Call to Order:  President Jennie Dillon called the meeting to order at 8:36 AM at Dunlap’s Restaurant. In attendance: Michelle Lenzi, Ruth Dunlap, Marci Bievenour, Gary DeCroes, Marci Cropp, Kathy Gilbert, Debbie Joyner, Dave Kelly, Marcia Wilson. 
 
Minutes, Correspondence & Treasurer’s Report:  The minutes of the February 10, 2022, meeting and the treasurer’s report were approved and correspondence was reported. 
 
Old Business: General Membership Meeting – Jennie announced that the membership meeting had been scheduled for March 23rd, at the Gettysburg Heritage Center from 8:15 AM to 9:30 AM, with a free tour of the museum offered to attendees. Board members were encouraged to attend.
 
Committees:
Advertising and Marketing –Jennie announced that the postcard for the Antique Show had been created and would be printed, to be distributed at member businesses, other antique outlets and to our vendors. It was suggested that they might be given out with the First Friday business cards.

Events: Antique Show - Jennie reported that contracts had been mailed, with 90 responses to date and 13 pending, and that space was extended to the second blocks of York and Baltimore Streets because of new vendors.

She noted that inquiries are on the rise and that extra helpers would be needed for May 21st because of the increased number of vendors.

Christmas – Jennie reported that Ross Brownley would transition the wreath duties to Gettysburg Rental Center.
 
First Friday: Gary reported that team meetings were being held at least once and sometimes twice a month, working forward for themes at least two months out. He noted that in March, the members did what they wanted. Disappointingly, too many closed at 5 or 6 PM, and there were few visitors and walkers. 
    
Gary confirmed that the April 1 First Friday topic would be “Puzzles & Puns” and that cards and flyers would be distributed, and he expressed hope that spring weather would increase activity.
 
Membership: Dave reported the following members had not renewed: Adams County Transit, Fresh Boutique, J&P Winery, Town & Campus Salon, True Friends Boutique and Union Cigar. Gettysburg Pride and Beveled Edge were announced as prospective members.
 
Community Organization News:
Destination Gettysburg – Jennie, Kathy and Debbie planned to attend the membership dinner on March 29th representing GARMA, Gettysburg Day Spa, and the Gettysburg Foundation.
 
Borough – The Human Relations Commission planned to offer a presentation to businesses regarding the Borough’s Non-Discrimination Ordinance. GARMA would disseminate information to members when a public meeting was scheduled. A GARMA article would appear in the Spring/Summer Borough Newsletter. 
 
Arts in Adams – A new committee, headed by Roger Lund, was forming to involve artists, schools, and the community to partner with the Adams County Arts Council for events and activities.
 
Announcements:
Gettysburg Eddie’s – It was announced that the business had been sold.
 
Next Board Meeting – Thursday, April 14, 2022, 8:30 AM, Dunlap’s Restaurant & Bakery, 90 Buford Avenue.
 
Adjournment: 10:42 AM, Marcia Wilson, Acting Secretary  

March is here, and spring will be sprung! Isn’t funny how we attach such monikers to certain months, days, events, people, etc? Spring actually starts March 20th. Whether it will feel like it or not is another story. Let’s hope for sunny skies and rain to make some rainbows!

March does hold some fun activities, regardless of the weather. Immediately starting out the month on March 1st, we celebrate Fat Tuesday. In Pennsylvania Dutch country, and other areas with large German populations, it’s commonly referred to as Fastnacht Day. So start your diet now so you can fill up on delicious fastnachts. Check with local churches and other organizations to see who will be making fastnachts for purchase.

March 4th is First Friday and GARMA wants you to have a Sham-Rockin’ good time. Join our participating member businesses that evening and find out what fortunes are in store for you. Everyone can let loose, be a Leprechaun, and participate in shenanigans even if you aren’t Irish.

If you’re up for some laughter on First Friday, the Gettysburg Community Theatre Adult Improv Troupe will be performing. If you’re familiar with the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway, then you know to expect the unexpected. Also, on March 18th, the Majestic Theater will host “HYPROV – Improv Under Hypnosis” with Colin Mochrie (of The Drew Carey Show and Whose Line Is It Anyway fame). March should be hilarious!

