Discussions continued on Palisade’s 2016 promotional strategy at Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB). Held in the public meeting room of the Civic Center on February 16, it was also the first meeting of 2016. It had been decided at the December meeting to resume TAB’s published meeting schedule, every other month on the second Tuesday of that month, beginning with the meeting on March 8, 2016. 2015 had seen the scheduling of extra meetings on some of the ‘off’ months to deal with advertising and budget issues. There had been a late start to last year’s advertising campaign, something the board wanted to avoid in 2016.
Presentation of a new advertisement for this summer season had been on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, but the representative for Cobb & Associates, Palisade’s current marketing company, was unable to attend the meeting. Discussion of the new ad campaign was put off until the March 8 meeting with the understanding that the board will be provided with a concept and a set of images to choose from before the March meeting so that they can discuss the advertisement at the meeting and make a decision, still with time to spare before publishing deadlines for summer publications.
There was also a discussion leading to agreement by TAB members to contribute $2,000 to a joint marketing effort with Enduro magazine. The popular mountain biking publication will be bringing national and international attention to the biking opportunities here in the Grand Valley in an upcoming issue. Grand Junction has agreed to match funds from Fruita and Palisade. TAB member Juliann Adams reminded the group of the success of a similar campaign with the French Press tour of the valley in 2014. Since TAB had budgeted $1,000 toward the now cancelled Pro Challenge, they agreed to use that toward the contribution as well as to spend an additional $1,000 to make up Palisade’s portion.
Adams, who also serves as Executive Director of the Palisade Chamber of Commerce, introduced Linda Findley, formerly of the Grand Valley Magazine, as the new Assistant Executive Director of the Chamber. She really hit the ground running, with Tuesday being her first day on the job!
Outgoing board member Brant Harrison of Kokopelli Farm Market and Produce was presented with a certificate and letter of appreciation for his years of service on the board.
Since it was the first scheduled meeting of 2016, election of officers was also on the agenda. Sitting Chair Cassidee Shull was re-elected to serve as Chair for another year, with Angel Goodman chosen as Vice-Chair.
Attending Tuesday’s meeting were TAB members Jean Tally, Angel Goodman, Juliann Adams, Cassidee Shull, Rondo Buecheler, Jessica Bonds, Felix Iovanni and Stan Stephens as well as Mayor Roger Granat and Town of Palisade’s Community Development Director Ron Quarles. Brant Harrison, former member of the board, was also present, as was prospective TAB member Charles Talbott of Talbott’s Cider Company.
The next meeting of the Tourism Advisory Board is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at noon in the public meeting room of the Civic Center at 341 W. 7th Street. Meetings are open to the public and an agenda can be found on the town website or at Town Hall no later than 24 hours before each meeting.
