In November, La Jolla Village Merchants Association seated new board members and elected new officers for the upcoming year, while previewing the group’s Dec. 12 annual strategic planning session.
Brett Murphy, president of La Jolla Sports Club, assumed the helm of the business improvement district as its new president. Don Parks of La Jolla Light is vice president. Secretary is Julie Wright of (W)right on Communications, and Kelli Metcalf of Granite Escrow was named treasurer.
“This really is a new era on the board,” said LJVMA’s new executive director Jodi Rudick.
Elizabeth Studebaker, neighborhood investment manager for the City of San Diego, clued the LJVMA board in on the San Diego Business Walk, which it participated in in early December. Noting the business walk “was a great way to introduce LJVMA to your businesses and merchants,” Studebaker added, “It’s really LJVMA working to promote the resources we have. We’re here to bring resources — and the city has a bunch of them.”
Concerning strategic planning, Rudick said, “December’s meeting will be interactive and be extended in order to create a strategic plan for the coming year. We want to focus on the common goal of bringing business to La Jolla Village. Everyone is encouraged to attend this meeting for all or part of the program, in order to share and prioritize ideas.”
Added Rudick, “Collaboration, creativity and community are the driving force of our success.”  In other action:
Claudette Berwin reported this year’s Pillage The Village Halloween haunting for children was bigger and better than ever. “Five years ago it started really small, but the La Jolla Real Estate Brokers Association wanted to be more involved promoting community sponsorships and goodie bags, as well as a costume contest,” said Berwin. “The whole purpose of starting Pillage was to bring more business to merchants. The event is really positive and Girard merchants always need more candy. Herschel Avenue was also packed with non-stop people coming in and out.” The 15-member LJVMA board meets every second Wednesday of the month at 3 p.m. at La Jolla Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Their next meeting will be Dec. 12.