|
|
Bucks County
Conference & Visitors Bureau, Inc. From The Board Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau, Inc. Board Members Present
Board
Members Absent President’s Report President’s Opening Remarks/Visitor Center UpdatePresident Mike Etzrodt shared a feature article about Pen Ryn in the Sunday Inquirer magazine and also remarked that the Peddler’s Village Strawberry Festival was a well-attended event. Bristol had their Antique Car Show on Sunday, which is also an established and well-attended event. Footings for the visitor center sign have been dug. Stone has been selected to match stone already present on the building and it is expected that the sign will be completed by the next board meeting. Approval of MinutesThe minutes of the May 8, 2003 meeting were presented for approval. One correction was offered under the Visitor Center Building Management Committee to read in the final line “maintenance at $15.00 per hour each.” Adding each to indicate that both Mike Gallagher and his helper would both get $15 per hour. Motion Kathi Lacomchik moved and Jerry Lepping seconded the motion to approve the minutes with correction from the May 8, 2003 meeting. VOTE: AYES-unanimous. Motion carried. Finance and Treasurer’s Report Treasurer, Bill Haas reported that the lodging tax collected in February and distributed in April was less than expected due to the blizzard; however, it was still over what was budgeted. The State Matching Fund Grant installment was deposited. The amount was $115,262.34. There is one small installment remaining and will be deposited in June. We are still waiting on the $20,000 check from GPTMC for the regional grant. Expenses are all in line with the budget. In the material handed out at tonight’s meeting is a Budget Variance Report showing any variances over $2000. Letters to past due accounts have gone out. As a result, the aging report has been reduced from $30,815.67 last month to $19,392 this month. The collection process will continue according to policy in an effort to collect the remaining outstanding balances. Motion Al Giagnacova made a motion and Rosemary Snyder seconded the motion to accept the Finance Report. VOTE: AYES-unanimous. Motion carried. Bill directed the board members to their packet and the list of checks over $2000. At last month’s meeting the Board approved the $10,050 check for the PA Logo Signing Trust as an unbudgeted expense. The check has been sent. In addition to the checks over $2000, additional invoices have come in that need to be paid before next month’s meeting. These checks over $2000 are for: 1. May American Express bill of $3,326.65. A breakdown is in the board packet. 2. ATX phone bill $2084.83. 3. DB Media for web site and kiosk services $6175.00. All of these expenses are budgeted. Motion Jim Humphrey made a motion and Joe Campbell seconded the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. VOTE: AYES-unanimous. Motion carried Marketing Committee Report Pat Brogan, Marketing Committee Chair reported that there was no meeting held due to lack of attendance. Pat reported that a replacement on the committee is needed for W.C. Bird who left the board. The bureau is working with Oxford Communications to develop another branding identity. Focus groups will be held in June in Baltimore and New Jersey to survey for the best creative direction to pursue. Current kiosks will be replaced with a regional kiosk program that is now in the planning stages. Membership Committee Report Did not meet. Visitors Center Promotions Committee Rosemary Snyder reported that gift shop sales are beginning slowly. Visitors that she has brought into the building like what they see. On October 22nd the Courier Times will begin their outreach to teachers and will announce the coloring book plan at that time. Recently Rosemary brought two buses from Lancaster and two from Baltimore. Visitor Center Building Management Jim Humphreys, Visitor Center Building Management Chair, reported that the theater repairs are nearing completion. The items outstanding are:
The carpet and the bench end caps will be replaced between June 6 and 9. Mike Gallagher has completed the paperwork for coming onto the staff part-time. He will be available after May 14 to begin working on projects around the building. A Knox Box has been delivered and Mike Gallagher will install it next week. This will allow the police and fire department to have access to the building in case of emergency. Light bulbs have all been replaced on the East side of the building. Other outside light issues are being addressed with the installer. The lawn has been re-seeded. The landscaper will be weeding and re-sanding the patio in the next week. Summer flowers will be purchased and planted by the end of the month. Tax Compliance Committee Mike Etzrodt asked Dave Steinbach to arrange a meeting with the County Treasurer’s office. Dave Steinbach is currently on vacation but will arrange the meeting upon his return. For discussion will be the arbitrary raising of the fee to the treasurer’s office for collecting and processing the room tax from $40,000 to $45,000. There is a question of the legality of raising the fee without the permission of the BCCVB. There is also the question of the bureau receiving their money’s worth from the county considering that the new Hampton Inn has not paid any lodging tax since the day they opened in 2001 (?) which indicates a lack of enforcement from the treasurer’s office. Executive Director’s Report A written report was provided to each board member. Keith met with legislators Matt Wright, Tom Corrigan and Tommy Tomlinson in Harrisburg on Tourism Day to discuss the relevance of tourism to Pennsylvania’s economy and the progress of House bill 168, the overall budget assigned to the state tourism office and the appropriation tax for buses. Keith also invited the board following the meeting to view the new orientation film Discover Bucks County in the theater. Old Business There was none. New BusinessBill Haas reported that he would be hosting this year’s Gateway event at the newly completed Belle Voir Manor and invited all of the board to attend on June 26th. The Jerry Boyle Orchestra will provide music. Bill suggested that next year David Jackson be given a larger budget to work with for this event to allow for better promotion. Five hundred attendees are anticipated which will hopefully include our legislators and members. Pat suggested that attendance is a timing issue. Vendors for the event are charged $200 plus a food donation. Vendors have also indicated that they want more people to attend. Bill also requested a more elaborate invitation to induce more visitors and to make Gateway into more of a food event to attract more people. Beverly Miller suggested that the visitor center would be a good neutral location in the future and tents could be added for more space. Comments from the PublicThere were none. Motion to AdjournMotion Jerry Lepping moved and Kathi Lacomchik seconded the motion to adjourn. VOTE: AYES-unanimous. Motion carried.
Next MeetingOur next meeting is scheduled for June 12 at 6 pm at the Bucks County Visitor Center, 3207 Street Road, Bensalem, PA 19020. Respectfully submitted, |