HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-03-16-TOUR2-minLexington Tourism Committee
Minutes of March 16, 2009
4 p.m. Room 111
Members Present: Dawn McKenna, Susan Bennett, Mary Jo Bohart, Kerry Brandin,
Carla Fortmann, Paul O'Shaughnessy, Bebe Fallick Staff: Masha Traber
Guest: Larry Smith, Chairman, Chamber of Commerce
Absent: Kathleen James, John Ott, Lou Sideris, John Patrick, Joanne Myers, and
Selectman Liaison: Peter Kelley
Motion duly made and seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting of February
23, 2009. Minutes of the Executive Session of February 23, 2009 approved by roll
call.
Greater Boston Convention and Visitor Bureau call for ad requests was discussed.
The requests often give minimal response time which is difficult for our many group
contacts and decision making process. How can we streamline our response time?
Two approaches: Dawn will approach the CVB to learn their overall process. Is
there a yearly schedule? How can we learn about these opportunities earlier?
Susan Bennett will start the process of helping our group members to organize the
various tours, lodging, food opportunities toward a goal of a selection of offerings to
be presented at the next meeting for discussion.
It was announced that the Heritage Museum will be closing daily at 4:30 p.m.
instead of S p.m.
Susan Bennett made several announcements for the Lexington Historical Society:
1. The grand reopening of the Hancock - Clarke House will be Sunday, May 17,
2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission for everyone.
2. Film about the events of April 18 & 19, 1775 will be part of the experience
at the Hancock - Clarke House. Hopefully this will be ready for showing at the
opening. It is about 1S minutes in length.
3. The Lexington Historical Society has applied for a CPA grant this year for
an assessment of capital needs at the Munroe Tavern.
4. All Historic Houses will open Saturday, April 4, 2009. Buckman will be
open 7 days per week through the end of October. Hancock - Clarke House and
Munroe Tavern will be open weekends only until June 1S and then 7 days per week
through October.
S. A rack card from CTM will be available as tour information for the coming
season. This will be used at our Visitors Center and the MMNHP. It involves
packaging all three houses for one price and encouraging visitors to "Linger in
Lexington"
A longer general discussion of selling all tickets at the Visitors Center occurred.
Several points were mentioned: costs of selling these and volunteer personal,
accounting difficulties, and the importance of access to all the Lexington tourist
offerings in one location for the visitor.
Mary Jo Bohart reported that the Town Budget includes funds for painting the
Visitors Center, much needed at this time. Larry Smith volunteered to talk with the
committee Selectman Liaison, Peter Kelley, to see if more extensive work needs to
be part of this process. This is because of the manner in which the paint is peeling
suggests a larger moisture problem.
Dawn said she had been asked to include the "Ponzi House" (residence of original
Ponzi scheme citizen in Lexington) on the Liberty Ride. It was discussed and
considered inappropriate for a tourist offering about the American Revolution
events in Lexington.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room will be a special
meeting about the possibility of a Heritage Center in the East Lexington Stone
Building.
Dawn asked if she should do a special report with the tourism warrant article, but
the group felt no. She will be ready to discuss the requested fund use - specifically
cooperative marketing plans for opportunities that we now miss.
The Battle Green Master Plan committee will meet on Wednesday, March 18 at 4:30
p.m. There are four sub - categories: Design Coherence, Cataloging Past Town Battle
Green Plans, Exploring other Community Models and Facilitating the Lexington
Community Cooperation.
Due to some members departure, the meeting was unable to go into Executive
Session for Liberty Ride staff salary voting. Discussion of this subject will be
postponed until the next Tourism committee meeting.
Next Meeting Monday, April 6, 2009 4 p.m. Room 111 Town Office Building
The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Carla Fortmann