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Meeting Minutes

Citra Improvement Society General Meeting Minutes 10/30/2025

Citra Improvement Society Board Meeting Minutes 12/01/2025

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10/30/2025 Citra Improvement Society Member Meeting at the Community Center

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Meeting called to order and introduction at 6:00 of guest speaker Marie from “Veterans Helping Veterans USA” by Wanda Lasher who is replacing Donald Barber in his absence. Wanda reminded our constituents that the annual membership was due October 1st and that you must be a member to vote on topics.

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18:07 Roll Call in attendance: Joanne Brayton, Mary Carter, Mark Helzer, Wanda Lasher, - note Donald Barber absent. A quorum was present.

 

18:08 Pledge of allegiance by Mark Helzer

 

18:09 Prayer by Mary Carter

 

18:10 Treasurer’s report: Mary Carter Citra Improvement Society Account # 9552 September ending balance $1864.49. Citra Improvement Historical Account # 9544$1349.27.  Mark moved to accept and Joanne seconded, motion carried.

 

18:13 Director of Building Maintenance and Security Mark Helzer is seeking to organize a small cleaning crew for inside the building.  He offered a special thank you to the Grounds Cre for ongoing lawn care.  Paint selections were presented from Sherwin Williams for our buildings’ exterior color.  Each 5-gallon bucket of paint for the Community Center is $179.00, that includes the CIS discount.  John offered a paint sprayer to use in applying the paint.  Joanne Brayton offered to buy two gallons of sealer for the Historic Bank Building cement floors and exposed walls. 

 

18:20 Secretary’s report: Joanne Brayton announced the meeting minutes have not yet been finalized from September due to a family emergency.  The Adopt-A-Highway clean-up was rescheduled for 11/09/2025 at 1-3 pm. Invitations or announcements from the group can be published on our Facebook page and our website.  We are adding a QR code to media items for direct donations.

 

18:40 Orange A-Fair A review of obligations and contract proposal with Premier Events. CIS is looking for volunteers and additional small local businesses that would be participating.  Additional announcement of the new water park located at Orange Lake RV Resort.  The Resort is contemplating the value of CIS membership to be a possible discount on their services. The Orange A-Fair contract with Premier Events is attached. Wanda Lasher cleared up the moving of the cat food and houses to another section of property where they will be equally safe and allow for parking for events. Several people attending asked questions and were satisfied with the CIS decisions.

 

18:50 Events Committee Terry Dawkins reviewed the November calendar including 11/22/2025 Community Yard Sale 7-2 with the CIS membership meeting following the event because of the holiday schedule.  The Angel Tree will be placed in the Museum following the assigning of all ornaments for families in need, for the remainder of the holiday season.  11/27/2025 Cody Becker has arranged a free Thanksgiving Dinner (1:00 and again at 3:00) for those in need this season.  Cody has generously offered to purchase the paint for the Community Center and to provide manpower for painting and landscaping prior to the Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration.

 

19:00 Two Minute Public Comments.

 

19:07 Mark Helzer moved to adjourn the meeting, Mary Carter seconded it

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Meeting adjourned19:08

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Next General Meeting 11/22/2025 @ 2:00 pm following the Community Yard Sale

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Next CIS Board Meeting tentatively 11/20/2025 at area church (?)

Respectfully submitted,

Joanne J. Brayton  

12/01/2025

Combination Citra Improvement Society Board and Orange A-Fair Workshop

Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm

In attendance Donald Barber, Joanne Brayton, Mary Carter, Terry Dawkins, Mark Helzer.

Absent Wanda Lasher

 

Premier Events contract review.  The contract was signed by Bill Foster (e-mail premiereventsncf@gmail.com) 10/30/2025 and by Donald Barber Chair and Mary Carter Treasurer. A completed copy will be forwarded to Premier Events.  A Telephone conversation regarding the readiness of the CIS and Premier Events for our event in 3 months was discussed. Last Orange A-Fair was in 2017.  Provisions of the contract were reviewed. Bill Foster (#954-854-2364) and Ovedio Santiago (# 941-586-7258) requested a list of areas the Board want set up and arranged with possible participants.  The Board came up with 24 areas of focus. Many of those areas have been contacted by Board Members and are waiting for a way to register with Premier Events for the Orange A-Fair.  Bill Foster said after he receives our signed contract tomorrow, he will provide a “deck of sponsorship levels”, vendor booth pricing along with a registration form to start aligning the potential participants in our 15th Orange A-Fair.

