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12-20-2005 Minutes III "" Convention and Tourism Advisory Committee Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - Minutes Members Present: Bette Timmel, Marlene Leister, Kathy Tolbert, Dave Miller Members Absent: Gerald Cook, Don Marrs, Ben Vidricksen, Jennifer Sturges Guests/StaffPresent: Keith Rawlings - Salina Bicentennial Center; Sylvia Rice, Tiffany Benien, Jo Ann McClure, Andi Pahl- Chamber Staff Minutes The Minutes of the November 2005 meeting were reviewed. Financial Statement The October and November Financial Statements were reviewed. Division Updates: Sports Market Tiffany gave the following update: . 4A Football Championship - Tiffany reported that the 4A Football Championship was very successful. It was the Chamber's first time to host the event. More than 4,000 (3,700 through the gate) attended the game November 26 at Salina Stadium where Holton triumphed over Ulysses in double overtime (28-17). The Salina Newcomers Group ran the concessions and provides positive feedback about the experience. . 2006 NJCAA - Salina mco Basketball Blast - The mco Blast Sponsorships Task Force will continue to promote the national tournament, and specifically the Championship game, through sponsorship packages. In addition to tickets, hospitality passes, and advertising opportunities, sponsorship packages will also include special Tailgate Party and Championship Game tickets. Work continues to find in-kind sponsors for the tailgate event. The band "Northcutt" has been scheduled to play for the tailgate party. The Championship game will be filmed by CSTV. Currently, local sponsors for the national tournament have committed to $11,065. Preparations for the mco Blast also continue in the areas of team hosts, floor management, team practice sites, program book, awards, statistics, entertainment, officials' coordination, recruiters' hospitality, soft good sales and more. The next Basketball Task Force meeting will be December 28. . Kansas ASA Softball- Salina was selected to host the 2007 ASA Girls 12-Under Class B Fast Pitch Northern National Championship. The event will be held at Bill Burke Park during July 31-August 5, 2007. It is expected that between 40 and 50 teams will compete. Other cities bidding on the event included Owensboro, KY, Springfield, MO and St. Louis, MO. Convention Market Jo Ann gave the following update: . December Chamber Business After Hours - The After Hours event was held at the new Courtyard by Marriott December 15 and was very well attended with 305 paid attendees. . KSAE Trade Show - Jo Ann attended the KSAE Trade Show in Topeka on December 9. Also exhibiting at the show was the Bicentennial Center, Courtyard by Marriott, Country Inn & Suites and the Holiday Inn Holidome. The show's theme was "Reality TV" and Salina worked with an "Amazing Race" theme. Our drawing prize was a toy remote-controlled car. It was a big hit at the show. A lot of good contacts were made, especially with the Kansas Hospital Association and many groups are looking at Salina again. . Kansas Association of Auctioneers - The Kansas Auctioneers chose Salina for their 50th anniversary and will be holding one of their spouse activities at Crestwood, Inc. Crestwood is building a new showroom with theatre seating and a working kitchen, which enables them to give cooking demonstrations for entertain visiting tour groups. Smoky Hill Vineyards & Winery is doing a wine and dessert sho\v for the group. Tourism Market Sylvia gave the following tourism market update: . Wild West Kansas - Sylvia met with the Wild West Kansas coalition on December 14 in Hays to plan for the coming year. They concentrate on the group market. Wild West Kansas will also consider print advertising in publications such as Destinations, Courier, Leisure Group Travel, and others. . ... . KMMA - KMMA is working on several upcoming events. There will be two F AM tours in 2006. An April one including a Kansas trade show, possibly at the Salina Bicentennial Center, and another one in October. They will be conducted in different parts of the state. Bids from other communities will be asked for from KMMA, who is working with Kansas Travel & Tourism to host the event. Media Hits - Sylvia reported that an article about Salina attractions by travel writer Bill Graves appeared in Trailer Life. The Denver Post gave a great review to Martinelli's Little Italy. Sylvia was also interviewed regarding Salina attractions by Destinations magazine for their August 2005 issue, and the December issue of Group Travel Leader pictured her working a booth at the NT A event last November. . 2006 Action Plan & Budeet Sylvia distributed a copy of the 2006 Action Plan and Budget for the Convention & Visitors Division and gave an overview of primary objectives and long-range goals for 2006. Other Business Keith Rawlings gave a report on upgrades being done at the Salina Bicentennial with regard to the scoreboard project in the arena, replacement of the operable wall in the Heritage Center, and replacing the point-of-sale system in the concourse. Kathy Tolbert said a new traveling exhibit, "Tricking Fish," would be on display at the Rolling Hills Museum beginning in January. There are upgrades being done to the Zoo's gift shop and ticket booth this winter so all ticket sales will be going through the Museum for the time being. She also reported that their year-end attendance was 155,000. New events and the expansion of existing ones are being planned for 2006. Next Meetine The next Convention & Tourism Advisory Committee Meeting will be held January 17 at the Chamber. The Committee agreed on changing the dates of their meeting to the first week of the month beginning in February. Upcomine Events Upcoming meetings, conventions and events were noted. The meeting adjourned at 8:40a.m.