March also brings some of our shops and restaurants out of hibernation. The Gettysburg Heritage Center will reopen for the season on March 21st. For some of us old-timers, we still remember and refer to it as the Wax Museum, and that may have been the only time some of us were there. The Heritage Center is a must see for locals and tourists alike. Gone are the wax figures of old (and didn’t someone, at some point tell you that one of them was real and would jump out at you as you walked by, or was that just told to me as a little kid?). Now you can visit the museum and discover what life was like for the civilians living in the town before, during and after the 3 day battle.

For you foodies, March also brings the reopening of Hunt’s Battlefield Fries on Steinwehr Ave. I for one can’t wait to get a cheesesteak from this little gem of a restaurant. It wasn’t until the pandemic started that I decided to try some takeout from Hunt’s. Shame on me for not trying them sooner. I can only sum up the experience in one word – deliciousness.

In closing, I would also like to introduce you to some new GARMA members. Please take the time to visit these members and experience their wonderful shops and organizations. Welcome - Gettysburg Olive Oil Co., M’Lady’s Parlor, Gettysburg Pride, Civil War Tails, Oh Man, Food 101, and the Children of Gettysburg 1863 museum.

For a complete list of GARMA members, visit www.gettysburgretailmerchants.com.
Jennie Dillon is the President of GARMA and owner of Artworks, 30 York St.

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 As we look back at 2021, the Gettysburg Area Retail Merchants Association feels fortunate to have had a great, progressive year. New board members were welcomed, a new committee was formed, and leadership changed hands. 

In June 2021, Kathy Gilbert announced her resignation as President, and thankfully continuing to serve as a board member. July 1st, Vice President Jennie Dillon assumed the role of President and board member Michelle Lenzi was voted in as Vice President. New board members included Marci Cropp, Debbie Joyner, and Gary DeCroes.

Weather held out beautifully for GARMA’s 54th Outdoor Antique Shows held in May and September. Proceeds from the antique shows are used to purchase, replace, and maintain the Christmas decorations for Gettysburg. The weather also cooperated, except for being a little chilly, for the annual event which is always held the day after Thanksgiving.

Christmas in Gettysburg was made a little more joyful this year for our shoppers as GARMA decided to forego the tradition of the Holiday Shopping Spree which was limited to only one winner of $1000. To generate more fun and excitement this season, GARMA board members were all over town passing out gift certificates ranging from $5 to $20 to random shoppers. Much appreciation was expressed by the recipients and the merchants. $1000 was still given out all total with hopes to increase that amount in the coming year.

President Jennie Dillon continues to write engaging monthly articles for the Gettysburg Times promoting the member businesses and activities happening in the community. GARMA plans to continue building on our successes within the community in supporting businesses with events, social engagement and increased awareness of the amazing and unique businesses located in Gettysburg. Our ultimate goal is to create customer friendly events that will increase Gettysburg’s pedestrian traffic, sales and awareness for member businesses.

GARMA, always looking to have a prominent presence in our community and give back, collected donations the month of November for local veteran organization For The Love of A Veteran. Members collected food items, sundries, and cash donations to be given to this wonderful cause. GARMA is always looking to support and partner with non-profit organizations in our community.

One of GARMA’s ongoing efforts to drive business in Gettysburg is First Friday. As we reflected on this event, we recognized that changes needed to be made to keep this event relevant. A First Friday committee was formed of board members and some of the membership, meeting monthly to brainstorm new ideas. Our goal is to not only encourage our own community to shop, dine and stroll on that day, but to make First Friday a destination event bringing people here from all over the Central PA area.

We must acknowledge those who have helped GARMA continue to be a vital, relevant, membership based organization. GARMA does not have a paid staff, so we rely on our integral board members who volunteer their time to the betterment of this organization and community: Jennie Dillon, President (Artworks), Michelle Lenzi, Vice President (Lele B’s Boutique), Ruth Dunlap, Treasurer (Dunlap’s Restaurant), Kathy Gilbert (Gettysburg Day Spa), Marci Cropp (Rosie’s Collection), Marci Bievenour (Gettysburg Print & Frame), Gary DeCroes (Gettysburg Rental Center), David Kelly (Gettysburg Times), Marcia Wilson (Adams County Democratic Committee), Debbie Joyner (Gettysburg Foundation).

