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Tourism Committee Regular Meeting March 17 2014-DRAFT

Meeting date: 
Monday, March 17, 2014

SIMSBURY TOURISM COMMITTEE
“Heritage, charm and adventure”
Linden House Bed and Breakfast
288-290 Hopmeadow Street

Regular Meeting of Monday March 17, 2014   7:30PM

Attendance:  Dominique Avery, Joyce Howard, Laurie Matczak, Pat Carbone, Steve Mitchell, Sarah Nielsen, Paulette Clark, Angela Campetti, Rich Wagner, Charmaine Seavy, Cathy Barnard, Diane Phillips

1.  Call to order at 7:35

2.  Review and Approval of minutes of January 21, 2014

3.  Julia McCabe of the Linden House welcomed us and gave us a bit of history on the House and how she still has many loyal guests and stays busy.

4.  Sarah Nielsen of Main Street Partnership gave us an overview and update of the activities in town:

  • US Junior National Hockey Tournament for 2014/2015, the town now arranging rooms, entertainment and activities and meeting with the officers, to cover this event to be held April 2 to 7th
  • The outcome of the Valentine’s Day promotion and how it was won by a 72year old  couple;
  • The upcoming HSO concerts, arranging rooms for the out-of- towners and Picnics Under the Stars provided by many of our restaurants and the  vendors involved.  Paulette stated there were buses coming from Manchester, as an example of our success.
  • Other concerts which will be coming, including Willy Nelson and Lynard Skynard, Issue was discussed about whether folks can bring their own picnics and BYOB as at the symphony concerts
  • The National Trust Award, which was reported by  CNN, The Washington Post, National Geographic, Boston Globe, to name a few,  is still getting results with a Boston Globe doing a follow-up scheduled to appear April 30.
  • Sarah also reported that the River to Ridge Triathlon will be held May18.  More than 50 people have signed up to date.
  • A town resident has proposed Simsbury investigate a Flower Festival which he had seen a town in Italy, where the town was bedecked in flower petals, and something very unique that the town may want to consider.  This will be discussed at a future meeting.
  • The Farmer’s Market will be June 20 to October 7 this year, and the Market Master will be Anne-Marie Regish.
  • Sarah said they are redoing Main Street brochures and that the Discover segment of the Hartford Courant will feature Simsbury in the May and August supplement.

5.  Old Business:

   A. Quick Updates
     Cathy confirmed the schedule for the Performing Arts Center.
     Regarding the Budget, we got an estimate for $2,500 a truly
      remarkable bargain price. 
Updates to follow. 
     Charmaine has agreed to be the permanent phone schedule committee member.   
     Diane has agreed to be the permanent distributor of our brochures and pamphlets.
     Paulette announced the Simsbury Celebrates Tag Sale as a fundraiser, the sale of a Catherine
     Elliott print and said funds are already being donated.
     Dominique reminded everyone to renew your membership status.
  B. Dominique discussed Facebook with over 200 hits on our Tourism page, and we
     spoke of contacts and ways to further our presence in the Town on our Facebook page.

6. New Business:

  A. Dominique spoke of the Triathlon and Committee staffing on May 18. Charmaine
       will track that aspect of our involvement and we will make plans at the next meeting.
  B. Laurie reported on the Whitewater Triple Crown Event in Tariffville on April 13.
      Steve is working to arrange van transportation as a shuttle bus between parking and the event.
 C. Steve will report at a later date on May Bike Month activities.
 D. Dominique spoke regarding the Connecticut Conference on Tourism on April 24 at the Convention
     Center.  Steve will represent our committee.
 E. Regarding the update on the Annual Report, Dominique has taken care of it and will be emailing
     copies to the committee.

7. Other Business:
 A. We discussed our brainstorming for future Town-Wide events and possibly reviving the tradition
      that prevailed and was known as the Antoinette Eno Woods Ice Cream Social with the thought of
      making it a village fair held at the Historical Society, with the Downton Abbey-type theme.
 B. Our video discussion was tabled due to the length of the meeting, and to be addressed at our next
      meeting on Monday April 21 at the Simsbury Airport.

8. Adjournment was 9:35PM

Respectfully submitted by Pat Carbone