Jul 08, 2025 Clute Visitors Bureau Meeting

[00:00:01]

IT IS 218. QUORUM HAS BEEN MET, SO I WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 1018.

[I. Call meeting to Order.]

AND IF EVERYONE COULD STATE THEIR NAMES AND IF THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC POSITION ON THE BOARD, IF THEY COULD STATE THAT POSITION. AND WE'LL JUST START TO MY LEFT.

I'M SHIRLEY. AND I THINK I'M A MEMBER AT LARGE.

I'M RETIRED. I'M A LARGE MEMBER, BUT I AM RETIRED AND HAVE BEEN HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE.

VAUGHN DORNAN. I'M NOT SURE IT'S BEEN SO LONG, AM I? I KNOW I'M THE FORMER PRESIDENT, BUT AM I A VICE PRESIDENT OR.

YES. OKAY. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. SURE. THANK YOU.

I'M WITH HAMPTON INN AND SUITES. THANK YOU. JOYCE CARTER WITH HAMPTON INN AND SUITES.

I'M THE TREASURER. THANK YOU. JOYCE. ALL RIGHT.

THAT SAID, THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS. OH, AND CAN WE ALSO INTRODUCE OUR DIRECTOR, PLEASE? YEAH. I HAVE NOT MET RACHEL YET. RACHEL FLORES JOINED US MONTHS AGO.

AS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM DIRECTOR.

SO SHE'LL BE, IF SHE HASN'T MET YOU ONE ON ONE, SHE'LL BE OUT SHORTLY.

DO THAT. SO WE WELCOME RACHEL. SHE'S COME WITH, WELL, MANY YEARS OF KNOWLEDGE.

SO WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE, RACHEL. THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, SO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS TO APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 14TH, 2023 MEETING.

[II. Approve Meeting Minutes from December 14, 2023 Meeting. ]

SO WE ARE GOING TO TABLE THAT. CORRECT? WE ARE.

I'M LOOKING FOR A RECORDING, SO WE MAY NOT HAVE A FULL RECORDING OF THE LAST MEETING THAT YOU HAD THAT WAS HELD IN.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE. I THINK IT WAS IN DECEMBER OF 2023.

SO WE IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PRESENT AN AMENDED FORMAT FOR THOSE MINUTES WHERE WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO OVER THE ACTION ITEMS AND JUST IT'LL ALMOST BE A REPLICA OF THE AGENDA. BUT THEN MOVING FORWARD, THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE, SO THAT WE HAVE A CENTRALIZED RECORDING SYSTEM OF ALL THE MEETINGS.

FANTASTIC. SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

AND DO WE NEED TO DO WE NEED TO OKAY. SO I WILL TAKE A I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO TABLE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 14TH, 2023. SO MOVED. SHIRLEY, I SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

FOUR AND SECONDS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. THAT MOTION IS APPROVED. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO ITEM THREE CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO

[III. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve a Resolution to Appoint a new Executive Director for the Clute Visitors Bureau. ]

THAT BEING RACHEL FLORES. SO WITH THAT RESOLUTION CAN I MAY I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO APPOINT RACHEL FLORES AS THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO THE VISITORS BUREAU.

HI, VAUGHN. DORNAN. MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE HER AS THE NEW DIRECTOR.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND? SHIRLEY, I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.

ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. THE MOTION IS APPROVED.

CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF THIS BOARD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA IS NOMINATION OF OFFICERS FOR 24 THROUGH 26.

[IV. Nomination of Officers for 2024-2026. ]

SO EVERY YEAR IN JULY IS THE RE NOMINATION. GOT IT.

SO WE MISSED THAT. SO WE MISSED THAT. OKAY. LAST.

SO BASICALLY SINCE WE HAVEN'T HAD MEETINGS WITH CURRENT IN THERE, BUT NOW YOU CAN NOMINATE AND MOVE AROUND IF YOU WANT TO.

AND DO WE HAVE A LIST OF THOSE OF THOSE OF THOSE POSITIONS.

YOUR. YOUR PRESIDENT WARREN'S VICE PRESIDENT JOYCE.

TREASURER AND CREW IS SECRETARY.

ALL RIGHT. UNLESS THERE'S ANY OBJECTIONS, I HAVE NO PROBLEM.

[00:05:02]

I HAVE TO TELL THEM WE DON'T WANT TO START THE NOMINATION.

I DON'T. THERE'S NO THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BIBLE, SO TO SPEAK.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND DOES ANYONE WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT OR ANY OTHER ROLES? DOES EVERYONE WHO WAS NAMED ON THAT, WOULD THEY WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO STEP ASIDE OR NOT CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THOSE ROLES? ALL RIGHT. SO I THINK WE NEED A SECOND TO THE MOTION IN THAT CASE.

ALL RIGHT, SO THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO TO KEEP THIS SLATE OF OFFICERS.

AND I MAKE THAT MOTION. SO SHIRLEY MAKES THAT MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT. EXCELLENT.

JOYCE. SECONDS. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.

THEN THAT CARRIES. SO WE HAVE ELECTED, THOUGH WE HAVE NOMINATED.

AND SO WE NOMINATED THOSE. DO WE NEED TO ELECT NOW? FANTASTIC. OKAY. SO NOW WE CAN WE HAVE NOMINATED THOSE THOSE POSITIONS.

[V. Election of Officers for 2024-2026.]

SO I MOVE THAT WE ELECT THE OFFICERS AS PRESENTED.

ALRIGHT. SURE SHIRLEY. AND IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT. MOTION CARRIES.

FANTASTIC. NEXT UP IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

[VI. Executive Director Report. ]

THERE'S ONLY ONE CHAIR APPROVED HERE. IF YOU GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA AND THEY THEY RATIFY IT, THEY'RE CERTIFIED IT. GOT IT. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO ATTEND THE MEETING.

IT'S JUST A FORMALITY. GREAT. BUT IF YOU WANT TO, WHEN YOU SEE IT ON THE WILL, THEY LET US KNOW.

WILL. WILL. ROSIE. ROSA, WILL YOU LET US KNOW WHEN THAT IS? THAT'D BE GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I THINK THERE'S A MEETING THIS THURSDAY. IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

OKAY. IT'S FOR. IT WOULDN'T MAKE IT ON THIS AGENDA.

YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S RIGHT. I'LL BE OUT OF TOWN.

SO I'M IN AUGUST. OKAY. NO, NO. GREAT. WAIT. OKAY.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. ALL RIGHT. NO, NO. OKAY. SO I JUST REALIZED THAT IN MY EXCITEMENT AND THE FEELING THAT I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A MONTH AND I HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT TALK ABOUT MYSELF, THAT I DIDN'T INCLUDE AN INTRODUCTION AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.

SO I FIGURED I'D GIVE A LITTLE BIO OF MY BACKGROUND AND EVERYTHING FOR SOME OF YOU THAT I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND MEET WITH.

SO MY NAME IS RACHEL. I'VE JUST RELOCATED HERE FROM THE LAS VEGAS METRO AREA.

AS ANGEL MENTIONED, I AM GOING TO BE SERVING A DUAL ROLE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.

AND THAT'S A REALLY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME CLUTE HAS EVER HAD THIS SORT OF POSITION.

AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY EXCITING TIME TO DO THAT.

AND SO FOR ME, I ACTUALLY WELL, I'M SUPER EXCITED BECAUSE IT LITERALLY COVERS MY BACKGROUND.

