Columbus, Georgia

CCVB Board Meeting

October 16, 2002

8:00 AM

Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau

1000 Bay Avenue

PRELIMINARY

Meeting called by: Executive BoardType of meeting:Monthly Board of Commissioners

Facilitator: Lee BrantleyNote taker:Rose Lynn

Attendees: Lee Brantley, Michael Garrigan, Veola Hymes, Dr. J.A. Hud, Jerry

Mazurkiewicz, James McMullen, Colin Martin, Mayor Bobby Peters, Jack Pezold,

Roy Plummer, Frances Quick, Miriam Tidwell, Dr. Michaell Taylor, Virgil

Thompson, Martha Turner



James Baudoin, Larry Campbell, Carmen Cavezza, Janice Davis, Charlie Schilling,

Burnie Quick, Ed Wilson

Please read: Minutes & Treasurer?s Report

Please bring: Board Packet including all documentation

----- Agenda Topics -----



Call to Order Lee Brantley

Welcome Guests Lee Brantley

Approve Minutes Veola Hymes

Treasurer's Report Miriam Tidwell

Old Business

? Approve September 2002 Minutes

? Approve Financial Reports for August and September 2002

? Approve Audit Report for FY 2002 Lee Brantley

New Business

? Columbus Museum Tom Butler

? Visioning Lee Brantley

Brenda Price

Other Business Group

Adjourn Lee Brantley









Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau

Minutes of the Board of Commissioners Meeting

October 16, 2002





I. CALL TO ORDER



The October Board of Commissioners meeting, held at the Columbus Convention &

Visitors Bureau, was called to order at 8:08 A.M. by the president, Lee

Brantley. Board members present included Michael Garrigan, Dr. J.A. Hud, Veola

Hymes, Colin Martin, Jack Pezold, Col. Roy Plummer, Virgil Thompson, Miriam

Tidwell, and Martha Turner.



Ex-Officio members present were: James Baudoin, Larry Campbell, Janice Davis,

and Burnie Quick.



Board members absent included Mayor Bobby Peters, Jerry Mazurkiewicz, James

McMullen, Frances Quick, and Dr. Michaell Taylor.



Ex-Officio members absent included Carmen Cavezza, Charlie Schilling, and Ed

Wilson.



CCVB staff members present included Brenda Price, Peter Bowden, Shelby Guest,

Rose M. Lynn, and Lativia Rivers.



Guests attending: Tom Scott--Chamber-of-Commerce.





II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES



Secretary Veola Hymes presented the September 2002 minutes to the Board asking

for any additions or deletions; having none, the minutes were approved upon

motion by Veola Hymes and seconded by Martha Turner. A vote was taken and the

motion was carried.



III. TREASURER?S REPORT



On behalf of Treasurer Miriam Tidwell, Executive Director Brenda Price provided

the Board with a financial overview. Ms. Price acknowledged that because no

quorum was available at the last meeting, the July, August, and September

financial statements along with the Audit would be presented for approval. The

September financial statement reflects total revenue of $289,047.27

year-to-date with total expenses of $251,181.11 showing a net income of

$37,866.16. The following items were submitted for approval of the Board:



? An invoice in the amount of $8,393.34 paid to Basset & Becker for brochure

reprints.

? The audit reports and financial statements prepared by Carey L. Barfield, CPA

for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002.



Mr. Brantley asked if there were any discussions regarding the financial

statements and audit reports; there being none, a motion was made by Colin

Martin and seconded by Col. Roy Plummer to approve the invoice and accept the

financial reports as presented to the Board. A vote was taken and the motion

carried.



IV. OLD BUSINESS



There was no Old Business to report.



V. NEW BUSINESS



Peter Bowden introduced guest speaker Tom Butler, Director of the Columbus

Museum. Mr. Butler shared with the Board the history of the Columbus Museum as

well as the goals and mission. The following key points were discussed:



Columbus Museum has been in existence since 1944.

It is the largest art/history museum in the Southeast and the second largest

in Georgia

Education is the mission of the museum

The Museum?s 50th Anniversary celebration will be held in January 2003

The Museum?s Educational department is very active with public school system

The successful relationships/partnership with the various venues in Columbus,

GA



Mr. Brantley thanked Mr. Butler for his presentation to the Board.



As the next item of New Business, Mr. Brantley shared with the Board that he

and Mr. Bowden attended a meeting with a group from W.C. Bradley and the City

Manager, Carmen Cavezza. The subject of the meeting was the W.C. Bradley

building expansion that is currently underway and will eventually affect the

CCVB?s ability to remain at its present location. Challenges presented to Mr.

Brantley and Mr. Bowden during the meeting included locating new office space;

ways to create an expansive destination visitors center that will attract

visitors to the Columbus area, as well as ways to help fund this expansion.

An example of the type of ?vision? presented at the meeting included a

Visitors Center with an I-Max Theater. Mr. Bowden stated there would be

subsequent meetings regarding the ?vision? of the future Visitors Center. Ms.

Tidwell asked if there were other visitor centers somewhere that could be used

as the prototype for the new venue. Mr. Bowden stated venues have been

identified and a listing of places has been prepared for review. Mr. Quick

recommended to the Board to review the LDR 1994 Master Plan, which describes

and captures what is in the region. Mr. Bowden reiterated clarification on

some items is being sought and when specifics are understood, a clearer vision

can be presented to the Board.



Next, Mr. Bowden discussed ?Operation Historic Meetings,? which is the CCVB?s

challenge to ensure the Trade Center is at capacity when it opens in the summer

of 2004. Mr. Bowden presented a power point explanation of the progress of the

CCVB and briefly discussed completed and on-going projects; i.e., Operation

Homeward Bound project, renovation of the CCVB?s web site, Tourism/Travel,

Promotions, and the Trade Center Strategies (See Attached). Mr. Bowden also

shared that city-based venues are requesting the packaging and how they can

make this concept work better for their establishments particularly for

audience development.



Continuing with New Business, Brenda Price informed the Board that awards for

?Best Ideas in Print Advertising? and ?Best Ideas for Direct Marketing/Mail

Campaign? have been received from The Georgia Association of Convention and

Visitors Bureaus. A grant for $15,000 was awarded to the CCVB from the State

of Georgia to help in marketing.



Dr. J.A.Hud also asked that Board members be recognized who work behind the

scenes to assist the CCVB in their efforts. Dr. Hud mentioned that his

fraternity would hold a function in the Columbus area during the spring of

2003. The Tuskegee Morehouse, Tom Joyner shows are all high profile events

that bring significant economic impact to the city of Columbus. Dr. Hud also

noted that the Liberty Theatre expansion was progressing well and would soon be

complete.



Col. Plummer inquired on Tour-de-Georgia. Ms. Price stated Tour-de-Georgia

kick-off breakfast was held Friday, October 11th at the Trade Center. Over 400

participants are expected for this event, which will be on April 24, 2003,

officially opening Riverfest weekend.



Floor was open for general discussion.



VI. ADJOURNMENT



There being no further discussion, Mr. Brantley adjourned the meeting at 9:15

AM.