10-14-2010 Park Commission Meeting

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BUSINESS CONNECT MEETING MINUTES • SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 Present: Kimberly Ziesemer (chair; Seriously Fun Marketing Group), Kathy Bittner-Lee (Echo), Kathy Moore (Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway; Know Moore Consulting), Mark Jurchen (Lakeland Agency), Kim Watson (BL Broadcasting), Carol Jean Weise (Weise Crafts and Variety),Cindy Hidde (Stonemark Land surveying), David Kennedy (AN Things Herbal), Ruth Ann Hanson (Brainerd Lakes Chamber), and Sue Galligan (Brainerd Lakes Chamber) 1. Reviewed and Accepted the August minutes 2. Networking and Introductions 3. New Chamber Members since August 1, 2010: • Brainerd Hotel & Conference Center— Brainerd • Taylor Stevenson — Brainerd • Crosslake Eye Center—Crosslake • Pequot Eye Center— Pequot Lakes • Prime Lending — Baxter • Friends of Linden Hill — Little Falls 4. City Update — Nancy Adams • Nancy Adams was not present. 5. Chamber Update—Sue Galligan • 2010 Elections —The Chamber's educational efforts for the 2010 elections will focus on "Candid Conversation with Candidates". Through a partnership with Lakes Media Collaborative pre-taped interviews with candidates for Crow Wing County, Cass County, Brainerd, Baxter, Breezy Point, Crosby, Crosslake, Nisswa, and Pequot Lakes elections will air on Charter Channels 8 and 15 as well as Crosslake Communications for a five-week time period leading up to the elections. YouTube videos of each will be posted and promoted on the Brainerd Lakes Chamber YouTube channel. An electronic Voters Guide will also be posted online which will highlight candidates' answers to different questions than those addressed on the videos. • Visitor Guide —Chamber Tourism Director, Gretchen Ennis; chamber staff, and a steering committee are still working on combining the Fun Guide and Visitor Guide into one publication. Ad sales will start in September. • Public Relations—A travel writer from Michigan visited the Brainerd Lakes Area in August. He fished with an area guide, stayed at a local resort, and toured area businesses and points of interest during his stay. • Website —The Chamber's JackRabbit BookDirect System on the home page has been a huge success with consumers seeking specific openings for lodging. Average time spent on the chamber's site is 7:48 minutes. This is an increase from 6 minutes, showing that visitors are finding information and staying on the site longer. 6. Market in the Park • Mark Jurchen / Lakeland Agency donated $250 to be used for prizes. • A committee is needed to help organize and work. Sue averaged 8 hours per week organizing the event, fielding phone calls, collecting money, and facilitating kid's games. • It was discussed that student organizations could run the event plus gain required volunteer hours. • It was also discussed that a business can sponsor the event for $1000 and the committee can hire a part time person to run the event every Thursday. • Sue will pull the advertising budget for 2010. Discussion was held to have small "Flea Market" sign made to have along Hwy 371 and County Rd 11 ^^ +"° 'r"' "{+"° ° °"+°