FOR I'VE WORKED IN MULTIPLE CITIES. I'VE WORKED IN, IN THE TEXAS AREA I'VE WORKED AT.

I WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TYPE B CORPORATION FOR BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS WHEN WE WERE RECRUITING SPACE, AFTER WHICH I MOVED OVER TO SOUTH PADRE ISLAND AND SERVED AS THE CVB DIRECTOR THERE.

AND THEN I'VE WORKED IN WASHINGTON STATE, GEORGIA, BOTH IN AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM CAPACITY AND THEN MOST RECENTLY IN LAS VEGAS WERE THERE. I WAS SOLELY FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

BUT IT'S VEGAS. THERE'S NO VEGAS WITHOUT TOURISM.

SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND. I'M SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE INCLUDE AND ESPECIALLY TO SERVE THIS DUAL FUNCTION.

I THINK IT'LL HELP US KIND OF TRANSITION FROM AND TRANSITION FROM WHERE WE ARE AND TO BE ABLE TO BOLSTER OUR PROGRAM.

SO THAT SAID, ANY SORT OF QUESTIONS? I'M ALSO A VIRGO AND BIRTHDAY'S COMING UP.

IT IS COMING UP. YES IT IS. SO AND I LIKE WALKS ON THE BEACH AS WELL.

SO. WELL YOU'RE YOU'RE IN LUCK. YEAH, I KNOW THAT WAS PART OF THE IDEA, AND HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY KNOW.

I KEEP ON ASKING PEOPLE, WHERE'S THE BEACH? AND THIS IS ONE OF THE I GREW UP SPLITTING MY TIME BETWEEN CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS.

THE FUN STORY IS, WHAT I'D LIKE TO TELL EVERYONE IS THAT MY STEPFATHER IS FROM TEXAS, BUT MY MOTHER IS AN ANGELINA.

[00:10:02]

WE USED TO KIND OF GO BACK AND FORTH. AND SO WHEN I GREW UP, I REBELLED AND I MOVED TO THE EAST COAST AND BECAME A NEW YORKER.

SO I WAS GROWING UP AROUND IN THE SAN DIEGO AND SOUTH PADRE AREA.

I'M USED TO KIND OF YOU LOOK OUT THE BEACH AND THERE'S THE BEACH, AND I HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO FIND, LIKE THIS AREA WHERE THE BEACH. SO I KNOW YOU GUYS SAY YOU HAVE A BEACH, BUT.

OH, YEAH. FOUND IT. YOU BET. WE JUST GO THAT WAY.

THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE SAYS. AND I'VE GONE THAT WAY.

332. 330. THAT'S RIGHT. YOU GO TO THE END OF THE WORLD.

I'VE SEEN LIKE, SURFSIDE AND MATAGORDA LIKE THAT AREA OVER THERE.

BUT THEY'VE GONE LIKE DEFINITELY FOR SOUTH. BUT EVERYONE TELLS ME LIKE, NO, THE BEACH IS LIKE 15 MINUTES AWAY. I'M LIKE, ARE YOU SURE? BUT THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE SAYS. SO ONE DAY I'M GOING TO FIND THIS MYSTICAL BEACH THAT EVERYONE KEEPS REFERRING TO.

BUT THAT SAID, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THOUGHTS IN NO.

ALL RIGHT. SO. SO WHAT? SO WHAT DREW YOU TO TO THIS AREA? WHAT WHAT ARE WHAT ARE SOME OF THE POTENTIAL YOU SEE IN INCLUDE AND IN THE BRAZOS PORT REGION? WELL, YOU KNOW AND I THINK WES WAS ON MY INTERVIEW PANEL, SO HE DEFINITELY HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS.

I THINK FOR ME, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I'VE BEEN IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN TOURISM FOR A GOOD TEN YEARS OR SO.

I AM NOT A YOUNG PERSON. AND, YOU KNOW, I FELL IN LOVE.

I ACTUALLY FELL INTO GOVERNMENT BEFORE THAT. I WORKED IN FINANCE AND IN THE INVESTOR RELATIONS KIND OF SORT OF IN CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY.

AND ONCE I FOUND GOVERNMENT, I AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I REALLY JUST I FELT LIKE I FOUND MY CALLING EVERYTHING THAT I'D EVER WANTED TO BE.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. AND I WAS SO HAPPY TO FIND WHAT I COULD DO.

AND AS I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH NOW THAT I'M SORT OF AT A CROSSROADS IN MY CAREER, I FEEL LIKE I'M ACTUALLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR WAS NOT WHAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IF YOU AS YOU MOVE UP YOUR CHAIN, AS YOU BECOME MORE EXPERIENCED, WHAT YOU WANT TO BE IS YOU WANT TO MOVE ON TO SOMETHING BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER. THAT SHOULD BE THE GOAL.

AND IN THAT PROCESS, I FEEL LIKE I KIND OF FIGURED OUT THAT WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS I LIKE TO BE A HANDS ON MANAGER.

I REALLY LIKE THAT COMPONENT OF BEING ABLE TO BE PART OF THE PROJECTS AND SOLUTIONS THAT YOU'RE DOING, AND WHEN YOU ARE IN BIG ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KIND OF CAN'T DO THAT.

SO WHEN THE SO THAT SORT OF SET ME LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE LIKE A DIFFERENT SIZE.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT BROUGHT ME BACK TO TEXAS WITH CLUTE.

THE REASON I REALLY WAS INTERESTED IN KLUTE WAS BECAUSE IT'S A CITY IN TRANSITION, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY MY SPECIALTY.

WHEN I LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER PLACES I'VE WORKED AT, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE PERSON WHO COMES IN AS AS BEING TRANSITIONING INTO SOMETHING.

AND SO THAT REALLY SUITS THE VIRGO IN ME. WE'RE VERY TYPE-A.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, I FEEL THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I DIDN'T HAVE EXPERIENCE, SO I WAS GOING ON SHEER EXCITEMENT.

NOW THAT I'M IN A SIMILAR POSITION TO THAT I WAS WHEN I STARTED, I FEEL LIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I HAVE LOTS OF EXPERIENCE TO GIVE. AND EARLY.

SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE RELIVING, RELIVING MY YOUTH WITH A NEW PROJECT.

BUT NOW I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT I SEE A LOT OF POTENTIAL IN AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY IN.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG PATH. BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE COULD BE IF WE'RE SMART, THERE COULD BE A RESURGENCE FOR KLUTE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH YOU AND ALL OF US, LEVERAGING WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER THIS, THIS COMMUNITY AND THE EXPERTISE THAT YOU BRING IN, THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU BRING IN TO REALLY AMPLIFY THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE HERE AT IN THIS, IN THIS COMMUNITY TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THIS COMMUNITY TO SHOW OFF WHAT WE HAVE AND AND TO BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS AS WELL.

AND SO I'M JUST THRILLED TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO WORK WITH YOU OVER THE, OVER THE COMING DAYS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE MORE THING.

OH, YES. PLEASE. SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ME. SORRY.

YES. SO I KNOW IT'S FUN, BUT I ACTUALLY DID KIND OF WANT TO AT LEAST SORT OF GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE OF WHERE YOU GUYS WERE AND WHERE.

