COLUMBUS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
900 FRONT AVENUE, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA 31901
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
AUGUST 19, 2009
Commissioners Present: Bruce Smith, Chair, John Shinkle, Vice Chair, Brian
Plemmons, Treasurer, Allen Woodall, James Smith, and Teresa Tomlinson.
Commissioners Absent: Scott Ressmeyer, Past Chair, Elizabeth Barker,
Secretary, and Tom Gates.
Ex-Officios Present: Richard Bishop, Larry Campbell, Cyndy Cerbin, Herbert
Greene, Isaiah Hugley, Paul Pierce, and Mayor Jim Wetherington.
Ex-Officios Absent: Mike Gaymon, Dale Hester, Nadine Coker, and Judy Thomas.
Staff Present: Peter Bowden, Shelby Guest, Laura Walker, Carrie Standridge,
Kimberly Parker, Ashley Woitena, and Linda Olvera.
Call to Order: Bruce Smith, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:31 p.m.
Approval of Minutes: In the absence of Elizabeth Barker, Secretary, Bruce
Smith presented the minutes from the June, 2009, meeting to the Board. Teresa
Tomlinson made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Allen Woodall
seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed.
Treasurer?s Report: Brian Plemmons, Treasurer, presented both the June and
July financials to the Board. (The Board did not hold a business meeting in the
month of July.) Mr. Plemmons questioned the entry of income for the 2 boats
gifted to the CCVB by Riverway South. The question will be addressed with the
new auditors from Robinson, Grimes & Company. Jim Smith made a motion to
accept the financials as presented. John Shinkle seconded the motion. A vote
was taken and the motion passed.
Chair?s Report:??????????..Bruce Smith
City Contract: Peter Bowden presented the new contract to the Board for
approval. It is a five year renewal with changes to the revenue created by the
hotel/motel tax (page 4, section 3.) The Cultural Arts Alliance receiving not
less than 9.75% and the Sports Council not less than 25% of the 4% hotel/motel
tax revenue provided to the CCVB by the City. Brian Plemmons made a motion to
accept the new contract as presented. Jim Smith seconded the motion. A vote
was taken and the motion passed. It is noted that Peter Bowden is authorized
to sign the contract on behalf of the CCVB.
Fountain City Classic: The CCVB received a request for funding from the
Fountain City Classic in the amount of $15,000.00. Since the budget for FY
2010 does not include funding of that amount, the CCVB will offer $2,000.00
(for marketing and promotion (as it does for the Tuskegee-Morehouse game.) The
Board will explore other options to granting funding requests.
On-line 3rd Part Booking Organizations: With the lawsuit against Expedia
settled, Columbus is still not listed on their web site. The Board has decided
to hire legal counsel as to explore our options to regain listing. Brian
Plemmons made a motion to retain legal counsel. Jim Smith seconded the
motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed. Teresa Tomlinson abstained
from the voting.
President?s Report??????????..Peter Bowden
Sales Report: Laura Walker presented the report for June and July. (Report
attached)
Communications: Shelby Guest updated the Board about the visit of writer John
Nash to Columbus. Also the CCVB will partner with the Presidential Pathways
Travel Association to hold a FAM Tour with approximately 15 to 29 travel
writers in April, 2010.
GA Welcome Center Program: The Georgia Department of Economic Development
planned to close the Welcome Center located on Williams Road Tuesdays and
Wednesdays due to budget cuts. The CCVB offered to staff the center on those
days (these are travel days for families coming to Fort Benning for
graduations.) During a meeting to with Georgia Department of Economic
Development representatives to discuss the staffing plan, Peter Bowden learned
that it would take $9,000.00 to keep the center open 7 days a week for FY
2010. An agreement was made that the CCVB would fund the center $9,000.00 to
be paid in 3 equal payments.
Operation Recovery: The monthly report prepared from Staff intercept
interviews conducted with visitors at various locations throughout the City was
presented?Ft. Benning remains the top reason for visitors to Columbus as a
?getaway destination? increasing. Georgia is still the number one point of
origin of travel to Columbus..
Recap??????????????
Larry Campbell with the Convention & Trade Center has contracted with Ft
Benning to hold OCS graduations every 3rd Thursday beginning August 27th.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
Attachments
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