Marketing Meeting
MCLA
Little River Inn
March 7, 2007


Richard Strom called the meeting to order at 10:10 am. Present were Scott,
Kevin, Steven, Charles Reinhart, Mike, Jan, Josie, Jeff, Pam, Stuart & Jo.

Jan volunteered to keep the minutes for the marketing committee meetings.

MOTION: Jeff Stanford made a motion to approve last month’s minutes. Josie seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
MWWC has two media tours planned for May/June and they need lodging. Scott to email the board details of their lodging needs. The MWWC is planning their signature event on June 23, 24, 2005 in Mendocino. They would like all the Inns within the village of Mendocino to offer wine tasting, food. Media Rooms are also needed. It was proposed that we offer add-on nights to media coming in for this event.

Nature Tourism Workshop – MCLA is a sponsor of the conference. It is on March 28, 29, 2007 at the Hill House in Fort Bragg. Stuart will get back to marketing committee regarding how what we can do to follow up and support this workshop and the Nature Tourism board. We need an Action Plan for entire county.

MOTION: Jeff Stanford made a motion to participate in expo to include signage about MCLA’s partnership with the other groups in promoting the county with the Nature Tourism Workshop. Steven seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.

Report on New York Media Trip: Scott reported that the trip bordered on being fantastic! He recommended that we participate in at least 3 trips next year to sell our county. Scott will email details of trip to the board.

California Travel & Tourism Commission meetings: Scott reported that these were also very interesting and beneficial meetings. Current trends, who are our market – the Dinks and Woops. Learning Vacations and Adventure Travel is the growing trend. Hispanic population is largest group in the up and coming tourism market. We need to be the squeaky wheel with California Travel Magazine. Jeff Stanford requests Scott to keep on them to get information out their about Mendocino County and include our lodging listings and lodging specials on www.visitcalifornia.com.

Scott distributed his thoughts on BID and where we go from here. It was very thought provoking and to the point. This led to a discussion of a marketing retreat sometime at the end of March, beginning of April. Scott to poll committee members as to dates.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Jeff Stanford and Richard Strom met with Al Beltrami, the CEO of Mendocino County. They had an opportunity to update Mr. Beltrami on MCLA and what we have been doing. We are the only group in the county that is promoting Mendocino County. MCLA’s desire is to be the lead agency in promoting Mendocino County. They proposed a portion of the matching funds come to MCLA. Jeff Stanford responded to Al Beltrami’s concerns to get involved in economic development committee of Mendocino County. They felt their meeting was very positive and well received.

OLD BUSINESS:
The marketing committee discussed advertising in the California Drives and
California Visitor’s Guide Magazine. After much discussion of cost, versus exposure,

MOTION: Mike made a motion to approve an ad in the California Drive magazine and a banner ad on the California Visitor’s website and hold off on an ad in the California Visitor’s Guide until we have more information about a possible advertorial. Pam seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.

We were contacted by the Sonoma County Airport regarding three board spots for advertising. It was decided not to decimate this information to our membership because it is not available to all.

A discussion also arose regarding the gomendo.com website and whether there should be advertising? Lodging will control the lodging module and discussions will continue with internet committee that is working on this site.

NEW BUSINESS:

A presentation was made by Anna Kvinsland, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Mendocino County. The Arts Council is a non profit group committed to promoting the arts and increasing public awareness of the arts. They have a 9 member BOD. Anna that MCLA and the Arts Council establish a fee-for-service partnership and requests compensation from MCLA in the amount of $800 per month for 4 month trial period. The services MCLA would receive would include:
• To work directly with more than 100 ACMA member artists and 30 member arts organizations/artist groups in order to gather arts information.
• To provide regular and comprehensive “What’s New in Mendocino Arts” reports
• To provide a monthly Mendocino County Arts Events Calendar.
• To facilitate a more cohesive approach to promoting the arts of Mendocino County.

MOTION: Jeff Stanford made a motion to accept the proposal from the Arts Council with the goals on the second page of their proposal to be ready to execute by the end of June. (Goals – build a county-wide artist studio tour, an all-county monthly arts weekend, a treasure hunt passport program, and/or a “Discover Mendocino” arts and wine festival.) The Arts Council should actively seek funds from the County as matching funds of MCLA’s funds. They should adopt the “M” logo. Pam seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.

A proposal was discussed from Sonoma 101 Things To Do Magazine. Scott will get the information and email it to the committee.

A discussion arose as to MCLA taking over events. Some felt we have enough to do and should not set ourselves up as an event’s coordinator.

The marketing committee decided to put the film festival on our next agenda.

MOTION: Jan Rodriguez made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 1:00 pm.
Pam seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.