WHERE I THINK WE COULD POTENTIALLY GO. SO IN TERMS OF PAST DIRECTORS REPORTS, OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE SEEN THAT THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF TRANSITION BETWEEN IN THE PAST TWO YEARS YOU HAVEN'T MET. THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE THERE.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PROGRAM THAT MEANT THAT MEANS THAT YOUR PROGRAM HASN'T REALLY CHANGED MUCH FOR THE MOST PART, WHAT YOU WERE DOING IN 2022 TO 2023 KIND OF ROLLED OVER INTO 2024.

[00:15:04]

YOU JUST CONTINUED ON WITH THE AD PLACEMENTS AND IT WAS ROLLED OVER FROM YEAR TO GO.

YOUR PRIMARY ADVERTISERS ARE TOWARD TEXAS, TEXAS HIGHWAYS AND THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

MOST OF THOSE ADS, THE CONTENT GEARS AROUND SELLING PROMOTING THE MOSQUITO FESTIVAL.

SO YOU START SEEING THAT IT'S THERE, OBVIOUSLY.

AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL MY HOTELIERS THAT WE'VE SEEN DECLINES.

AND SO HOTEL SALES TAX. SO THAT HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON THE BUDGET.

YOU'VE GONE FROM I THINK IN 2022 YOU HAD A 40 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLAR BUDGET FOR MARKETING.

NOW WE'RE DOWN TO A $25,000 BUDGET. SO THAT'S BEEN THE SORT OF WHERE IT IS.

SO WHICH BRINGS US TO WHAT DO WE DO. RIGHT. WE KNOW THAT FROM THE HOTELIERS STANDPOINT, WE NEED TO INCREASE REVENUE.

WE KNOW THAT SO THAT WE CAN MARKET MORE. WE KNOW WE NEED MONEY TO DO THAT.

SO IT'S OFTEN TIMES WE'RE IN A SIMILAR POSITION THAT EVERYONE IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT COMES FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG? YOU NEED MONEY TO ADVERTISE, BUT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SUCCESSFUL ADVERTISING TO BE ABLE TO DRAW THE THE CLIENTELE. THAT SAID, I'VE COME UP WITH A COUPLE OF SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM GOALS.

IF IT WERE UP TO ME, I WOULD HAVE HAD A MUCH MORE ELABORATE PLAN.

BUT I WAS TOLD TO BE PATIENT AND WATCHFUL. SO IN THE SHORT TERM GOALS WE'VE COME UP I'VE COME UP WITH IS ONE I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS, AS WE'VE SEEN TODAY. WE HAVEN'T HAD REGULAR MEETINGS.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BOOKKEEPING AND ESTABLISHMENT AND THINGS WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH.

WE MIGHT. ONE THING I'D LIKE TO KIND OF ALSO VISIT WILL BE THE CALENDAR.

MOST OF YOUR MEETINGS AND THE BYLAWS ARE OUTLINED AS THAT YOU MEET AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND SORT OF TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MANDATORY MEETINGS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU OR WHAT WAS THE THOUGHTS BEHIND THAT.

BUT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS AND HOW HANDS ON AS A BOARD YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU REVISIT.

AGAIN, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY HERE IN THIS ROOM. I THINK DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LIKE IT, IT MIGHT WORK BETTER BECAUSE AS I SAID, THIS GIVES US A CHANCE TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND ALSO HAVE BACK UP BOARD THE MARKETING.

AND THEN THERE'S JUST OVERALL OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF THAT I'D LIKE TO LIKE FOCUS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE YOU KNOW, THERE'S MEMBERSHIPS THAT WE'RE IN, THERE'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN SEND BOTH MYSELF AND THE BOARD TO TOO, SO THAT YOU CAN BECOME MORE AWARE AND SEE WHAT THE TRENDS ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

SOMETHING THAT I NOTICED THAT'S VERY GLARING IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA ON WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE DON'T HAVE STAR REPORTS. ONE OF THE MORE POSITIVE THINGS THAT'S COMING AND IS COMING FROM THIS JOINT POSITION IS THAT WE WILL BE GETTING FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE, WE'RE GETTING PLACER AI. AND SO THAT'S A SOFTWARE THAT ALLOWS US TO TRACK SORT OF ACTIVITY WITHIN THE AREA.

SO FOR INSTANCE, IF I PUT A DESTINATION IN LIKE A HOTEL, I CAN SEE WHERE THAT PERSON ON A GIVEN DAY IS COMING FROM.

OR WE CAN SEE START SEEING AVERAGES OF HOW FAR PEOPLE ARE GOING.

AND THAT WILL HELP US DETERMINE THE RADIUS OF OUR VISITORS, WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM, HOW FAR THEY'RE COMING FROM, WHAT ELSE ARE THEY DOING? AND I THINK THAT THAT WILL GIVE US AT LEAST SOME SORT OF BASELINE TO TRY TO LOOK AT EXPANDING WHAT WE CAN.

THE SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO DO IS TO UPDATE EXISTING COLLATERAL.

WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT UPDATED IN A WHILE, SO I'D LIKE TO REVISIT SOME OF THAT.

DEVELOP A CONTENT CALENDAR. AGAIN, WE HAVE ADS THAT ARE PRIMARILY BASED AROUND THE MOSQUITO FESTIVAL, BUT WE NORMALLY DON'T PUSH OUT ANY SORT OF CONTENT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM REVOLVING AROUND, YOU KNOW, HOLIDAYS, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF CHRISTMAS, BECAUSE I DO THINK WE HAVE A CHRISTMAS EVENT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WEDDING SEASON REUNIONS, GRADUATION THINGS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE OR AMPLIFY THE VOICE OF WHAT WE'RE HAVING OR IF WE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, IF WE HAVE MORE EVENTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT PROMOTES THE AREA AND THAT CREATES MORE OF AN IDENTITY OF NOT THAT WE WANT TO OMIT THE THE MOSQUITO FESTIVAL WILL ALWAYS BE THE ANCHOR EVENT, BUT THAT THERE'S ALSO SHOULDER SEASONS TO EXPERIENCE HERE WITH INCLUDE.

SO WE HAVE TO DEFINE AGAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING PROMOTING AN EVENT AND PROMOTING A DESTINATION IS THAT IN PROMOTING A DESTINATION WE'RE PROMOTING AN EXPERIENCE. AN EXPERIENCE IS MORE THAN ONE EVENT.

EXPERIENCES. YOU KNOW WHERE YOU COME IN, WHERE YOU STAY, WHERE YOU SHOP, WHERE YOU DINE, WHAT YOU DO, WHO YOU COME WITH. AND THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO AMPLIFY THAT VOICE AND CREATE THE STORY OF CLUTE.

AND WITH THAT, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THE EASIEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO MARKET IT ACCORDING TO THE SEASONALITY.

YOU KNOW DEVELOP MARKETING PERSONAS. I THINK GOING BACK TO THE QUESTION ABOUT WHO WHO IS COMING,

[00:20:01]

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE PEOPLE WHO WILL COME FOR THE CENTER AND THE BRAZOS SPORTS COLLEGE, THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY STAY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY VERY DIFFERENT. I'M ASSUMING MOST OF OUR YOUR STAYS PROBABLY ARE VARIED AND MIGHT, YOU KNOW, DEPEND ON EVEN PROPERTY TO PROPERTY.

SOME MAY SEE A LOT OF MORE SEASONAL WORKERS. SOME MIGHT SEE FAMILIES.