We also thank our membership. Without their continued trust and confidence in GARMA’s abilities, we would not be. Visit our website www.gettysburgretailmerchants.com for a complete list of members, activities and events. If you are a business interested in joining GARMA, an application and payment option are both on our website. We would love to have you on board.
 
2022 GARMA Members

Gettysburg Area Retail Merchants Association (GARMA) covered the community in a chocolate coating with its annual First Friday Chocolate Walk Feb. 4.
Just in time to prepare taste buds for Valentine’s Day, the First Friday Chocolate Walk encouraged everyone to meet their neighbors at local businesses and grab a sweet treat along the way.

​New faces and old friends alike were welcome, despite the cold rain, to enjoy a walk around town and sample the delectable treats offered at local businesses.
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I don’t know why, but lately I’ve struggled each month with what I’m going to write for my article. However, this month is a little different because GARMA has big news to celebrate.

This year is our 50th anniversary! Started in 1972 as the Retail Merchants Association, GARMA (now known as the Gettysburg Area Retail Merchants Association) has grown in not only membership, but in our presence with what we do in our community.

Being born and raised here in Gettysburg, I become a little nostalgic when I look over the names of businesses that have come and gone as members. I remember where businesses used to be, and what is there now. I think about how much this town has grown and how diverse it has become. It’s refreshing to have such an eclectic array of shops, museums and restaurants that are locally owned and operated versus a town full of national chains. This is part of Gettysburg’s charm.

So what are we going to do for our anniversary year? For starters, our First Friday Committee is looking to do some fun quarterly events that will help make Gettysburg’s First Friday a destination event. February’s First Friday will be our traditional Chocolate Walk, but elevated. Prizes will be awarded to those who turn in their First Friday Chocolate Walk maps with the most shops and restaurants visited. More information will be available on our Facebook page and our website, www.gettysburgretailmerchants.com.

While going through the GARMA archives, we have found out that this will be the 60th anniversary of the Gettysburg Outdoor Antique Show. The show has actually been in operation since 1962 (if I am wrong, I do apologize, but I am reading from a letter included with the original constitution of the RMA in 1972 stating that “this will be the 10th year for the show”). Our biannual shows will be held Saturday, May 21 and Saturday, September 24. New for this year, we will be introducing arts and artists. As always, a vetting process will occur when accepting new dealers for our show. It’s time to grow and change things up a bit.

As I talk about great things for the anniversary year to come, I also want to talk about this past holiday season. This year, in lieu of the one-winner shopping spree we used to promote, GARMA handed out $1000 worth of gift certificates to random shoppers, within a 3 week time frame, to promote shopping in our member businesses. When I was walking through town handing out gift certificates, I felt such an enormous wealth of Christmas Spirit. I felt like the Grinch whose heart grew 3 times that day. The reception from the recipients ranged from “I can use this for my purchase now?!” to “I read about this in the paper and can’t believe I got picked”. I want to thank my team of Elves (Board Members) who volunteered their time to also give out gift certificates. The positive feedback from the shops and restaurants was tremendous. My hope is that next year we may be able exceed that $1000.

There are many other thanks to give, which are acknowledged on our website. Personally, I want to thank my GARMA team of Board Members whom I would be lost without. And from our Board Members, we want to thank our members for their continued support of this organization. It’s a choice to be a member, not an obligation. We thank them for continuously choosing GARMA. If you are interested in becoming a GARMA member, visit our website for details.

Thank you to Gettysburg. You came out in great support this year to shop local. You kept us going and we are ever so grateful to you all.
 
Jennie Dillon is the President of GARMA and owner of Artworks on York St.

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Date- December 7, 2021 – Historic Gettysburg Pennsylvania:
 
The Gettysburg Area Retail Merchants Association (GARMA) is announcing that they will be unable to sponsor the 2021 New Year’s Celebration in Gettysburg. In 2019, the Adams County Arts Council announced due to increased costs and fees they weren’t pursuing the event. GARMA was contacted to investigate the possibility of leading the popular New Year’s celebration, but numerous obstacles to planning and performing a successful event have proven too great to overcome for the local organization that represents the Gettysburg area small business community.
 
