic car shows after presentations from both groups.

Laurel McFarlane, chief executive officer of McFarlane Promotions, talked briefly about plans for the car classic show being put on this year by La Jolla Historical Society, which is now in its sixth year.

Admission, $15 last year, will be charged again for the 150-car event, which will be surrounded by a 3-foot-high picket fence. Scripps Park will remain open as usual on event day, she said.

Sherry Ahern returned to update the board on the Oct. 10-11 Art & Wine Festival, which will close upper Girard Avenue from Pearl Street.

She said she has gotten all of the businesses and residents in the area to sign off on the event.

“Profits and proceeds will go to all three elementary schools - La Jolla, Bird Rock and Torrey Pines,” she said. “It will be a juried, fine art show with a European flair with shuttle service, valet parking, and a beer and wine garden plus live entertainment.”

Town Council

Sunsetter Happy Hour

Open to all residents and

merchants

5 to 7 PM - 9/17/2009

Burgundy Grill & Wine Bar, 830 Kline St.

$5 for Town Council members, $10 for nonmembers, free for new members who join at the event.