HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-04-12-TOUR2-minLexington Tourism Committee
Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 4:00 p.m., Room 111
Members Present: Mary Jo Bohart, Kerry Brandin, Bebe Fallick, Carla Fortmann, Dawn
McKenna, Paul O'Shaughnessy, Masha Traber Liberty Ride Coordinator
Absent: Susan Bennett, Mary Gillespie, John Patrick, Kathleen James, Lou Sideris, Selectmen
Liaison Peter Kelley
1. Activities
a. The plans for the Antony visit were reviewed. Committee members were given a sign -
up sheet to indicate which activities they would be able to attend.
b. We confirmed that the Tour Guide Training will be held on June 1St at the National Park
Service Visitor's Center. We worked on updating the Historical Attractions Chart.
Carla Fortmann will work with Dawn McKenna to propose an agenda for the training.
c. Our MOTT conference participation was very successful. Dawn connected with
Governor Patrick about the wisdom of reducing a budget that is making money for the
State. Our "TourLexington" logo was on every table and we were able to leave
brochures at each of the 500 seats for all the organizations. We made contact with the
leaders of AAA. They subsequently called Masha to indicate that they would make
Lexington one of their featured destinations for this summer. Dawn connected with her
college friend who now heads the Salem Witch Museum. She is willing to promote our
attractions at the Museum. Finally, we all entered various raffles and Masha won an ad
in the Boston Herald valued at $4,500. We discussed an appropriate time for it and
agreed that early August would give us a target audience at a time when things are
slower.
d. The funding for the Battle Green Guide consultant will be requested from Town
Meeting for a total not too exceed $25,000.
e. Carla Fortmann will present the Tourism report on funding and the Liberty Ride
tonight at Town Meeting. Paul O'Shaughnessy will present the Antony events that we
are planning for next week.
f. We reviewed the layout for the Official Visitor's Map and Guide and made some
decisions regarding what to include and exclude.
2. Liberty Ride
a. How to best target the businesses for inclusion with the Liberty Ride ticket. Mary Jo
offered to send a letter with the form to Chamber members. Carla is willing to target
some of last year's participants.
b. On motion duly made and seconded, Dawn was authorized to spend up to $1,630 to
advertise on the four Salem trolleys. She will try to negotiate a better price.
c. Upon motion duly made and seconded, we agreed to try distribution of our brochures
in the AAA offices in NY & CT. Hopefully this will help increase the distribution now
that there is no longer a Greater Merrimack Visitor Center.
3. Next meeting will be Monday, May 4, 2010 at 4PM.
4. Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Dawn McKenna