AND SO WE'LL START WORKING TOGETHER TO KIND OF SEE WHAT IS IT THAT WE HAVE, WHERE CAN WE BUILD AND WHERE CAN WE KIND OF COMPETE WITH THAT.

ONE THING THAT I DO THINK IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US IS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN MARKETING TOWARDS GROUPS.

IF YOU ALL HAVE AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IF YOU'VE ALL DRIVEN ON YOUR WAY TO LAKE JACKSON, YOU PROBABLY SEEN A BIG BILLBOARD FOR EL TORO.

AND THEY WERE REALLY SMART BECAUSE WHAT ARE THEY ADVERTISING? THEY'RE ADVERTISING THEIR BIG DINING ROOM FOR LARGE GROUPS.

SO WE DON'T HAVE THINGS THAT ARE COMPARABLE TO THAT.

SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR US FOR WEDDINGS, FOR REUNIONS, FOR GRADUATIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT WHERE WE CAN PONY ACROSS THE ASSETS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, LIKE THE EVENT CENTER AND TRY TO AGAIN ENHANCE THAT SORT OF OPPORTUNITY WHERE IT'S ALSO GROUPS THAT ARE COMING TO VISIT SOME OF OUR IN DESTINATIONS STUDENTS OR STUDENT GROUPS ARE.

I KNOW SPORTS IS SOMETHING AND SPORTS FACILITIES IS SOMETHING THAT FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE, THERE'S A BIG PUSH FOR THAT. SO WE NEED TO KIND OF SORT OF LOOK AT LIKE, HOW ARE WE DOING THAT AND HOW ARE WE TRYING TO CAPTURE THAT.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO DEVELOP SORT OF PERSONAS AND IDENTIFY WHOM AND HOW OUR MARKETING WILL SPEAK TO THEM.

ITINERARIES GOING BACK TO THAT GOES INTO THAT FOLLOWS THE PERSONAS.

IF WE KNOW THAT IT'S A FAMILY, THEIR ITINERARY IS GOING TO LOOK VERY DIFFERENT THAN A SOLO TRAVELER WHO'S COMING HERE FOR A JOB OR A JOB OR A BUSINESS CONFERENCE AND STAYING 3 OR 4 DAYS. RIGHT. OR WHO'S STAYING HERE TEMPORARILY.

AND THAT IS GOING TO LOOK VERY DIFFERENT FROM SOMEONE WHO IS GREW UP HERE AND IS MAYBE JUST COMING BACK TO VISIT FAMILY, OR SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN TO TEXAS AND JUST FOUND US BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GO TO THE MOSQUITO FESTIVAL DEVELOP AN E-NEWSLETTER.

THERE'S SORT OF WE DON'T HAVE THINGS THAT WE HAVE AN EVENTS CALENDAR, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT, AGAIN, TELLS A COHESIVE STORY, THAT WE HAVEN'T BUILT OUR OWN PLATFORM AND GENERATED SORT OF OUR OWN AUDIENCE AND TARGET.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US BECAUSE AGAIN, WE JUST START CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE AND START TRYING TO CAPTURE THEIR EMAILS OR SOME SORT OF VISIBILITY SO THAT WE CAN PRESENT AGAIN THAT WHOLE STORY OF WHEN YOU'RE HERE THIS MONTH, INCLUDE THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. AND THAT KEEPS AN IDEA FRESH.

AND AGAIN, IT REALLY WILL REINFORCE THE ITINERARIES AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TALK TO AND JOIN MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE HAVE LIMITED DOLLARS.

SO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IF WE ALL COLLECTIVELY ARE MARKETING TOWARDS THE SAME AREAS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUTREACH THE HOTELS ARE DOING VERSUS WHAT'S WHAT THE CENTER OR THE COLLEGE IS DOING, BUT I'M SURE THAT IF WE, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE OPPORTUNITIES TO AMPLIFY THAT VOICE AND KIND OF EVERY HOUR, YOU KNOW, EITHER GOING THROUGH FREQUENCY OR FROM SIZE OR INCREASE PRESENCE IN WHATEVER WE'RE DOING.

SO THOSE ARE SORT OF SOME OF THE SHORT TERM GOALS THAT I HAVE.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THIS IS THAT THEY ALL COST MONEY, OR AT LEAST NOT A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT IT'S ALSO KIND OF, WELL, THEY SHOULD FEED INTO SOME OF THESE LONG TERM GOALS.

SO WITH THE LONG TERM GOALS, I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO AT SOME POINT UPDATE THE BRANDING, UPDATE THE WEBSITE.

SO I LOOKED AT YOUR PAST MINUTES AND I SAW THAT YOU A COUPLE OF THE PAST MEETINGS, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING WITH I.T DIGITAL A PROVIDER OF JUST DIFFERENT TOOLS. DIGITAL TOOLS. YEAH. SO THIS IS A CLIENT OF ITIES WHERE THEY WORK TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN TO.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY HAVE THE EXPLORER. THE EVENTS THAT STAY. IT'S A VERY DYNAMIC PAGE.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO SAY WHAT TO EAT. IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

IT'S VERY DIRECT. YOU'RE ON THE LANDING PAGE AND IT'S CLEARLY SPEAKING TO YOU.

THIS IS ONE OF THE CLIENTS WHERE THEY HELP TO DEVELOP ITINERARIES FOR THEM.

AND IT JUST TO ME, IT JUST CREATES THIS MUCH MORE MODERN AND CLEARER PICTURE.

AGAIN, WE'RE A LONG WAYS FROM THAT BECAUSE GIVEN OUR FINANCES, THIS IS THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE BUY.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE THE BOARD DOESN'T WANT TO CONSIDER OR PURSUE.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS WE'RE PROBABLY A YEAR OR TWO AWAY FROM THIS OR MORE DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH IT COSTS AND WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO.

[00:25:04]

YEAH. AND SO IN TERMS OF ADVERTISING, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGETS, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE KIND OF NATURAL TRANSITIONS THAT ARE OCCURRING TO YOU ON YOUR SIDE. YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED SWITCHING OVER FROM HEAVY PRINT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO MORE DIGITAL.

THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE TO BE MORE VIDEO CONTENT LIKE NOW.

SHOWING PEOPLE THE EXPERIENCE IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

IF YOU'RE NOT DOING IT FOR THE INSTA, DOES IT REALLY HAPPEN? AND SO I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO START IDENTIFYING INFLUENCERS THAT CAN HELP DRIVE SOME OF THE TARGET MARKETS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S REALLY SORT OF THE MODERN DAY OF DOING THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THE PIONEER FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE OLDER IS RACHAEL RAY.

IF YOU EVER REMEMBER HER, $10 ON WHATEVER BUDGET PLACE, THAT WAS IT.

I MEAN, THAT IS A TOURISM INFLUENCER BASED PROGRAM IF I'VE EVER SEEN ONE.

SHE WENT TO EVERY CITY. SHOWED YOU HOW MUCH YOU CAN SPEND ON A BUDGET, WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO EAT AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

IT'S 101, SO IT'S THE SAME THING. IT'S JUST EVERYTHING OLD IS NOW NEW.

IT'S NOW JUST THE DIFFERENCES. IT'S ON YOUR PHONE AND IT'S BEING.

IT MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE DANCE IN IT IF YOU DO IT ON TIKTOK.

