MCLA Board of Directors
Gualala Arts Center, Gualala, CA
Sept. 5, 2007

President, Jo Bradley, called the meeting to order at 1:10 PM. Present were Scott Schneider (contractor), Jeff Stanford (by phone), Richard Strom, Kevin Gallagher, Deny Shah, Jitu Ishwar, Pam Amante, Mike Bradbrook, Stuart Marcus, Steven Musser, Phil Walker, Chris Knoerdel, Renata Dorn (guest), Barbara Platt (guest).

Privilege of the Floor: Introducing Chris Knoerdel – new Fort Bragg representative. Josie Perla & Deny Shah was also voted onto the Board. Renata Dorn notes that the new fulfillment piece does not highlight the South Coast on the map in the center of the piece. The red line should not be on the map. Feeling is South Coast is, once again, being ignored. Also, one of the Gualala Arts festivals was left out.

Approval of Minutes: Steven moves to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Mike seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.

Treasure’s Report:

• Savings Account - $107.73
• Checking Account - $-3231.58

• BID has collected $612,478.20 for 2006-2007. This is after the 1% County administration fee being paid.

• Zip Code TOT chart to be included in minutes.

• Jeff Stanford made a motion to approve the treasure’s report. Steven seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.

MCPA Report:
• MCPA hired Alydia Atkins as an office/project manager. She starts Sept. 13. Scott voted in as Vice-Chair of MCPA and is Chair of personnel committee.

• By-Law changes are in process. A big change is ridding itself of a Marketing Committee and using the joint marketing committee as its marketing arm.

• Motion made by MCPA Board that Scott would run the office and its staff until a CEO/ED is hired in exchange for Scott being able to direct MCPA staff for not only MCPA initiatives, but MCLA initiatives as well. MCLA needs to approve this “agreement”. Kevin moves to approve arrangement made by MCPA for two months and then revisit. Jeff seconds. Motion Passes.

• Welcome Center – another heritage conference is going to be held at Blue Lake Resort in Lake County on October 26th. Stuart encourages board members to attend. Nature Tourism coalition will be involved in conference as well. Stuart is working with the State on a Welcome Center location. Hopland is not preferred.

Marketing Committee:

• Have letter written to MWWC re: HypeHouse
• Request to have Joint Marketing(JM) Minutes sent to us
• goMendo : have lodging pages default to 50 listings per page, delete 25 and add 30
• Scott will talk to Jay Gordon write more Drives and discuss with JM
• Distribution of fulfillment piece to CWC’s, CVB’s, major travel agencies, wineries to go with wine club shipments, AAA.
• Take CA vIsitor Guide, Weekend Explorer, and North Coast Tourism requests for money to Board.

Jeff Stanford made a motion to approve the Marketing Committees report including paying a local travel writer to help write the drives/travel reports for gomendo.com. Pam seconded the motion. Motion Passes.

Administration Report:
• Meeting with Sonoma County Tourism Bureau
• Meeting with Marin County Conventions & Visitor’s Bureau
• County CEO starting October 1st
• Tony Shaw left County August 31st
• MWWC currently looking to hire a PR firm. MCLA to write a letter encouraging the hiring of Hype House
• Arts update – including how to market the “GoArts” program
• Begin a zip code data survey to find where people are coming from and when – project for MCPA staff

Internet Sub-Committee Report:
• All database and website issues to be sent to Robert at MCPA.
• Internet sub-committee is now a part of the Joint Marketing Committee
• Webervations design to be sent to the Board for quick consideration

Old Business:
• County Contract – waiting for Janine to get back to us with County’s response to our draft contract.
• Annual meeting – planned for Dahlia Garden at Botanical Garden.
o Stuart moves we have a joint meeting with MCPA from 11-12. Steven seconds. Motion passes.
o Need to have a push to include lodging members – encourage them to come
o Board members need to call members
o Place ads in local papers – make sure people register
o E-mail flyers & restaurant letters to Board Members to pass out at lodging – mail to board members that request it.
• Nomination/Election update – need a nominating committee to nominate Advisory Board members, Board officers & help develop the marketing committee for 2007-2008.
o Jeff moves all nominations be submitted to Scott for Marketing Committee, Officers & Advisory Board Members. Richard seconds. Elections will occur at October 10th Board Meeting. Ballots to be produced prior to the meeting. Motions passes.
• Workforce Investment Board representative – tabled until Contract with County is complete


New Business:
• By-Laws revision tabled until October meeting.
• Government/Community Affairs Committee Creation – Board feels such a committee is not necessary at this time. Jeff moves Stuart be the “Governmental Affairs Representative” to MCLA. Richard seconds. Motion Passes.
•

Next Meeting:
• The next board meeting will be held at Shambhala Ranch, Oct. 10th.

Adjournment: Jeff made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:55 pm. Rich seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.