According to the voting website:

“Discover Burien recognizes exemplary individuals and organizations in the community through leadership, public service and achievement in the areas of business, non-profit, student achievement, and volunteer service and outstanding service from a member of the clean sweep program.”

Nominating doesn’t take long, so please click the following link to nominate someone you know:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=nHyVQomSQj_2fk9qCpdwDusQ_3d_3d

This event will include food from B-Town restaurants as well as local entertainment.

Tickets are $35 each in advance or $50 at the door. A table of 8 is $240.

Tickets are available at the Discover Burien Office as well as Burien City Hall.

The Burien Community Center is located at 14700 6th Ave SW.

Organizers are currently seeking donations for the auction, which should have an attendance of 125 to 150 people.

Here are downloadable PDF forms:

• Donate for the Auction
• Annual Dinner Sponsorship
• Sponsorship Opportunities

If you have something you’d like to donate, or to learn more about the event, please contact Gina Bourdage at (206) 433-2882.

“To nominate a person(s), describe how the nominee contributes to the community and how these contributions are unique,” reads a note on the city’s website.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, and can be done online here, or via mail:

Burien City Hall
400 S.W. 152nd St., Ste. 300
Burien WA 98166

Please note that this will be the first year that the city is not giving out awards in conjunction with Discover Burien (we’re members), which will hold its own awards ceremony in March, 2012.

For information call Adriene Buckley at (206) 241-4647.

Discover Burien’s annual ‘WinterFest’ will be held from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3rd, with free hay rides, horse and carriage rides, free photos with Santa and even free dog photos with SantaDOG!

The fun will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Olde and Downtown Burien area.

In addition to the usual holiday fare, there will also be store specials and treats along SW 152nd Street in Burien.

The free Santa Photos will take place at Prudential Northwest’s offices in Olde Burien, and the dog pics will be at The Mark Restaurant & Bar.

“Try your luck at winning a Santa Bag at participating businesses,” reads an email announcement. “The more you shop the more tries you get. If you open it you win everything in the bag.”

We never miss these (but then again, we’re now on the board), and we encourage all our fellow B-Town bizpeeps to attend – the next Discover Burien ‘After Hours’ networking event will be from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. this Wednesday night, Nov. 16th at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub.

“We will have door prizes from local businesses, delicious traditional Irish fare and great friends,” reads an announcement. “If you haven’t been to one of our After Hours events lately, or even if you have, Join Us and bring a colleague!”

Discover Burien’s mission is to “create and sustain a vibrant business community through promotions and education,” and these monthly events are part of that goal.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Discover Burien After Hours Networking Event

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, 5:30 – 7:00 PM

WHERE: Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub, 435 SW 152nd Street; 206.433.2882

RSVP: To RSVP, please email AfterHours@DiscoverBurien.com.

The openings were announced at Wednesday night’s board meeting, when longtime member Diane Summerhays of the Port of Seattle announced her retirement, and member Bill Reid of Tellit Productions announced his resignation.

The openings will likely be filled by next Spring.

Board meetings are held once a month, and there is no compensation.

According to its website, the non-profit organization has been around since around 2001, and is a “business group working on economic development, education and promotion of the Burien Business Community.” Its mission is “to create and sustain a vibrant Burien business community through promotions and education.”

If you’re interested in applying, please email Gina at gina@discoverburien.com.

Here’s more info on what board members are expected to bring to the table:

A. Number Qualifications and Terms: After expiration of the terms of the initial Board, there shall be fifteen (15) voting members of the Board of Directors. Any member, employee of a member business, or partner or associate in a member business of Discover Burien may be a Director. However, there must be a Director from both retail and non-retail businesses, as well as real property owner and patron membership categories. There shall not be a majority of any occupation on the Board.  A Director must be of sound mind and of legal age.

B. Term After the Initial Board of Directors: Every Director with voting rights shall be elected for a three (3) year term.  However, the Board of Directors shall serve staggered terms. Five (5) Directors shall be elected at the 2008 annual meeting  and five (5) Directors shall be elected at each succeeding annual meeting.

C. Elections: Directors shall be elected by the membership at the Annual Meeting. Every member shall have one vote for each available Director’s position. Nominations to the ballot slate shall be made either: 1) by petition submitted to the Discover Burien office more than 20 days in advance of the annual meeting, signed by nine members; or 2) by the nominating committee, which shall consist of the outgoing Board members and the President.  In the event there is not a Director elected from a membership category identified in Paragraph C above, then the new Director with the fewest votes shall not be named, and an election for that position shall be held by separate ballot at the annual meeting.

D. Vacancies: Any Director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Discover Burien office. Any vacancy in the Board occurring because of death, resignation, refusal to serve, or otherwise shall be filled for the unexpired term by action of a majority of the remaining Directors. Three consecutive unexcused absences from regular Board of Director’s meetings shall be considered a vacancy.

E. Meetings: The Board of Directors shall meet at least quarterly. The President and/or any four Directors may call a meeting of the Board. At a duly called meeting of the Board of Directors, seven (7) members shall constitute a quorum. All business of the Board of Directors shall be transacted at a duly called meeting of the Board.

F. Compensation: Directors shall receive no compensation for their services as Directors, but the Board may by resolution authorize reasonable reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Noting herein shall preclude a Director from servicing Discover Burien in any other capacity and receiving reasonable compensation for such service.