Lack of sufficient financial support, manpower, time, and safety concerns around the fireworks display are some of the leading roadblocks hindering the planning of the event. GARMAs board comprised of business owners and volunteers with zero paid staff to dedicate to planning such an event also presented challenges. The GARMA leadership regrets the cancellation of this year’s celebration but are hopeful that future celebrations can find the broader community support necessary to organize and run a successful evening of entertainment. GARMA is currently looking for other Gettysburg organizations and individual supporters who are interested in helping plan the 2022 New Year’s Eve celebration.
 
About Gettysburg Area Retail Merchants Association:
Gettysburg Area Retail Merchants Association (GARMA) is a membership-based organization comprised of local retail businesses, restaurants, museums, financial institutions and non-profits in the Gettysburg community. GARMA members are located within 5 miles of Lincoln Square, the very center of activities in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. For more than 50 years, the non-profit Association has sponsored, supported and promoted many popular activities, events and organizations within the Gettysburg community. For more information on GARMA activities go to https://www.gettysburgretailmerchants.com/.
​
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Gettysburg was the place to be with the many events happening around town this past First Friday! With the numerous people milling about and a plethora of opportunities to get into the Holiday spirit, it was a great night to get out and enjoy the festivities.

Don't worry though if you weren't able to come out and get stocked up on those stocking stuffers, there are still many more events coming up this season!

Pictured below are a few GARMA businesses decked out for the Holidays!

Shoppers supporting Gettysburg area merchants may receive some extra cheer this holiday season.

The Gettysburg Area Retail Merchants Association (GARMA) board of directors will be popping into member businesses beginning Saturday and distributing $5 or $10 gift certificates to random shoppers.

​“You never know when someone will show up,” GARMA Board President Jennie Dillon said.

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Dear Friends,
Every year GARMA enjoys bringing the holiday spirit to downtown Gettysburg via our many decorations and celebrations. Outlined below is what will be occurring for Christmas 2021.
 
GARMA will continue the tradition of the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 26 (Black Friday). At 5:30pm the Square will be filled with holiday music and FREE hot chocolate will be served in front of the Gettysburg Hotel (hot chocolate courtesy of the Gettysburg Hotel). Streets will not be closed off during the event. The parking meters on Lincoln Square (just the circle) will be bagged during the event so people can gather on the sidewalks and overflow into parking spaces safely. At approximately 5:55pm Santa will make his way up York St. and into the Square. At 6pm Santa will light the tree.

After the tree has been lit, Santa will go to his Shanty on Lincoln Square (always parked in front of the Company K monument) and greet his visitors until 8pm.
Shanty Hours are
           Fridays 11/26 – 12/17, 5pm – 8pm
           Saturdays 11/27 – 12/18, 10am – 2pm and 3pm – 6pm
           Sundays 11/28 – 12/19, 12pm – 4pm
 
For those that aren’t able to visit Santa in person this holiday season, mailboxes will be located inside Artworks, 30 York St. and Best Western on Steinwehr Ave. Children can drop off their Letters to Santa at these locations. They will receive a double-sided postcard, with a holiday drawing that can be colored, from Santa acknowledging their letters
 
This year GARMA has come up with an exciting idea to get customers to shop local. GARMA will be giving out $1000 in gift certificates to shoppers as they’re shopping!! GARMA Elves will be out and about this holiday season stopping in GARMA businesses and giving out GARMA gift certificates to random customers. They can use these toward their purchase in that business or in others. Please make sure that your staff is trained to accept GARMA gift certificates. If you have questions on how to accept gift certificates, and then redeem them to GARMA, please reach out to any GARMA board member.
 
GARMA again, in partnership with the Borough, will offer Free Parking during the holidays. Free parking is Monday – Thursday from 8am-8pm. Friday – Sunday will be toll parking. Parking is only free at marked meters – Lincoln Square, First blocks of Carlisle, York, Chambersburg and Baltimore Streets, and the first block of Steinwehr Ave.
 
As this year has challenged us all in one way or another, we hope that everyone will continue to thrive, stay safe, forge on and look for a brighter new year. We, the board members of GARMA appreciate your support and continued membership. We strive for the best in 2022.
 
Sincerely,
Your GARMA Board