Minutes of the Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee

January 28, 2009

People attending :  Ken Yowell, Pam Thomeczek, Rose Anne Huck, Bill Riggins, Stan Moore, Angie Wells, Micki Uhrig, Norma Jean Ferguson, Josh King and Cynthia Crawford

Chair Stan Moore called the meeting to order.

Angie Wells moved and it was seconded to approve the November 2008 minutes.

The Barn Quilt project is moving forward.  Arline Borchers and Stan Moore are attending the meetings. 

The grant to the Tourism Commission is on hold pending a determination of how much bed tax money was collected in the 4th quarter of 2008.

Affiliates need to realize that if money is not expended by the end of the year it goes back to the Commission. 

Stan has approached the Commission piece-meal with time urgent affiliate projects.

The library project is not an affiliate of the Chamber of Commerce tourism commission at this time.  They applied directly to the Tourism Commission.

The Old Trails Regional Tourism Partnership (OTRTP) is moving forward.  The project will be featured in the Missouri Life magazine.  There will also be a supplement on Regional Cuisines.  It will be the April issue.  Stan attended the last meeting.  Dues are $25.  Bylaws were passed.  The annual meeting will be February 10, 6:00 p.m. at the Three Trails Winery in Lexington. A delegation from the committee plans to attend. Directors will be elected.  Each of the 8 counties will have a director plus 8 additional directors from stakeholder groups.  OTRTP is developing a brochure.  Rose Anne has had a great response for site specific photography.

The Scenic Byways application has changed somewhat.  There is now a requirement for visitor preparedness in the new application.  The area much show some evidence of marketing to tourists and have identified things marketed to tourists.

We are delighted that Rose Anne plans to stay connected with this committee even after she relocates.

Josh King was introduced to talk about Project Footprint.  In his role as a VISTA one project will be to locate and enter high school alumni into a data base.  His work encourages develop/bring your business home to Saline County.  Can reach alumni quickly through this data base.

Cynthia announced that the Women in Ag/Ag Landowners Conference on March 13, 2009 will have a tourism track. Sessions are on developing farmers markets with Lane McConnell, Dr. Elizabeth Barham on Regional Cuisines, Dr. Maryellen McVicker on Quilts and Barns and a session on Old Trials.  Committee members are encouraged to attend.

Ken distributed the new Marshall brochure.  The response continues to be very favorable.  Stan suggested focusing on distribution in Iowa, Branson and the Lake of the Ozarks.

Website development discussion:

• Working with MDT for funding reimbursement.  Meeting on February 18.  Stan and Jill plan to attend.  As expected, will need a paper trail of everything to be eligible for reimbursement.
• Must have a measuring system on website.  The group reviewed current stats being collected
• Don’t forget the short video on Jim the Wonder Dog as the website is being developed.
• Webaward.org is a site Angie recommends to see what award winning sites look like.
• While we are very proud of our website, and there is more that can be done.  Washington MO has some interesting aspects to its website.
• Rose Anne briefed the group on possibilities for the website.
• Drop down menus on the navigation bar
• Add search function
• Marshall history needs edited for a visitor
• Things to do and see.  Suggestions of packages
• Visitors section needs to be more prominent.  History less prominent
• Add Missouri logo for state.  Old Trails, when available.
• More sidebar links to bottom
• May want visitors survey to get feedback (similar to Columbia)
• Jim the Wonder Dog included (video, too)
• Side links up higher on page
• Check that the mechanism for submitting dates to the calendar on the website is working as planned
• More links
• Meeting planner guide.  Hotels, meeting rooms, catering.
• Grant specifies can’t generate income with website at this time.  Need to plan for this capacity at some point in the future.
• E-mail postcards.
• Improve or remove coupon section
• Weather link more prominent.  Add road conditions.
• Page turning on brochure function
• Visitors kit – coupons, information
• FAQ section
• Reciprocal links increases us in searches
• Disclaimer that is as up to date as is within our control
• Kid’s page/kid’s activities
• Wedding/reunion planning
• Photo tour of the area

Josh King suggested a scrolling event bar as an idea.  Another idea is to add a slide show.

Bill suggested making it easier to find the website as people are searching.  Need links on complimentary sites and reciprocal links back to the Marshall Tourism site.

The committee agrees that the website is good already – much positive to build on.

The meetings are set for 2009 on the third Wednesdays of the month, 9:00 a.m. in the Saline County Extension Center.

back to top

Click any of the links below for previous Tourism Planning Reports

calendar of events / tourism planning reports / privacy / email us

©2009 Marshall, Missouri. All rights reserved. All text, graphics and content of this website are protected by the US and International copyright laws and may not be reproduced or distributed in any manner without written permission from the Marshall Chamber of Commerce.

Web Development: Poole Advertising LLC