AND THEN MORE VIDEO CONTENT. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, VIDEO TELLS A STORY.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST RESONATES WITH PEOPLE. AND SO AGAIN, WE HAVE TO BE SMART.

BUT OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING ON OUR SHORT TERM GOALS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO BEFORE WE CAN GET TO THAT BIG ONE.

SO THESE SORTS OF THINGS WOULD START DEPENDING ON WHAT WE SEE, WHAT WE LIKE, WHAT WE DON'T, WHAT MILESTONES WE SEE WILL HELP FEED INTO SORT OF THE LONG TERM GOALS OF WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH AS WE HAVE MONEY, AS WE FIND OPPORTUNITIES, AS WE HOPEFULLY GROW OR RECOUP SOME OF THAT INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE LOST IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO THAT'S SORT OF A BROAD TERM VISION FOR EVERYONE.

I'M WELCOME TO ANY FEEDBACK. AND AGAIN, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I DON'T I THINK JOINT MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES, EVEN THOUGH IT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST, I THINK THAT'S A SUPER IMPORTANT AND LOW HANGING FRUIT FOR US.

SO AGAIN, WITH THE HOTELS, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S IDEAS OR THOUGHTS OR CONCEPTS OR THINGS THAT YOU'RE SEEING, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT DOING THEM, BUT THAT YOU'VE SEEN ARE WORKING FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITHIN YOUR FLAGSHIP.

PLEASE. YOU KNOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO OR HOW WE CAN TRANSLATE THAT ACROSS INTO OUR PROPERTY.

NO. THAT'S. YES. ARE WE SHOULD. YEAH. OKAY. YEAH.

YEAH. OKAY. COOL. IT'S GOOD DIRECTION. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR TODAY. I COULD TALK AT LENGTH, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT THINGS TO DO.

RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. EXCELLENT. ALL RIGHT.

ANY SO ANY COMMENTS. QUESTIONS. WE'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

I'M SURE WE WILL HAVE PLENTY MORE TO TALK ABOUT IN FUTURE MEETINGS.

WE'RE I KNOW I'M EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE COLLABORATIONS AND SOME OF THE JOINT MARKETING EFFORTS FOR SURE.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE HAVE SOME FINANCIAL REPORTS COMING OUT.

[VII. Approve Financial Statements for Year Ending September 30, 2024. ]

EXCELLENT. AND IS THIS ARE THESE ALL OF THE ONES THAT ARE COMING UP, OR IS THIS JUST THE ONE THAT'S FOR SEVEN? YEAH. NO, THIS IS THE ONE JUST FOR SEVEN. JUST FOR SEVEN.

YEAH. THIS IS THESE ARE YOUR AUDIT. THE FINANCIALS WE'RE GOING TO SUBMIT FOR THE AUDIT.

YOU GO THROUGH A REGULAR AUDITORY PERIOD. SO THIS COVERS YOUR FISCAL YEAR FROM OCTOBER 23RD TO OCTOBER TO SEPTEMBER 24TH.

AGAIN, WE DIDN'T MEET. YOU DIDN'T MEET IN 2024.

SO THIS IS JUST KIND OF THAT UPDATED FINANCIAL PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT YEAR.

OKAY, GREAT. SO GIVE A FEW MOMENTS FOR EVERYONE TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK THROUGH THOSE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT POPS OUT AT YOU.

I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE WHO COULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANGEL. YOU CAN. OKAY. MAINLY WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT WARREN ALREADY HAD IN PLACE.

AND WHEN THEY SENT ME AN EMAIL. HEY, WE DID THIS AD, AND YOU WENT AHEAD AND PULLED THE TRIGGER ON IT.

YEAH. YOU WILL SEE A NEGATIVE THAT IT DROPS DOWN AND THEN YEAH, THE OVERALL NET INCOME IS IN THE NEGATIVE.

IT DO HAVE A BANK BALANCE. IT'S AROUND 66,000.

[00:30:02]

MICROPHONES. CREATED THE AD. WROTE THE CHECK AND MAILED IT OFF.

WE FOUND PAPERWORK LATER THAT WHERE SHE WAS, THE CITY WAS GOING TO COVER SOME OF THE ADS, BUT BY THAT TIME, WE HAD ALREADY PAID FOR THEM OUT OF THE CVB.

WE CAN TRY TO RECTIFY THAT. IF I WANT TO, BUT HOWEVER WE DID, YOU DO HAVE IT IN THE BANK BALANCE AVAILABLE TO USE.

SO THAT'S WHERE THERE'S A NEGATIVE NET INCOME ON THERE ON THAT THING.

BUT BASICALLY, LIKE I SAID, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT SHE ALREADY HAD IN THE WORKS.

SHE HAD DONE A SHOW, AND THEN MICHELLE AND I WENT TO THE A SHOW THAT SHE HAD ALREADY HAD SCHEDULED.

AND THEN THE AGR AJA MEDIA IS JUST THE TEXAS SAPPHIRE IS THE HOSTING OF THE WEB.

OKAY. SO RJR IS A MEDIA GROUP. THAT'S. THEY ARE THE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO HANDLE CHURCH ACCESS.

THEY HANDLE ALL THE TEXAS HIGHWAYS. THEY HANDLE THE HOT AND HAPPENING EVENT.

I WAS GONNA SAY WHAT'S HOT AND HAPPY. THAT JUST KIND OF JUMPED OUT AT ME.

SO EVERY THEY DO WHAT'S CALLED AN E-NEWSLETTER THAT'S MAILED OUT TO, LIKE, 200,000 PEOPLE.

AND YOU CAN PURCHASE ONE OF THE HOT AND HAPPENING EVENTS.

OKAY. AND IT JUST BASICALLY IS A PICTURE AND THEN A SMALL BLURB.

OKAY. SO THEY DO THAT EVERY MONTH. AND WE USUALLY WOULD DO JULY JUNE AND JULY'S A LOT OF TIMES.

YEAH. SO THAT IT GOT OUT TO THAT MANY PEOPLE IN TEXAS AND IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, A SHORT LETTER ABOUT THE FESTIVAL COMING UP.

SHE SAID THAT THEY HANDLE PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE TEXANS, RIGHT? SO LIKE THE TEXAS STATE TRAVEL GUIDE AND TEXAS HIGHWAYS.

TEXAS. YEAH, I THINK I SAW SOMETHING IN TRIPLE-A THIS WEEK OR SOMETHING.

YES THEY WOULD. THEY ALSO DO ANOTHER ANOTHER ONE.

THEY DO. THEY WORK ON TRIPLE-A. THEY WORK WITH A COUPLE OTHER THAN TEXAS HOLIDAYS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO YOU'LL SEE THEM ON THEIR BOARD JUST BECAUSE OF THAT.

THE THRIVE IS A DIGITAL YELLOW PAGES. THE FINEST TYLER COUNTY BOOSTER.

THAT'S AN AD IN THE EAST TEXAS. YOU CAN'T GET IT UP THERE.

THANK YOU. SO SHE DID. SHE SIGNED UP FOR, YOU KNOW, TWO OF THE ADS FOR THAT.

SO. AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THC.

RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THIS YEAR WE DID HAVE A PART TIME PERSON IN THEIR ECONOMY.

AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME IN ASKING QUESTIONS.

AND IT ALSO KIND OF HELPED ME DO AN AIR. AND THAT WAS KIND OF COOL.