 

Area planning for the 15th Annual Orange A-Fair:

  1. Agriculture

    1. UF Florida Agriculture

    2. Mark Bailey presentation Florida Food Forest

    3. UF test seedling give away

    4. UF Agriculture classes

    5. UF Bee Keeping

  2. Food Judging contests

    1. Pie

    2. Cake

    3. Cookie

    4. Other dish

  3.  4H and FFA winners of the Southeastern Livestock Pavillion (ended week prior to our event)

  4. Marion County

    1. Parks and Recreation

    2. Sheriff’s Department

    3. Fire Department

    4. EMS

    5. Dispatch

    6. Animal Shelter (Neuter Commuter)

  5. Crone’s Cradle Vintage Pop-up town (premier billing)

  6. Nostalgic Tradesman

    1. Blacksmith

    2. Carpentry

  7. Car Show

  8. Children’s Area

    1. Arts and Crafts

    2. Digging for Genomes

    3. Games

    4. Bounce House

    5. Train Cars for rides

    6. Dunking Booth

    7. Cake Walk

  9. Prince and Princess of Citra Pageant

  10. Plant Sale

  11. Food Trucks

  12. Sweets

  13. Waldron’s Fruit/Vegetables

  14. Honey Sales

  15. Sour Dough Bread

  16. Area surrounding food stands

  17. Beer and Wind (one entrance, one exit)

  18. Animal Rescue       

    1. Vocal

    2. Wanda Cares Rescue

    3. Royal Blessings

  19. Animals

    1. EARS

    2. Unicorns Photo Op

    3. Petting Zoo

  20. Entertainment

    1. Blue Grass Band

    2. Local Musicians

    3. North Marion Cheerleaders Dance Squad

    4. North Marion Marching Band for colors presentation

  21. The Orange Shop

    1. Produce

    2. Pecans

  22. Local Native American Tribes

    1. Dance

    2. Arrowhead crafts

    3. Leather goods

  23. Re-enactment Groups (Silver Springs Cali-Days

  24. Sons of Confederate Veterans – restoring Cemetery

 

 

 

Brittany and Josh Hart have graciously committed to replacing the roof on the Community Building, a final meeting of the roofers is pending. Donald Barber is reaching out to them this week to obtain a start date. Cody Becker indicated he will still paint the building after the roof is replaced.

Follow up with Gary and Abigail Crew for a potential biweekly for church services. Six-month contract to include: $10 per day ($20.00 per week), clean the Community Center weekly. Donald will have the Contract ready for signature on Wednesday 12/03/2025 to present to the Crew’s for their consideration.

Director of Events Terry Dawkins presented “CIP” official stationery and Business Cards. It was determined that the two-sided tan card with rounded corners would be the CIP card and the two sided Green Card with rounded corners would be the CIP Historic Bank Museum card with no specific names or titles. Terry will find estimates of 250 and 500 quantities. As well as stationary quotes. Terry also presented a person who wants to start a crafting night and encouraged that person to present to the Board for consideration. Terry reminded the Board that there are 11 Angel Ornaments left.

Mary Carter clarified that obtaining a URL (QR) code from our Credit Union included purchasing $100 reader/scanning and no additional costs with Credit Union IT support.  Donald Barber suggested seeking out anther source for using “rented” equipment for events where we would need as many as 10 or more scanners.  He requested Joanne Brayton contact Marion County Nonprofit for advice for other area 501 (c) (3) groups may utilize.

Mark Helzer announced the loss of our water heater. A motion was made by Mary Cater to the Board Members to find a suitable replacement for $100 or less. Mark Seconded, motion carried.

Adopt-a-Road clean-up day is due by December, clean up date is scheduled for Sunday 12/07/2025 from noon until 2 pm.  The Adopt-A-Highway committee will be contacted to confirm this date.

Adjournment 8:40 pm

Respectfully submitted.

Joanne Brayton

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