Event Organizers Give Report To Visitors Commission
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Festival of Trees organizer Tracie Hodson appeared before the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission Thursday, asking for $1,800 to promote the event with out-of-county media.
The festival, Nov. 16-19, is a regular fundraising event for the Health Care Foundation of Kosciusko County. Proceeds support Beds and Britches Etc., Care Connection and PUENTE, a Hispanic outreach program.
This year, Hodson said, the week-long event in the Old Town Mall includes several special events.
The grant was approved. Jan Carter advised Hodson to make an application much earlier for the money next year.
The commission approves monetary grants for local festivals and events. A representative then makes an appeal to the county council for the funds, which come from a 6 percent innkeeper's tax.
Additionally, the commission pays for the Visitor's Center building, staff, tourist promotions and programs. The center is governed by the Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
CVB president Mike Stetzel said the bureau is seeking new board members and will be adding at least three more people. Terms on the board also are limited to two three-year periods.
People interested in sitting on the CVB board can call Stetzel.
Medlock suggested the CVB seek a representative from every town.
CVB Director Mary Kittrell said the long-range planning contact has been signed and forwarded to Zeitgeist Consultants of Wisconsin.
Also approved was the full $35,000 contract payment.
The commission asked Kittrell to contact all county festival organizers and invite them to a meeting to discuss their projects and how the CVB can help promote the event.
Commissioner David Taylor said he helped organize "Back to the Days of Kosciuszko" for many years and that board always took other events into consideration.
Chairwoman Deb Wiggins said the festival organizer committee could help develop a comprehensive calendar of county events. The calendar should be compiled, constantly updated and made available on the CVB's Web site, www.koscvb.org
Tracey Patrick reported on the Lake City Skiers events June 17-19 and July 8-10 when regional competitions were held at Hidden Lake. The group had asked for $13,000, which was approved.
Lake City Skiers hopes to host a national event in 2007.
Patrick explained the bidding process for regional and national ski tournaments.
Wiggins suggested the CVB get involved in that process.
John Dalton appeared to report on the Syracuse Wawasee Historical Museum's antique show and sale Aug. 8-9. He said the silent auction brought in one-third more than last year.
Out-of-county advertising costs were $1,974.
Cindy Dobbins of the Warsaw Community Development Corp. appeared before the board regarding the Downtown Days Festival held June 24 and 26.
She said the event wasn't as well attended as last year's Warsaw Sesquicentennial, but that was expected.
"Maybe you're competing with too many other events," Wiggins said. "You might want to reevaluate the event's timing."
The board also:
• Planned to meet with the I-80/90 Group representatives about their advertising package and how much the county receives back in tourism.
KCCRVC members are Deb Wiggins, Jan Carter, Faye Medlock, David Taylor and Jon Shrofe. John Elliott and Joy McCarthy-Sessing were absent. [[In-content Ad]]
Festival of Trees organizer Tracie Hodson appeared before the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission Thursday, asking for $1,800 to promote the event with out-of-county media.
The festival, Nov. 16-19, is a regular fundraising event for the Health Care Foundation of Kosciusko County. Proceeds support Beds and Britches Etc., Care Connection and PUENTE, a Hispanic outreach program.
This year, Hodson said, the week-long event in the Old Town Mall includes several special events.
The grant was approved. Jan Carter advised Hodson to make an application much earlier for the money next year.
The commission approves monetary grants for local festivals and events. A representative then makes an appeal to the county council for the funds, which come from a 6 percent innkeeper's tax.
Additionally, the commission pays for the Visitor's Center building, staff, tourist promotions and programs. The center is governed by the Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
CVB president Mike Stetzel said the bureau is seeking new board members and will be adding at least three more people. Terms on the board also are limited to two three-year periods.
People interested in sitting on the CVB board can call Stetzel.
Medlock suggested the CVB seek a representative from every town.
CVB Director Mary Kittrell said the long-range planning contact has been signed and forwarded to Zeitgeist Consultants of Wisconsin.
Also approved was the full $35,000 contract payment.
The commission asked Kittrell to contact all county festival organizers and invite them to a meeting to discuss their projects and how the CVB can help promote the event.
Commissioner David Taylor said he helped organize "Back to the Days of Kosciuszko" for many years and that board always took other events into consideration.
Chairwoman Deb Wiggins said the festival organizer committee could help develop a comprehensive calendar of county events. The calendar should be compiled, constantly updated and made available on the CVB's Web site, www.koscvb.org
Tracey Patrick reported on the Lake City Skiers events June 17-19 and July 8-10 when regional competitions were held at Hidden Lake. The group had asked for $13,000, which was approved.
Lake City Skiers hopes to host a national event in 2007.
Patrick explained the bidding process for regional and national ski tournaments.
Wiggins suggested the CVB get involved in that process.
John Dalton appeared to report on the Syracuse Wawasee Historical Museum's antique show and sale Aug. 8-9. He said the silent auction brought in one-third more than last year.
Out-of-county advertising costs were $1,974.
Cindy Dobbins of the Warsaw Community Development Corp. appeared before the board regarding the Downtown Days Festival held June 24 and 26.
She said the event wasn't as well attended as last year's Warsaw Sesquicentennial, but that was expected.
"Maybe you're competing with too many other events," Wiggins said. "You might want to reevaluate the event's timing."
The board also:
• Planned to meet with the I-80/90 Group representatives about their advertising package and how much the county receives back in tourism.
KCCRVC members are Deb Wiggins, Jan Carter, Faye Medlock, David Taylor and Jon Shrofe. John Elliott and Joy McCarthy-Sessing were absent. [[In-content Ad]]