YEAH. DO SOME CLERICAL AND DO SOME. YEAH. SHE WAS DOING MORE STUFF.

YEAH. I WAS TRYING TO HELP OVERSEAS. SURE. SO WE GOT, YOU KNOW, MY CARD AND STUFF.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANYONE ELSE? WE DID FILE AN EXTENSION FOR THE WHOLE 990.

OKAY. AND THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT I SAID IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE TODAY, YOU HAVE TO GET THESE FINANCIALS APPROVED.

WE'RE OUR EXTENSION. THAT. YEAH, IT'S COMING UP IN AUGUST, RIGHT? YEAH. YEAH. AS SOON AS IT'S OVER. WE'LL WORK ON GETTING THE AUDIT STUFF TO THE AUDITORS.

AND THEN THAT WAS DONE IN 95. OKAY. COOL. DOES DOES DOES THIS BOARD NEED TO LOOK AT THE 990 BEFORE IT'S SENT OFF? IS THAT PART OF THE BYLAWS? THAT THEY'VE NEVER HAD.

OKAY. THIS IS WHAT'S BEING USED ON IT. GOT IT.

OKAY. AND THAT'S WHY YOU APPROVED THAT? SURE.

OKAY. Y'ALL WANT TO SEE IT? NO, I JUST IT MAY BE WORTH LOOKING AT JUST TO MAKE SURE, BUT.

BUT YEAH, IF IT'S NOT, THEN I THINK THAT'S ADEQUATE.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT, EMAIL RACHEL AND SHE CAN READ IT BY.

SHE'LL HAVE TO COME LATER. SURE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT.

THEY ELECTRONICALLY FILE IT. RIGHT. BUT THEY'LL GIVE HER A PRINTOUT.

THEY STILL NEED THE SIGNATURE. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

[00:35:02]

SECOND. I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU. FOREIGN. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE WILL REVIEW THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FROM OCTOBER 1ST,

[VIII. Review Financial Statements from October 1, 2024 thru June 30, 2025.]

YES.

SO THIS IS MY DAD'S COLLECTION FOR THE FOURTH TIME THROUGH MAY 25TH.

WE HAVE THE BASKETBALL FOR JUNE. OKAY. FOR THE 1ST OF JULY.

THIS GIVES YOU A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT IT'S LOOKING AT.

AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PASS AROUND YOUR BUDGET OR YEAH.

THAT'S AVAILABLE. SO YOU CAN SORT OF LOOK AT LIKE A PICTURE OF WHERE WE ARE.

SO AGAIN, THE MARKETING BUDGET FOR THIS PAST YEAR IS AS YOU'VE SEEN AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD POINT OUT IN YOUR PREVIOUS BUDGETS, YOU CAN START SEEING THAT THERE IS AN INCREASE IN ONLINE MARKETING ADVERTISING TO IN 2022 TO 2023. YOU GUYS WERE OUT THERE ALMOST LIKE THANK YOU. AND $15,000 IN RENT. MOST OF YOU REMEMBER MOST OF YOUR ADVERTISING IS COMING INTO RENT.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE'RE SLOWLY STARTED SWITCHING OVER FROM RUNNING NOW TO DIGITAL SPACE, WHICH IS, AGAIN, THOSE THINGS THAT ARE DOING A GREAT MEDIA, MOSTLY NEWSLETTERS LAST YEAR ON DIFFERENT SITES.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF PRINTING THERE, MOSTLY FOR TEXAS HIGHWAYS AND FOR SHORT GUYS.

THAT'S WHAT REALLY IS THE MAIN GOAL OF THAT. AND SO AGAIN, LET'S JUST GO TO AN UPDATED PICTURE.

I WILL SHOW YOU WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY. SO IN A SPIRIT OF DIFFERENCES, THIS ONE IS A SNAPSHOT OF OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION UNDERSTANDING ON PAR WITH WHAT WAS A BUDGET.

AND THERE'S NO THERE'S NO NEED FOR AN ACTION ON REVIEWING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. CORRECT? OKAY. GREAT. FANTASTIC. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE MARKETING PLAN ITSELF.

OKAY, JUST ASK A QUICK QUESTION.

I'M SORRY. WE WERE LOOKING AT THE GOOD QUESTION WAS THAT HOW DOES THE MONEY COME IN FOR THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT? THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON THEN, TO ITEM NINE. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE CHANGES TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2425 MARKETING

[IX. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve changes to the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Marketing Plan.]

SO I DON'T HAVE IT HERE TODAY. SO WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOICES.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE THERE'S BEEN SOME IN THE CONTINGENCY.

THERE'S BEEN SOME OVER UP ON OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'VE BEEN FACED WITH AGAIN THE THE SPEED OF FESTIVALS AND THE INCREASE IN PRICE AND DIGITAL PRICING.

AND THE BIGGER THE PUSH TOWARDS INCREASING THE ATTENDANCE TOWARDS THAT EVENT.

ONE THING THAT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT A LOT OF THESE ADS ARE SPLIT WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OR JOINT JOINT ADVISORY WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. SO SOMETIMES THEY WILL GO, WILCO.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S KIND OF BEING LED BY THEM BECAUSE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE DON'T HAVE FIRM EXAMPLES, BUT AGAIN, IT'S ALL THE SAME. IT'S ALL THE SAME BECAUSE THERE'S.

[00:40:07]

I JUST I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT, THOUGH, IS THE SHOW.

WE HAVE A SAN ANTONIO MEMORIAL SHOW COMING UP, OR AT LEAST $5,000 BUDGET FOR THAT.

I WAS HOPING THAT THE BOARD WOULD ENTERTAIN A LOT OF NOT ATTENDING THAT SHOW.

I'M NOT A SUPER BIG FAN OF SHOWS. I DO THINK THEY'RE WORTH IT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE.

YOU HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC. SO I JUST BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF OVER AS AN AREA.

I DO THINGS. I'M MORE IN THE TRANSITION PERIOD.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT ANY PLATEAU AND JUST ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE A STRONGER PRESENCE.

I THINK IT'S WORTH IT FOR US TO DO THE SHOW THIS OFFSEASON, MOVING OVER TO SOME OTHER EXPENSES THAT WE'RE SEEING AND STUFF.

WHATEVER IS COMING IN, OUR BUDGET YEAR ENDS IN SEPTEMBER, SO WE STILL HAVE WHATEVER EXPENSES ARE COMING IN FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

BUT I DO HAVE POTENTIAL OTHER OPPORTUNITY. YEAH.

SO IN KEEPING, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT ABOUT INCREASING BEING MORE FOCUS ON OUR AUDIENCE AND WE ARE FOCUSING MORE ON DIGITAL AND VIDEO TRAVEL. COUPLE RECEIVE THIS OPPORTUNITY FROM COMPETITION IN TEXAS.

THEY ARE GOING TO SHOW THAT MOST OF THE TIME THEY KIND OF TRAVELS TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF TEXAS.

IT IS A THEY DO LITTLE RADIO SEGMENTS ON ON EACH OF THE DESTINATIONS.

THIS WILL ALLOW US TO WORK WITH THEM AND DEVELOP OUR OWN ITINERARY TO FOCUS ON THAT.

THE ADVERTISING COST IS 2800 FOR THIS. THIS IS SORT OF FOR PLAYING ONLINE AND THIS IS THE MEDIA PART IS GOING TO BE SERVED. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT'S THE SORT OF AUDIENCE THAT THE TARGETING IS.

