Town of Blowing Rock
Tourism
Development Authority
Minutes –
February 13, 2006
Call to Order
Chairperson Keele called the meeting to order and welcomed the members and guests. He advised that Vice-Chairperson Tarbutton was en-route to the meeting and that Member Pickett was out of town.
Approval of Minutes – January 9, 2006
Chairperson Keele
entertained the approval of the January 9, 2006 (including the January 9, 2006
closed session) meeting minutes. Motion
by Member Tester and seconded by Member Drury to approve the January 9, 2006
(including the January 9, 2006 closed session) meeting minutes, with the following corrections: change the meeting
date from February “14” to “13”, correct name spelling from “Sean” to “Shawn”
and word spelling from “seek” to “week”. Unanimously approved.
Chairperson Keele introduced Finance Officer Margaret Pierce to review the FY 2005-06 budget to date.
Finance Officer Margaret Pierce then reviewed the monthly financial statement and the FY 2005-06 Occupancy Tax collections year-to-date through December 2005. She stated that December revenues, totaling a gross of $52,011.03, were up compared to December 2004. Ms. Pierce also advised that expenditures for the year were in line with projections.
Report - Advertising/Marketing/Web site
Chairperson Keele requested
an update on the status of various projects of the Advertising/Marketing/Web
Site Committee.
Advertising Plan/ WC&T Agency Update
Member Drury advised that
the TDA Advertising Schedule was well underway, with upcoming advertisements in
March/April highlighting the Blue Ridge Wine Festival. She stated that upcoming articles on Blowing Rock would be
appearing in Charlotte Taste Magazine
and Women’s Day Magazine. She also
mentioned that a reporter based in the
Member Drury stated that
Dave Tomsky, Director of Public Relations with Wilson, Coman & Taylor, was
unable to attend the meeting due to weather.
Website
Interim Executive Director
Galvin advised that the integration of the TDA and Chamber websites was
continuing and that a launch date would be forthcoming.
Video
Member Drury stated that the
final draft of the new TDA tourism video (offered by the Village Inns and
Chetola Resort) would be completed very soon. She informed the Authority that
the video would be broken into sections (lodging/restaurants/retail) and include a listing of all Blowing Rock
lodging/restaurants/retail at the end of each respective section. The Authority
agreed by consensus that this was a good approach.
Chairperson Keele thanked
everyone for the work on these issues. He then suggested that the Marketing
Committee consider advertising on Ray’s Weather Website. Member Drury responded
that the committee would look into the matter.
Report – Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce
Chairperson Keele welcomed Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Charles Hardin to provide an update on Chamber of Commerce activities.
Mr. Hardin provided an update on the status of the joint TDA/Chamber website and a unified Merchants Association/Chamber/TDA Village Map. He mentioned that planning for the 2006 Art in the Park had been finalized. He informed the Authority that 17 wineries have committed to the inaugural Blue Ridge Wine Festival and that additional downtown activities are being planned to increase traffic during the event.
Chairperson Keele thanked Mr. Hardin for his attendance.
Report - TDA
Executive Director
Chairman Keele stated the TDA Executive Director monthly report was available in their packet for review. (Attachment #1) Interim Executive Director Galvin discussed the status of brochure quantities and asked if any Boardmember had questions.
Members’ Tester and Drury suggested that, due to the frequent change in businesses and the dynamic nature of the brochure, staff project their brochure needs over an 18 month period.
Report -
TV/Monitor & Visitor Computer
Chairperson Keele advised
that Member Tester had researched both the TV/Monitor & Visitor Computer
issues. Member Tester then reviewed his recommendations with the Authority,
both short-term and long-term needs related to a Visitor Center Computer and TV
and the related benefits/costs. After some discussion, it was the consensus
that the Authority pursue an intermediate strategy – purchase a Notebook
Computer and Flat Screen LCD TV/DVD with a budget not to exceed $3,000. Member
Tester agreed to move forward with the project.
