HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-27 KCVB MinutesA. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
Kenai Visitors Convention Bureau, Inc.
Board of Directors Meeting
President Will Jahrig, Presiding
Wednesday, October 27, 1999
MINUTES
Directors present: Jahrig. Lofstedt, Malston, Bookey, Braun, Nelson, Rainey,Vozar_
Staff present: Executive Director Tan.
C. APPROVAL OF 1d1LNUTES
MIS (Matson; Braun) to approve the minutes of September 16, 1999_
D. CORRESPONDENCE
Tarr reported that thank you letter was received from the Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing
Council for KVCB's donation of a gift basket to the Regional Tourism Conference, and for KVCB's
participation in the Annual Travel Faire in September. The Women's Resource and Crisis Center
also wrote to thank KVCB for donating door prizes to the 12 Annual Kenai Peninsula Run for
Women.
A letter was also received from the Kenai Brown Bear Stakeholder's Group, congratulating Tan on
her appointment to the group as a tourism representative and announcing the first Stakeholder's
meeting.
KVCB also received a letter from Kathy Scott, the organizer of Project Impact. Approximately 200
people attended the catered breakfast held at the Center.
E. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
The following monthly reports were distributed in the board packets:
Visitor Statistics
Memhcrship
Cultural Center
wu v.visitkenai.corn web site statistics
KVCB BOARD MEETING
October 27, 1999
Page 2
Tarr reported that the Center received a grant of $5,600 from the Alaska State Museum Grant -in -Aid
Program to install track lighting in the Cultural Center. The lighting has been ordered and will be
installed before the upcoming Alaska 2000 art show. She said the Center had also applied for a
$9,600 grant from the Rasmuson Foundation to assist in funding materials needed for the Alaska
2000 art exhibit. The City of Kenai recently installed a new humidification system in the building.
Tarr reported on upcoming exhibits at the Center; "Guys Love Tools," a collection of primitive and
new tools made by local artist; "Alaska/ Wild 99," a photography exhibit featuring the Anchorage
Photographers Guild. Tarr said that KVCC would' host the 3` Annual Central Peninsula Writer's
Night, a community event for local writers on March 9, 2000.
The Center and the Alaska Humanities Forum will sponsor and host filmmaker Francine Taylor, and
her film "Politics of the Past a documentary of Alaska's politicians before statehood. Barbara
Brown, Anchorage columnist and author will present "How to Read to Your Child" at the Center in
December.
Tarr said Exhibits Education Manager Ricky Gease had received a $500 grant from the
Smithsonian Institution Center for Museum Studies to attend the "Museums and Native People
Workshop" at the Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak, AK.
Board members received an update on the upcoming "Alaska 2000: A Celebration of Wildlife
Art" exhibit. Board members were shown a color proof of the Alaska 2000 poster designed by
Millpond Press. The board approved printing 2500 posters. Tarr said the posters would retail for
$10.00. Tarr also said that artists' prints will be sold at the show, and that KVCB would receive a
commission from print sales. Profits would be used to underwrite the cost of producing the
exhibition.
Tan said the Grand Opening reception for Alaska 2000 would be in mid -May and that a free
admission day for the public would be May 14 Mother's Day. Tarr also reported that she had met
with City Manager Rick Ross about Alaska 2000 and that he was very interested and was supportive
of the art exhibit and of the $3:00 admission charge for May, June and July.
There was a lot of discussion about Alaska 2000 among KVCB Board members. Board members
discussed the impact of the $3.00 admission charge on the local community. Director Jahrig said
that people expect to pay an admission at a museum. Tarr said that the free Community Day on
May le was created for local residents. More discussion followed about advertising for Alaska
2000.
Tarr said she would like to make a presentation on cultural tourism at the Kenai Chamber luncheon
in Anril and would tie Alaska 2000 into her nresentation She would also talk about Old Town
KVCB BOARD MEETING
October 27, 1999
Page 3
Kenai, Kenai Native exhibits and the Summer Interpretative Programs at Kenai Visitors Cultural
Center.
As the appointed tourism representative of the Brown Bear Stakeholder's Group, she said regular
stakeholder meetings would begin in October through early March. KVCB Board members were
given copies of the Brown Bear Stakeholder's charter.
Tarr reported that she recently attended the AVA Board and statewide tourism convention in
Ketchikan and that newly- elected ATIA board members were introduced at the AVA Convention.
Other local meeting news: the 1999 Alaska Municipal League Convention will hold several
meetings and special events, such as the Newly Elected Officials Reception and the Mayor's
Reception at the Kenai Visitors Cultural Center in November. Other organizations and special
events that will be at the Center this winter Tesoro, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Central
Peninsula General Hospital.
Tarr reported that KVCB's fax machine wasn't working and a service technician determined that the
fax machine was irreparable. Tarr stated that KVCB would need to purchase a new fax machine in
the near future.
Approximately 30 KVCB members had purchased a hypertext link on the Bureau's web site since
September. Tarr showed Board members examples of the www.visitkenai.eom with the new
hypertext links.
Tarr said that a new Kenai Peninsula map was in production by Marcoa Publishing for the 2000
visitor season. Kenai, Soldotna and Homer Chambers of Commerce assisted Tarr in the update of
the map.
E. ACTION ITEMS
Tarr included a revised KVCB Employee Handbook draft in the director packets with her
recommended changes. The board accepted the draft of the employee handbook and agreed to have an attorney review the revised handbook for legal purposes.
The board discussed the proposed nominations to fill the vacant KVCB board seats. The board
agreed to maintain the board at the current 14 seats and to present 10 people slated for the ballot.
F. FINANCIAL REPORTS
Tarr reported on her recent meeting with Mikunda Cottrell concerning KVCB' s short-year tax filing
KVCB received a letter from the IRS about the Bureau's late tax filing for the short -year budget
period of July 1, 1997 through December 31, 1997. Although the Bureau was changing from a July
1 fiscal year to a calendar year budget in 1998, a tax return was still required to be filed with the IRS
for the temporary 6 -month budget period. The IRS was assessing a penalty to the Bureau, even
KVCB BOARD MEETING
October 27, 1999
Page 4
though as a tax- exempt non -profit organization, the Bureau does not pay federal income taxes. The
Bureau was assured by the accounting firm that they would pay any IRS penalties for the late filing
since the mix -up occurred in Mikunda Cottrell's office. A detailed letter of explanation to the IRS was
prepared by Tarr and Bill Coghill on October 1, 1999 explaining why the filing was late for the short
budget period. The letter to the IRS asked that the penalty be waived. Tarr said that President Jahrig
was kept informed of the situation over the past several weeks.
Tarr asked if there were any financial questions after reading the financial reports. The 1999 Budget
projected gaming revenues at $112,000 (Dec. 98 proceeds through November '99 proceeds.) As of
September 30, 1999, gaming revenues were approximately $91,000. The Bureau would not achieve the
$112,000 target, said Tarr. July ($2,490) and August ($1,900 net) were very low revenue months.
A new copy machine was purchased in 1999 and anew fax machine still needed to be purchased.
G. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
Amy Manuel
Administrative Assistant Meetings Coordinator