IT FEELS THAT IT'S WITHIN OUR DEMOGRAPHICS THAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE FIRST WHEN I FIRST WAS LOOKING AT THIS, I WAS LOOKING AT SCHEDULING AN AUDIENCE FOR A FESTIVAL THAT MIGHT NOT BE FEASIBLE, BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE WORTH IT TO IF WE HAVE THE BUDGET FOR IT TO EXPLORE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND TO FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, THIS OUTDOORSY ACTIVITIES GAME. YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT SORT OF HIGHLIGHTS THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE AREA.

AND WHAT DO YOU SEE WE'RE STARTING TO DO? I'M SORRY, I'M IN SEASON HUNTING.

YEAH. HUNTING SEASON. SEASON IS NORMALLY AT SOME POINT RIGHT.

THE REDS RUN IN THE FALL. RIGHT. SO IT'S COMING UP I MEAN IT'S YEAH.

YEAH. SO THOSE COULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE AS AN AREA WHICH IS ALSO SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

SO I THINK MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE NOT ATTEND THE NEW ORLEANS FESTIVAL TRADE SHOW.

AND IF AND THEN SEE IF WE HAVE FUNDING TO KNOCK OVER A BUDGET TO BRING THIS UP.

BUT LIKE THE AMOUNT WILL JUST KIND OF SERVE AN APPROPRIATION OF ANY OTHER OPERATIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE HERE.

SO EXCUSE ME, WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.

I MEAN, THEY COME IN, THEY DO VIDEO ON TV. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? IT'S A LITTLE LIKE WHATEVER. 20 MINUTES OR PROBABLY.

OKAY. AND THERE'S A THERE'S SOMETHING YOU SEE ON PBS.

I WAS GOING TO SAY LATE NIGHT PBS ON SUNDAY. THIS LITTLE GUY POPS UP AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE HE'S GOING TO BE.

RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO GO. OKAY. OKAY.

THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S A LITTLE TWO MINUTE, TWO MINUTE FEATURE OF THE AREA WITH REASONS TO GO.

AND PART OF THE SHOW. GREAT. AND AND IT'S BROADCAST WITHIN.

WITHIN, LIKE WITHIN THE CW 39 HOUSTON MARKET.

SO IT'D BE PEOPLE WHO WERE WHO ARE WITHIN THIS WITHIN DRIVING RANGE BUT COULD STAY OR WHERE WOULD IT WHERE WOULD IT BE BROADCAST.

WE WOULD GET ACCESS TO ALL THAT. SO. OH, WOW.

ALL OF THOSE ALL OF THOSE MARKETS. OH THAT'S FANTASTIC.

OKAY. I DID TRY TO I DID ASK THEM ABOUT WHEN WHAT TIMES AND STUFF.

THEY SAID THAT ACTUALLY IS REALLY UP TO THIS QUESTION.

SURE. THERE WERE SPECIFIC ONES THAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT.

WE CAN FIND OUT. BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER MARKETING OPPORTUNITY FOR US, FOR OTHER COMPANIES TO CATCH US ON THIS.

YEAH. THEY ALSO DO HAVE A DIGITAL PRESENCE, SO THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

[00:45:06]

SO THIS IS THE SAME CONCEPT THAT GOES FOR WASTE TRAVEL ADVERTISING, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND YOU LIKE THE PRODUCTION VALUE OF IT. IT'S NOT THAT 2800.

YEAH. I'M GONNA SAY 2100 IS NOTHING. I MEAN, IT'S YEAH, THAT'S NOT BAD AT ALL.

THAT'S TRUE. SO BUT I THINK THAT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT YOU DEVELOP.

AS AN OUTDOOR, SO WE CAN START FOCUSING ON OUR OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE.

SURE. YEAH. AND IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE IF WE'RE USING PART OF THE 5000 SAFE FROM THE NEW BRAUNFELS, AND YOU THINK THIS HAS MORE IMPACT POTENTIAL THAN.

OKAY. I LIKE IT. YOU LIKE IT? YEAH. YEAH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, SO IF THAT'S THE PROPOSAL FOR THE CHANGE IN THE MARKETING PLAN, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO TO TO MAKE THAT CHANGE IN THE MARKETING PLAN TO NOT TO TO REMOVE THE NEW BRAUNFELS SAN ANTONIO SHOW AND INSTEAD ENGAGE WITH EXPEDITION TEXAS FOR THAT FEATURE PIECE.

AND I GUESS THE REMAINDER WOULD PROBABLY GO TOWARDS WHATEVER WOULD GO TOWARDS THE BALANCE.

YEAH. I MEAN, FROM THE AUDIENCE IF YOU WANT TO.

AND IF IT DOESN'T EXCEED THE TIME OF THE BUDGET.

OKAY. SO NOTED AS THAT. I WILL, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

ROSIE, DO YOU MIND? HOW DO WE FORM THAT INTO A MOTION? WHAT'S THE BEST WAY? SHOULD WE JUST. JUST STATING THE WHAT? YOU JUST STATED THAT YOU'RE CHANGING IT WITH, LIKE, WHAT SHE'S SAYING.

SO LONG AS IT DOESN'T TAKE SO LONG AS IT DOES NOT EXCEED THE.

SO. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE SOMETHING THAT WAS MOVED TO REMOVE THE SAN ANTONIO SHOW AND REALLOCATE THE $5,000 TO CONTINGENCY WITH THE HIGHER RESOLUTION TEXAS THAT.

YES. SO I WILL ENTERTAIN THAT MOTION. SO MOVED.

SURELY. WHATEVER YOU SAY. SECOND, I SECOND. VAUGHN.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. ALL REPORTS. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT. AND FOR PUBLIC RECORD. SO ANYONE CAN HEAR MY FUMBLING AROUND.

THAT'S EXCELLENT. ALRIGHT. GOOD. SO THE NEXT THING IS GOING TO BE ITEM TEN, WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR

[X. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Marketing Plan.]

OKAY. AS WE SPOKE EARLIER, A LOT OF THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE ARE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE PAST.

SO FOR US TO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN EASILY DIVEST FROM OR MOVE.

SO I THINK FOR WHAT THE CONTOURS OF THE NEXT YEAR'S PLAN WILL LOOK LIKE, WILL BE ALLOWED TO CARRY OVER FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.

THAT MAY BE MINOR EXPLORATION INTO SOME OF THE ALTERNATIVE PATHS, WHICH IS BECAUSE PARK PARKS WAS ALREADY COMMITTED TO A LOT OF THEIR PATHS, THEIR BOULEVARDS, THEIR STUFF, THAT THERE'S A CURE THAT WORKS FOR THAT AND THAT WE ARE NOT THERE TO OFFSET THE COST.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN COME UP WITH A LOT OF THOSE COMPONENTS, SO PROBABLY WILL BE GOOD HERE BEFORE WE CAN EVEN POTENTIALLY CHANGE SOME OF THOSE.

SO THERE WILL BE LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES. OR YOU MAY HAVE TO INCREASE ANY SORT IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE THE BUDGET WILL COMPENSATE FOR SERVICE FROM WHAT WE HAVE. OKAY. SO THOSE ARE THE THOUGHTS THAT GOT US TO START THINKING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD.

