Tourism Committee Regular Meeting May 19, 2014

SIMSBURY TOURISM
Meeting held at Green Acres Bed and Breakfast
Monday May 19th, 2014

Draft Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:45 pm. Attending were, Dominique Avery, Angela Campetti, Charmaine Seavey, Rick Wagner, Steve Mitchell, Liz Banco, Diane Phillips, Laurie Matczak, Catherine Barnard.

Jim Christopher and Cathy Carpino welcomed the committee to their home and place of business, Green Acres Bed & Breakfast located at 444 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury.

They discussed the process through which they restored their home. They took the committee on a short tour of their home.

The rest of the meeting consisted of updates on town tourism related events:

PAC Catherine Barnard discussed a possible 5k to be promoted at the Meadows. The ticket sales are going well for the summer concerts.

Charmaine informed the group that we received 1 call on our Tourism answering service from a man confused about how to buy tickets for summer concert events. Cathy said she would follow up.

Dominique Avery announced that Eric Dudley, who graduated from Simsbury High School in 1997, will be conducting the Hartford Symphony this summer. This will be making SCTV headlines.

The group discussed the success with the first annual Tryathalon.

June 18th, the Bridge of Flowers Committee will be hosting the Annual fundraiser, Burgers on the Bridge.

Simsbury Celebrates upcoming fundraisers will be the annual tag sale at the Simsbury Farms skating rink and the sale of copies of a Catherine Elliot painting. There was some discussion about persuading them to move the tag sale to the Historical Society in the center of town.

The Simsbury Historical Society unveiled their Pedal Power exhibit and Fabric of Time event in May 17.

The Simsbury Library unveiled their 3 D Printer on April 26th

The Simsbury Women's Club is looking for more arts & crafts people to purchase spots for their Arts & Craft fair being held in September.

CT Trails Day is June 7th & 8th. There will be three Land Trust Hikes in Simsbury.

Discussion of the Hartford Courant insert which was about Simsbury and the committee passed around the Boston Globe tourism piece.

Steve Mitchell discussed the Jr. Achievement breakfast. Also Saturday June 28th, there will be a Ride through History, where people will be bicycling 57 miles starting at the New Haven Green and ending in Southwick, Mass, riding on the bike trail that once was the railroad and canal. Steve also informed the committee that Simsbury is now among 4 bike friendly towns.

Diane Phillips discussed tourism brochure distribution.

Dominique updated everyone on the Flower Festival idea and that it has been pushed to next year.

This year is the 100th anniversary of Heublein Tower.

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

Rick Wagner discussed Historical Society’s plans for observing Sugar Moon Day which would be held March 26th 2015.

The Simsbury Library will be holding the Freedom of Information Act seminar Friday May 23rd from 9 to 11 am in the Program room for town employees and members of town committees and boards.

Meeting adjourned 9:13 pm.

Respectfully Submitted.

Angela Campetti