Fine
Arts Work Center
Present: Acting Assistant Town Manager/Grant
Administrator Michelle Jarusiewicz, Bill Dougal/EDC, Steve Melamed/EDC, Hunter
O’Hanian/EDC, Alix Ritchie/EDC, Ellen Burbank/PMPM, Candice
Collins-Boden/Chamber, Peter Bez/VSB, Hersh Schwartz/VSB, Mick Rudd/VSB &
Chamber, Judy Cicero/Chamber, Cherie Mittenthal/Castle Hill, Administrative
Director of Tourism Bill Schneider, Neil Hesketh, Steve Taite/PBG, Sarah
Peake/BOS, Patrick Patrick/Chamber, Katherine Russo/PTV, Susan Avellar, Marilyn
Downey, Ewa Nogiec, Brad Reichard/Focus Communications, Darlene Van Alstyne
Presentation: Strategic Economic Cultural Plan
By Christina Pappas of Open the Door, Access the World
Ms. Pappas made a power point presentation of her report and recommendations. Essentially, after conducting one-on-one interviews of over 40 individuals in October and November 2005, including task force members, she found that all are concerned about the economy, the duplication of effort, and the need for team work, communication, and collaboration. With regard to the organizational structure of the tourism related organizations, the Town could (1) leave the structure as is, (2) select one of the entities as the point organization, or (3) create a Destination Marketing Organization [DMO] from the Visitor Services Board.
There was interest and general discussion about #3, creating a Destination Marketing Organization and how it might work. Questions that arose included:
What would be different?
Why would it be better?
There is a need for a change, but how would you get there?
What would the compelling strategy be?
How would you get all of the stakeholders to buy in?
Almost everyone present was interested in pursuing continued discussion regarding the creation of a DMO in theory, understanding that a template with details needed to be developed. It was agreed that a small group would be formed to discuss details on how to make it work so that collectively everyone benefits.
Adjourned
8:00 pm
MCC Adams grant activities funded
in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council Adams grant.