BUT AS I SAID EARLIER THIS YEAR HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT'S BEEN DONE, WHAT'S BEEN WORKING AND WHAT OTHER IDEAS WE HAVE TO MOVE INTO THOSE AREAS. SO WILL WE. SO WITH THAT SAID, WILL THERE BE A WILL THERE BE A BUDGETED AMOUNT BUDGETED TOWARDS THE MARKETING PLAN, AND THEN WE WILL APPROVE THE MARKETING PLAN AT A FUTURE MEETING.

BASED ON THAT BUDGETED AMOUNT. SO WE'LL TABLE THAT THAT ACTION ITEM AT THIS MOMENT.

WELL, WE KNOW IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. SO WE DON'T EVEN NEED TO TABLE IT. WE CAN JUST. OKAY.

INITIALLY WE WERE JUST GOING TO PRESENT A WELL OVER BUDGET.

SURE. GIVEN THAT WE'RE NOT DONE WITH FISCAL YEAR.

SO WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR A LOT OF THINGS TO COME UP AND THAT THERE'S BEEN CHANGES WITH THE CONTINGENCY WITH WHAT WAS BUDGETED AND THE ACTUAL COSTS.

[00:50:06]

WE HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF THIS PAST YEAR. YOU JUST WANT TO GIVE.

I DON'T WANT TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT'S ALREADY WORKING AND BE TESTED BY PASS.

SO THAT MEANS INCREASE. THAT'S FOR SURE. YOU KNOW, BY PUTTING IT IN THE PAPER.

YEAH, RIGHT. SURE. SURE THING. OKAY. THAT'S NOT THAT SOUNDS REASONABLE TO ME.

BUT THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS AND SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

OKAY. WELL, GOOD. WELL THEN THAT MOVES US TO ITEM 11, WHICH IS TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER MEETING DATES FOR 2025.

[XI. Discuss and Consider Meeting Dates for 2025.]

AND ALSO JUST DEPENDS ON HOW ACTIVE YOU WANT TO BE WITH YOUR INPUT KIND OF COMING MORE FREQUENTLY.

ONCE THE MEETING FOR AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER. YOU KNOW, THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING YOU CAN BE DOING IF YOU'RE WORKING ON OR SHOPPING SOME OF THE UPDATING, SOME OF THE UPDATES ON POTENTIAL IDEAS AND UPDATES TO THE COLLATERAL.

THERE'S DEFINITELY WORK TO BE DONE IF YOU CAN, IF YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT AND NOT JUST CONTINUE ON THAT SORT OF SCHEDULE OR YOUR MORE THAN ADVISORY CAPACITY. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW.

WHICH STATE? JANUARY AND APRIL. SHALL CHANGE THE MODEL.

SHOULD HAVE SPECIAL MEANING THAT YOU HAVE YOUR QUARTERLY BOARD MEETING FOR SURE.

DO WE WANT TO SET THAT NOW OR DO WE WANT TO? PROBABLY RECOMMEND STARTING IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF FURTHER DISCUSS AND SPEED UP OUR SCHOOLS. I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

I WOULD HAVE ALREADY DRAWN A LINE. YES, I WOULD, I WOULD, I PERSONALLY I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.

AND SO SO WHEN IS THE NEXT CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN? ANGEL, WHEN'S THE NEXT JANUARY? APRIL, JULY AND OCTOBER ARE THE ONES.

SO. SO WE WE KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE AN OCTOBER MEETING, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING BEFORE THAT. SO WE CAN MAYBE START SOME OF THE SOME OF THE WORKING STUFF AND COLLABORATIVE STUFF THAT, THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

WHAT WOULD WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR YOU? DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE AUGUST, OR DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE SEPTEMBER? IN AUGUST WOULD BE. IT'S EITHER AUGUST MAYBE IN AUGUST BEFORE OR SEPTEMBER POST LABOR DAY. DEPENDS ON EVERYBODY'S VACATION SCHEDULE AND STUFF. SO I KNOW SOME PEOPLE TRAVEL OVER HERE BECAUSE IT'S A HIGH SEASON, RIGHT.

LIKE ANYWHERE, ALTHOUGH I HAVE A CONFERENCE TO GO THROUGH IN SEPTEMBER.

SO YEAH, THAT'S WHY I WANT TO FIND THIS OUT AHEAD OF TIME TOO.

SO THAT NO SURPRISE, IT'S IT'S REALLY A GOOD DISCUSSION.

THOSE WOULD BE, I GUESS, IN MY OPINION POTENTIALLY.

AND ALSO, I'M. I'M GOOD WITH AUGUST. YOU'RE GOOD WITH AUGUST.

I'M GOOD WITH AUGUST. HOW ABOUT WHAT? WELL, POTENTIALLY.

WHAT WHAT DATE WOULD THAT BE IN AUGUST? WOULD A ARE TUESDAYS OKAY? WELL, IT DEPENDS ON THE WEEK. GOT IT? SURE. HOW WOULD.

LET ME ASK. THIS WOULD. AUGUST. HOW DOES AUGUST 19TH WORK FOR EVERYONE? I'M GOOD WITH THE AUGUST 19TH. ANY OF THOSE TUESDAYS ACTUALLY WORK FOR ME.

AND AGAIN, SAME BAT TIME, SAME BAT CHANNEL AT 10:00.

DOES THAT DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU, RACHEL? DOES THAT WORK FOR EVERYONE ELSE? SO WE'LL HAVE SO WE'LL PLAN A SPECIAL MEETING.

WORKING MEETING. WELL, THERE. I THINK IT'S OKAY.

I MIGHT HAVE CONFLICT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE CONVOCATION.

YEAH, BUT I JUST NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT. BUT.

OKAY. WHAT I CAN DO IS EMAIL OUT TO EVERYONE IN THE MEMBERS THAT ARE AROUND HERE TODAY, THAT AUGUST 19TH.

BUT WE HAVE A DATE TO WORK ON. OKAY. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.

WE CAN JUST. WE CAN JUST SET THAT IN. WE CAN PENCIL THAT IN.

PUT IT IN OUR CALENDARS AND AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL ALL WORK OUT.

IN THE MEANTIME, SHOULD WE GO AHEAD AND NAIL DOWN THE OCTOBER DATE SINCE THAT'S KIND OF A BYLAWS DICTATED DATE.

I MEAN, IF THE YEAH, YEAH, PLUG IT IN OR NOTHING ELSE JUMPS OVER IF YOU'D LIKE.

SO MAYBE LIKE IF WE'RE LOOKING AT LIKE THE THIRD TUESDAY OF OCTOBER.

[00:55:01]

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND LOCK IT IN THEN.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY AUGUST 19TH AT 10 A.M.

FOR THE SPECIAL WORKING MEETING. AND THEN AUGUST, OCTOBER 21ST AT 10 A.M.

FOR THE FOR THE REGULAR MEETING. ARE WE LOOKING AT COMING INTO HERE? OKAY, SO FUTURE MEETINGS WILL BE HERE. OKAY. YEAH.

FOR THE RECORD. OKAY. WELL, WE LOVED THAT OPPORTUNITY.

EXCELLENT. ALRIGHT. I SEE NO OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

FOR VISITORS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT. THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WE MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO IS THERE A MOTION TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SECOND. ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION? NONE. ALL RIGHT.

SO MEETING. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MEETING ADJOURNED.

I WANT TO HIT THAT GAVEL SO BAD.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.