BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Grand Geneva, Lake Geneva
November 4, 2011
Attendees: Lynn Peters/Fox Cities, Christine Rebout/Janesville, Sara Brish/Stevens Point, Dave Blank/Racine, Wendy Hielsberg/Oshkosh, Jason Ring/Manitowoc, Jack Moneypenny/Door County, Nancy Justman/Brookfield, Tammy Tritz/Waukesha-Pewaukee, AJ Frels/Wisconsin Rapids, Deb Archer/Madison, Deb Fredriksen/Beloit, George Hennerley/Lake Geneva, Paul Upchurch/Milwaukee, Linda John/Visit Eau Claire, Dennis DuChene/Kenosha, Brad Toll/Green Bay, Craig Molitor/Fond du Lac, Dave Clements/La Crosse, Romy Snyder/Wisconsin Dells
Absent: Chris Hanson/Tomah, Bob Duffy/Oconomowoc, Sharon Kirn/Marshfield, Darien Schaefer/Wausau-Central WI, Mary McPhetridge/Ashland, Elaine Motl/Washington County, Amy Wilson/Sheboygan, Cari Obst/Bayfield
I. WACVB BUSINESS
a. Call to Order - Chair Wendy Hielsberg called the meeting to order at 1:40 pm. She thanked Julia for a successful fall convention. She said the board will go into closed session at 1:30.
b. Consent Agenda – Christine Rebout made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Deb Archer. Motion was approved. Brad Toll reviewed the financials. Lynn and Linda motion to approve. Motion approved.
II. TEAM REPORTS
a. Government Affairs Team – Tammy Tritz reported that AB 205, the out-of-state advertising credit bill, moved out of committee but there hasn’t been further action. AB 216, the outdoor advertising bill also has not had any movement. The film tax credit application fee decrease was passed in special session. Tammy reported that the Tourism Federation of Wisconsin met last Friday. A joint lobby day is not going to happen but the group decided that it will create a position paper/issues that can be shared by members during their individual lobby days. Tammy said that the Dept of Tourism is not supportive of the idea to have a 2013 lobby day in conjunction with the Gov. Conference of Tourism unless it is held on the Wednesday following the conference. Ed Lump reported at the meeting that there is potential federal legislation allowing states to have privately run rest areas. Deb asked to get a copy of film tax credit application fee information. She said WI Economic Development Corp. has a staff person that will oversee the “hospitality and tourism” cluster for the agency. Julia and Amy Boyer were not aware of what the position entails or how is may benefit the tourism industry, but will try to learn more. Tammy said the 2012 action plan will focus on room tax reform legislation. We will try and determine how to have city attorneys to stop using the Sheboygan Blue Harbor case as precedent because the room tax law has changed since then. The team will also be looking to improve communication with city finance directors about room tax and will develop a task force on Tourism Business Improvement Districts.
b. PR Team – Brad said WACVB was at the League of Wisconsin Municipalities conference with a booth. Members staffing the booth said it wasn’t very productive. He said they need to finalize the 2012 action plan, including finding a date for a WACVB lobby day, continue a tourism week press release and maybe do something with the Dept. of Tourism during that week.
c. Education Team - Nancy Justman reported that the fall convention went well. Thanks to members that moderated and provided LCD projectors. CEO forum will be January 19th. Forum agenda is well underway. 2012 action plan has been completed and will be provided soon. Two education forums will be available.
d. Membership Team – Christine reported that the membership team’s 2012 action plan is underway. There will be a focus on enhancing the mentor program. The team has created a membership map to help identify where we need more membership. Membership brochures will be looked at for a redesign. Team is also working on member survey topics. Team still needs to submit a budget.
e. M&C Team – Deb reported that the next meeting of the WACVB M&C committee is 12/6. Thinkwisconsin.com Web site work is happening. Department received our proposal for $9,000 and Sarah said they are trying to determine how to fund it under state procurement guidelines
f. Sports Marketing team – Linda John reported that there was a team meeting regarding WSDC’s interest in creating a statewide sports commission. WSDC hasn’t supplied any details on what the commission would provide. WACVB had sent a letter to WSDC that the commission must develop funds for new product development and assist with event management services. The team believes that WSDC is not in a position to provide these services. Nancy made motion to withdraw from our involvement with WSDC in the creation of a statewide sports commission. Lynn seconded the motion. Motion passed. WACVB will draft a letter to WSDC before Nov. 10 that will state our position, referencing that the provisions in the letter we originally sent have not been addressed and that we will be working with the WDT and WACVB members to explore other options. The Department of Tourism Secretary will be copied. Linda reported that the WDT sports team will be operational by January. WDT paying for a TEAMs follow-up gift to top prospects.
g. Executive committee – Wendy reported that the team is working on Julia’s review. She is working with the team chairs for finalizing the 2012 action plan and meeting structure.
h. Old/New business – There was discussion about the Department of Tourism’s new economic impact model. The transition from the Davidson Peterson report to the Tourism Economics report will be difficult. Overall traveler expenditures number will be down because it’s a new, but more justifiable, method. There was also great reservation about using Tourism Economics tourism employment #8 ranking as an overall industry ranking in Wisconsin. Julia will talk to Stephanie about the issue. There will need to be a lot of education to the media and partners on the new numbers. WDT will be developing a tool kit that will help. Tourism economics is going to provide a 3-year comparison which will help compare “apples to apples.” There was some discussion about the DMAI event calculator and a few snags with it. Wendy reported that there is a new WACVB team for next year, WI Dept of Tourism support team. The team will have WDT at our board meetings and suggests topics to the Department on what we would like to discuss. The team will be proactive with council appointees when openings occur and we will provide access to council meetings and minutes via links, etc. and we will also provide positive feedback when warranted. She said the next council meeting is 11/14 in Madison. Julia said a team sign up email will go out with the teams that need help asking for sign up.
i. Closed session- Nancy made a motion to go into closed session to discuss room tax reform legislation, seconded by Dave Clements. Motion approved. Linda made a motion to return to open session and Dave seconded the motion. Motion approved. Tammy made a motion that the WACVB government relations team will draft new room tax reform legislation using historical background as a guide. It was seconded by Dave Blank. Motion approved unanimously.
III. ADJOURNMENT: Brad Toll made a motion to adjourn and it was seconded by Jason Ring and approved. |
