Gaslight Media: Cindi, Debbie and I met with Jodie Bissonette, of Gaslight Media to discuss the new membership and trip advisor. We have been revising the content and navigation for our visitors with the staff going through each member and non member information. Each member and non member has the ability to assign themselves to a different area in our website.
MACVB Mt. Pleasant : We had a meeting with our lobbyist and Anne Rummel from the
Saginaw County CVB about the new assessment district she is forming for Bay City,
Saginaw and Midland area. There were many questions asked and the executive committee wanted her response before the December 11 board meeting. The executive and legislative committees wanted the ability to make suggestions and listened to her request. We want to make sure we have that the Pure MI funding is secure before they move forward. She assured us that they will hold off as long as possible but they can’t wait forever, one of there biggest supporters in this is Representative, Ken Horn. His term will be expiring and they do not want to lose their window of opportunity. (See
Attachment B)
Great Waters: The steering committee met for our monthly meeting in Curtis. The steering committee worked on our outline for the strategic planning session on January 7 and 8 at Halfway Lake Resort in Newberry. The committee also discussed the success of the Pure MI partnership for 2009. There was a discussion on the new website for Great
Waters
St Ignace CVB Board Meeting : Chris Rector, Northern Initiatives and I met with the board of director, to discuss advertising partnerships and the Pure MI partnership. The
Sault CVB has secured the partnership for two issues in AAA. We have also asked for
Minnesota AAA pricing. They have not committed to the Great Waters Pure Michigan partnership they are waiting for the bills to pass at the state level.
Travel Commission Meeting: The travel commission meeting was held on December 11 in the morning and I attended the meeting. The Travel Commission their main focus was on the funding of Pure Michigan national campaign. The also had a presentation from
Steve Yencich, Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association (MLTA) on the different legislative issues that has popping up during this difficult year. You have all received the e-mail to see how successful we have been in getting some sections of the bill omitted
(Post Labor Day Issue), some bills and working behind the scenes on the Pure Michigan
Funding. There where also some words exchanged between Anne Rummel Saginaw
County CVB and Steve Yencich about the new assessment district. MLTA is in opposition of this new assessment district.

MACVB Meeting December 11 : We met in Frankenmuth at the Bavarian Inn, with our usual meeting agenda. Two main focuses were the new assessment district that is in the infant stages of drafting a bill and the 2010 MACVB budget. We also had present Travel
Michigan and our new lobbyist firm Michigan Legislative Consultant. As I have talked about earlier during my report we had asked Anne Rummel to present to the whole board her plans. The discussion was completed and the board of directors of the MACVB will have the lobbyist watch the bill closely. The boards of directors want to make sure that it does not affect any other CVB then we can unite and put a stop it. I feel that if we stay on the side of gathering information on this issue, we do not oppose it we will have more information and not be left out in the cold. MACVB did not take a position or a stand when Lansing and Kent County went after their new assessment.
Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association Annual Logging Congress: The Sault
Convention & Visitors Bureau has received a request for proposal for the 2011 annual
Lake States Logging Congress. Kewadin Casino is the only property that can handle a conference of this size. I have made contact with Kewadin met with Stephanie Sprecker and Todd Olmstead twice and we will have a phone conference with Aaron Nieman,
Event Coordinator for the Great lakes Timber Professionals Association on Monday
January 11, 2010. This could fill all our rooms on September, 8
,
9 and 10, 2011. We will have the proposal in by January 25, 2010.
The one question I could not answer is would a room assessment be available to GLTPA?
Travel in January :
Newberry January 7 & 8 2010 Great Waters strategic planning session
ABA January 15 and returning on the 18