Other –
Chairperson Keele stated that several other items had
come before the Board for consideration. The first item was a $15,000 funding
request from the Blowing Rock Stage
Company & Hayes Performing Arts Center for an advertising partnership
grant. (Attachment #2)
Ken Kaye, Stage Company Artistic Director, presented a
grant request for a media collaboration opportunity, which would include four
pieces - Spring 2006 Newsletter, Rack Card, Fall/Winter Tack Card, and Fall
2006 Newsletter. The total project cost would total $30,000, with both the
Stage Company and
Cullie Tarleton, Stage Company President, stated that such a request was the perfect example of what the TDA was intended to do – market Blowing Rock and encourage overnight stays.
Chip Williamson, Arts Center Chairman, announced that the
Jeff Clark, Arts Center Executive Director, stated that the request provided a unique opportunity to combine resources and allow greater marketing.
Bob Miller, Stage Company General Manager, stated this was a great opportunity for all entities to work together to promote Blowing Rock.
The Authority then discussed background on the previous TDA marketing efforts - Year 1 focused on branding and image, Year 2 focused on event marketing and Year 3 provides an opportunity for venue/attraction marketing.
Member Tester stated that he felt this facility, along
with the future Blowing Rock Art and
Vice-Chair Tarbutton concurred and stated that this opportunity was beneficial to all entities.
Member Drury expressed concern about the request not following the TDA approved grants process and the fact that other organizations had followed such process. She also stated that the Authority needed to review their current commitments and future commitments prior to authorizing funds.
Member Tester and Vice-Chair Tarbutton concurred that the process needed some review but that this request warranted immediate consideration.
Motion by Tester, seconded by Vice-Chair Tarbutton to partner with the Hayes Arts Center & Blowing Rock Stage Company with a grant of $15,000 ($7,500 from FY 2005-06 Fund Balance & $7,500 from FY 2006-07 Budget) to participate with the collaborative mailing. Motion passed. Ayes – Tester, Tarbutton & Keele. Abstain – Drury.
Chairperson Keele requested that the Member Drury and the Marketing Committee review the TDA grant/advertising process and bring recommendations back to the Authority for improvements.
Other –
Member Tester stated that
Ginny Stevens had submitted a $15,000 funding request on behalf of the Watauga
County Architectural Survey. (Attachment #3) The monies would be used for consultant and prepublication expenses for
a Watauga County Inventory Book. The
book would document and inventory the significant historical resources in
It was the consensus that the request be referred to the Marketing Committee for review.
Other – Santay CD Request
Member Tester stated that Tom Santay (Cabin Fever) had
approached him about an opportunity for the TDA to participate in an endeavor
to produce a Blowing Rock music CD and then sell the disc commercially. (Attachment #4) The CD would then be
sold at a mark-up at the
It was the consensus of the Authority that they were not interested in the project at this time and to table the project until the TDA Planning Retreat for further discussion.
Planning Retreat
After a brief discussion, the Authority agreed to hold a TDA Planning Retreat on Monday, February 27, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. at Chetola Resort.
Closed Session
Upon motion of Vice-Chair Tarbutton and seconded by Member Tester, the Authority convened at 10:00 a.m. in closed session pursuant to - N.C.G.S. 143.318.11 (a)(6) for discussion of personnel issues. Motion unanimously approved.
At the conclusion of the discussions, the closed session
was adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
Recess Meeting
With no further business, motion by Vice-Chair Tarbutton and seconded by Member Drury to recess the meeting until Monday, February 20, 2006 at 8:00 a.m. at Town Hall. Motion unanimously approved. Chairperson Keele recessed the meeting at 11:02 a.m.
______________________________
Scott E. Hildebran, Secretary
Attachments
#1 - TDA Executive
Director Monthly Report
#2 - Hayes Arts
Center/Stage Company Grant Request
#3 - Watauga
#4 - Santay Blowing
Rock CD