The award will be presented at the February 27, 2012 City Council meeting.

This will be the first year in a while that the city will be giving out its own award(s). Previously, the city teamed up with Discover Burien (we’re members), and would give out at least four awards (Business, Community, Education and Environment) at the annual dinner banquet in March.

However, for 2012, the city has decided to give out its own award, which will apparently only go to one “Outstanding Citizen.”

“To nominate a person(s), describe how the nominee contributes to the community and how these contributions are unique,” reads the city’s website. “Submit your nominations by February 3, 2012, to Burien City Hall, 400 S.W. 152nd St., Ste. 300. For information call Adriene Buckley at (206) 241-4647.”

The two will fill board seats vacated by local attorney and longtime board member Doug Moreland, as well as Sue Bean of the Highline Medical Center Foundation. Moreland stepped down in June due to a conflict with the City of Burien (read our coverage here), and Bean couldn’t commit the time required to fulfill her duties on the board.

New Discover Burien Board member John Nelson.

DB’s board is comprised of 16 members, most of whom are local business leaders. In addition to newcomers Nelson and Schaefer, the current board includes:

• Brian Frederick, CFP – President, Cox Financial, LLC
• Lori Alden, VP, Prudential NW Realty
• Joseph A. Breidenbach, Attorney at Law
• Lynn Coleman, Jim Coleman DDS
• Erin Collins, Collins Chiropractic
• David Elliott, DG Elliott Financial Services
• Lynn Wallace, SWKCC
• Diane Summerhays, Port of Seattle
• Lynda Isernio, Sterling Savings Bank
• Bill Reid, Tellit Productions
• Jim Hughes, Sal’s Deli
• Juan Barron, CSL Electronics

“I hope to help usher in a few changes to allow Discover Burien to maximize its positive impact on our city’s image,” said new member John Nelson. “I’m excited to work with others on the board to take on the challenges our city faces as it grows.”

Nelson and Schaefer’s terms will last until 2014.

New Discover Burien Board member Scott Schaefer.

“I’m honored to have been elected,” Schaefer said to himself as he wrote this post. “Mr. Moreland leaves some pretty big shoes to fill, and John and I will do out best to fill them. My initial goal will be to help boost Discover Burien members through innovative marketing ideas, especially online via The B-Town Blog and various social media outlets.”

If you’re not yet a member of Discover Burien, now would be a good time to join – click here for more information. Click here to “Like” them on Facebook.

Some of the benefits of membership in this non-profit local business organization include:

A small fee gets you the numerous benefits of being a member and the knowledge that you are supporting the many things we do to make Burien a terrific community. We are constantly thinking about new ways to enhance the benefits of your membership. Here are a few benefits that you can currently enjoy: monthly newsletter, low cost copy machine service and bimonthly networking meetings with other business owners of Burien.

To help all new and existing Burien businesses succeed, we:

• Work with them to problem solve and provide education on available resources.
• Offer guidance on marketing and promoting business plans and assist with personnel.
• Serve as a liaison between businesses and city hall; along with economic development, restructuring and revitalization, signage and zoning issues.
• In the near future: list available commercial properties to match businesses with properties to fit their needs.
• Provide networking events aimed at recruiting of new clients and new businesses.
• Provide website designed to list members and provide links to their individual websites.
• Monthly Newsletter
• Weekly update listing the events & happenings.
• Member advertising discounts with local media outlets.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re posting the following picture only because we think it illustrates new DB board member John Nelson’s unwavering commitment to Burien (oh, and sorry John…we just couldn’t resist!):

Our friends at Discover Burien (we’re members – join here) want our Readers to know about their upcoming business seminar called ‘BRANDING: Beyond The Logo’ presented by marketing guru Whitney Keyes from 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at The Tin Theater on Tuesday Oct. 18.

The seminar is FREE for Discover Burien members, and $10 for non-members.

RSVP is requested, since space is limited; email BizEd@DiscoverBurien.com.

Here’s more info from a press release:

Are you getting the most out of your brand? Besides logos and websites, there’s a lot more you can do with your brand to get more customers, create winning partnerships and generate revenue. In this fast-paced, results-focused workshop, you’ll get a quick overview of branding basics and then dive into examining your own business brand. Packed with free tips, ideas and information, you’ll leave with a mini plan you can use immediately to make sure your brand is working hard for you. Beyond business cards, participants are encouraged to bring logo images, 1-page printouts of websites, brochures or any other marketing materials.

Whitney is an accomplished marketing expert and published author on marketing for small business. Her endless work has befitted International Non-Profits, Local and Federal Governments as well as large corporations to the local small business owners. Her expertise is widely sought after and can be seen in part in her regular column in the Seattle PI.

As a Discover Burien member or guest to this event, you will have the opportunity to create a branding plan that you can use as soon as you get back to you office… and it’s all FREE. For information on membership please call 206.433.2882 or email us at info@discoverburien.com.

To learn more about Whitney please visit her website.

The good folks at Discover Burien (we’re members – join here) announced Thursday (Sept. 29th) that the Burien Farmers Market will be extending its 2011 season to Thursday, Oct. 27th.

Previously the market was slated to end Oct. 13th so this extension adds two weeks. We suspect the extension means that our recent good weather will continue until the end of October, but there are no guarantees…

The market is open today (Thurs. Sept. 29) until 6 p.m. at Town Square Park in downtown Burien.