HomeMy WebLinkAboutVisitor Services and Information Advisory Committee Minutes November 10, 2010_201402041408017540Minutes of Visitor Services Advisory Committee
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Town Building Conference Room
In attendance: Kate Hamilton, Director, David Sharpe, Office Administrator,
Gene Mahon, Chairman, Diane Reis-Flaherty, Louise Swift and Linda Williams.
Peter Louderback also attended as a representative of the Chamber of Commerce.
Gene called the meeting to order at 3:05pm
The first item on the agenda was the monthly update, David read the figures for
the month of October.
Kate then discussed the Rooms Tax. She noted that the June to August quarter
just passed is higher ($552,398) than the previous year’s quarter ($463,688).
Kate also noted that people are calling for Thanksgiving and Christmas Stroll
room availability. Stroll looks strong as there are a number of sold out properties.
The Travel and Lodging brochure was the third item on the agenda. Kate reported
that the new booklet will be on time and under budget from last year. She also noted that
the Chamber has been helping collect money from smaller listings in the brochure. That
money will go towards paying to print the booklet.
The fourth item on the agenda was the Social Media Seminar on December 8th.
Visitor Services and NP&EDC are co-sponsoring a workshop to help local small
businesses make use of social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Visitor Services is
already using Twitter short messaging service with the name “NantucketBuzz.”
The Committee agreed to discuss the next agenda item, the Fireworks Plan, at the
end.
New Business was the next item. Kate reported that the Theatre Workshop will be
presenting the play, Peter Pan/ She noted that the actors will be flying and the cast is very
good. It will be a big attraction for the month of December.
The next topic was the Fireworks Plan. Kate reported that at the last board of
Selectmen meeting on November 3rd, Town Manager Libby Gibson announced that the
Town has no money available to pay for next summer’s Fourth of July fireworks. It was
discussed that a committee could be formed and a fundraising letter could be sent out.
This letter could be sent to individuals and organizations including Real Estate, Lodging,
Restaurant Associations and ReMain Nantucket.
It was also noted that last summer’s T-Shirt sales raised $6,800. Kate also
reported Visitor Services will be selling new shirts for Christmas Stroll. The design is
different as the shirts will be white and the lettering is in a band style.
Gene asked the committee to discuss the draft proposal in the packet. He also
noted that the Chamber of Commerce could and will collect funds. Any donations from
individuals is not tax deductable as the Chamber nor the Town are non-profits (501c-3).
Businesses on the other hand can deduct the money. Diane asked if this fundraising is
successful, what happens for 2012? Does the Town need to raise money again? Kate
further asked should the Town pay in full again or does the Chamber of Commerce take
over the show as they had done prior to 1993. The worse case scenario for this year is to
have a sponsor or sponsors. Kate added that the show has become expensive due to the
endangered Piping plover which requires a barge and at least $15,000.
Linda explained to the committee that she works with several Town Associations
including Brant Point, Sconset and Madaket and has the winter mailing list for each
group. There are 22 associations within the Civic League and someone should ask the
president of each association to get the word out.
The committee also discussed who would from the Chamber should coordinate
with Visitor Services or the Committee. All noted that a new director has been selected,
but not yet announced. If not the director than who on the staff. Gene suggested Office
Administrator June Myers.
The Committee’s main concern was a due date such as January 15 in order to
have the money in place by the time the Town signs a contract with a fireworks company.
A contract must be signed by January 30 in order to start the permitting process with
Federal and State agencies. If there is not enough money than the Town will not sign the
contract thereby cancelling the fireworks. An e-mail would be sent out to donators saying
that their credits cards and checks would not be put through and anyone paying cash
would be refunded.
It was decided that the committee report again to the Board of Selectmen. Kate
said she would have a memo written at the end of this meeting to go forward.
The committee further discussed having donation forms available for the public to
take. They should be downloadable from the NVS website, available at the office as well
as a possible clip out in the newspaper, a notice on the Airport Information screen and on
the crawls of TV-17 and Plum TV. It was also suggested that a Goal Thermometer be
placed in the paper and in the Mahon About Town newsletter so people could see follow
how much was being raised. The goal is $50,000.
The meeting adjourned at 4:07pm