Board of Commissioners Meeting
900 Front Avenue
March 15, 2006
Commissioners Present: Susan Lawhorne, Chair, Scott Ressmeyer, Vice-Chair,
H.S. Guron, Treasurer, Bruce Smith, Secretary, Colin Martin, Past Chair, Lee
Brantley, Veola Hymes, Brian Plemmons, Mayor Bob Poydasheff and Bill
Webster.
Ex-Officio Members Present: Richard Bishop, Larry Campbell, Janice Davis,
Isaiah Hugley
and Burnie Quick.
Ex-Officio Members Absent: Mike Gaymon, Dale Hester, Enoch Morris and Ed
Wilson.
Staff Present: Peter Bowden, Shelby Guest, and Linda Olvera.
Call To Order ? Susan Lawhorne called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
Approval Of Minutes ? Bruce Smith made a motion to approve the Minutes from the
February 15, 2006 Board Meeting. Veola Hymes seconded the motion. A vote was
taken and the motion passed.
Treasurer?s Report ? Peter Bowden presented the February financial statements
for
approval. Lee Brantley made a motion to accept the reports as presented.
Bruce Smith
seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed.
Chair?s Report -- Susan Lawhorne
Black Heritage Visitors Guide Review -- A letter was presented to Mayor
Poydasheff requesting that a task force be established to review and update the
current edition of the Black Heritage Visitors Guide with a suggested list of
members.
Reader?s Choice Award -- Convention South Magazine awarded its Reader?s Choice
to the CCVB for excellence, creativity, and professionalism.
Ad Awards -- The CCVB won awards for its advertising components ? the regional
film, Visitors Center design, Tri-Facilities brochure, and vehicle graphics.
Crisis Management Plan -- At the CCVB Board Retreat, consultant Judy Randall
(Randall Travel Marketing), suggested that the CCVB establish a plan to deal
with emergencies; i.e. natural, manmade, etc. Staff has begun that process;
Mayor Poydasheff suggested that this work be coordinated with the Columbus
Homeland Security team and the City Manager?s Office.
President-CEO Report -- Peter Bowden
Per Diem-update -- Banyon Tree Consulting is working to outline the concerns to
increase the government per diem; the firm has asked that the CVB Board submit
letters to Senators Chambliss and Isakson requesting their assistance; Mayor
Poydasheff offered to send to the letters on behalf of the Bureau.
Marina RFP ? the request for proposal for the proposed marina project was
discussed; Peter Bowden and Larry Campbell attended the briefing at Oxbow
Meadows Environmental Learning Center
Legislative Spouse Tour ? the CCVB helped in hosting a dozen spouses of state
legislators; the Bureau provided round trip motorcoach transportation from
Atlanta to Columbus and back, gifts, refreshments, and a step-on guide for the
duration of the tour
Newcomers Tour -- the Bureau continues to provide a monthly orientation to
soldiers and/or their spouses stationed at Ft. Benning; the CVB provides a
step-on guide, Visitors Guides, and conducts a ?windshield? tour of the
?original city?; approximately 45 people participated in the March tour
Preview Regional Video ? the regional film was viewed by the Board
VI. Other Business ? Chairperson Susan Lawhorne announced that the CVB?s FY
2007 budget, which had been approved during the February 2006 Board Meeting and
submitted by Staff to the City Manager?s Office, had been challenged ? meaning
that a discussion had taken place prior the March Board Meeting regarding
redirecting a portion of the Bureau?s existing funding to the Columbus Sports
Council; Ms Lawhorne stated that this discussion with the City Manager and
other parties was on-going and that no determination had been made and that the
CVB?s Executive Committee was confident that an amicable solution would be
reached that would not impair the Bureau?s pursuit of its mission of
destination marketing for Columbus.
VII. The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 a.m.
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