Columbus, Georgia

Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau



Minutes of the Board of Commissioners Meeting

August 21, 2002





I. CALL TO ORDER



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

Visitors Bureau (CCVB), was called to order at 8:05 A.M. by the president, Lee

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

Hymes, Colin Martin, Jerry Mazurkiewicz, Col. Roy Plummer, and Miriam Tidwell.



Ex-Officio members present were Larry Campbell, Janice Davis, and Burnie Quick.



Board Members absent included James McMullen, Mayor Bobby Peters, Jack Pezold,

Frances Quick, Dr. Michaell Taylor, Virgil Thompson, and Martha Turner.



Ex-Officio members absent included James Baudoin, Carmen Cavezza, Charlie

Schilling, and Ed Wilson.



CCVB staff members present included Brenda Price, Peter Bowden, Rhonda DePratt,

Shelby Guest, Rose M. Lynn, Mike Owens, Lativia Rivers, and Amanda Horne-Ryals.



Guests attending: Bruce Smith--Executive Director of Port Columbus National

Civil War Naval Museum, Tom Scott--Chamber-of-Commerce, and Brian

Smith--Marketing Director Fort Benning.





II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES





Secretary Veola Hymes presented the July 2002 minutes to the Board asking for

any additions or deletions. The minutes were approved upon a motion made by

Ms. Hymes and seconded by Col Plummer. A vote was taken and the motion was

carried.



III. TREASURER?S REPORT



Lee Brantley stated there had been a delay in the receipt of the financial

statement for the month of July. A review of the financial statement had not

been completed and was not presented to the board. Executive Director of CCVB,

Brenda Price requested the approval of an invoice in the amount of $6,857.65

for the ?Operation Homeward Bound? newspaper campaign produced by Basset &

Becker Advertising. Ms. Price said that the Homeward Bound campaign produced

awareness in the local community on conventions and family reunions. Ms. Price

said that last year, the CCVB serviced eight family reunions; however, with the

addition of this advertising, over 28 families have been serviced so far this

year. A motion was made for approval of the invoice by Ms. Hymes and seconded

by Mr. Martin. A vote was taken and the motion was carried.





IV. OLD BUSINESS



Janice Davis thanked everyone for their support during the ASA softball

tournaments. Ms. Davis remarked that Columbus received wonderful comments

from the participating teams.



Ms. Davis confirmed that in November, the Columbus Sports Council would be

seeking to secure another tournament, which is scheduled for the year 2004.

According to Ms. Davis, the Sports Council has already received approved

funding in the amount $30,000 to assist in bringing in this tournament.



Per Ms. Price, the CCVB billed over $28,000 in rebates from the local hotels

that housed teams participating in the recent ASA Tournament. The money

received from the rebate will be used to make the bid for the 2004 tournament.



V. NEW BUSINESS



Peter Bowden introduced the guest speaker Bruce Smith, Executive Director of

Port Columbus National Civil War Naval Museum. Mr. Smith presented a video

presentation of the various aspects of the museum-- the crewmembers aboard the

ships, gathering of artifacts, as well as the moving and setting up of the

ships? remains in the new facility. Mr. Smith shared information on the

facility and events that have transpired since opening. Key points discussed

were:

? The museum was established in 1960 for the preservation of two

historic war ships from the Civil War stationed in Columbus and recovered from

the Chattahoochee.

? The recovery and restoration process of the CSS Chattahoochee and the

CSS Jackson.

? The presentation of living-history shows on some of the aspects of

the Civil War and the participation of the museum at various Civil War events.

? Educational programs offered based on naval life.

? The tremendous amount of revenue required to operate the facility and

the Museum?s ability to generate income from site rental.

? The partnership with the CCVB and the success of the museum from the

partnership. Mr. Smith stated that during the museum?s first year in its new

location, 34,000 people visited (25,000 paid admissions), compared to a

visitation of 14,000 during the last full year of operation at the old facility.



After the presentation, the floor was opened for questions. Michael Garrigan

commented on the excellent brochure ?History of Naval Warfare? he received as a

partner with the museum. Mr. Smith said the brochure is available in the

museum gift shop. Tom Scott inquired as to the capacity of the rental site.

Mr. Smith reported the area could accommodate 175. The museum has 150 chairs,

12 round tables and theatrical lighting, which are included in the rental

rates. Mr. Brantley thanked Mr. Smith for his presentation.



The next item under new business was a year-end review of the CCVB. Ms. Price

informed the Board that this was the beginning of our fiscal year and wanted to

share the findings from last year. Ms. Price asked the Board to keep in mind

that the gathering of the information was not scientific, but the numbers are

tracked by the staff as accurately as possible.



Peter Bowden, Deputy Director of the CCVB, presented the results of the Board.

Mr. Bowden commented that we are one of the few CCVB?s that records information

and publicizes it for public scrutiny. During a recent class, at Southeastern

Tourism Society Marketing College, the presentation was shown and other CCVB?s

asked for the information to be sent to them to assist in their development of

a tracking system of their success. The attached reports show the progress of

the Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau for FY-02.



Ms. Price reminded the Board that the numbers are a combination of efforts

between the CCVB and the City.



Mr. Bowden was happy to report that the Communications Department has confirmed

six stories from the FAM Writers tour held in June 2002.



The floor was opened for various questions from the Board.



VI. ADJOURNMENT



There being no further discussion, Mr. Garrigan made a motion to adjourn the

meeting at 9:25 AM.