Mississippi River Country, USA International Marketing Committee Click the paddlewheel to view  the MRPC Members and Technical Members Web site

FINANCIALS MEETING MATERIALS CURRENT MINUTES PAST MINUTES TRADESHOW CONTACT REPORTS OTHER REPORTS FINANCIALS Financials as of December 31, 2003 (Year End Report) Financials as of November 30, 2003 Financials as of October 31, 2003 Financials as of September 30, 2003 Financials as of August 31, 2003 Financials as of July 31, 2003 Financials as of June 30, 2003 Financials as of May 31, 2003 Financials as of April 30, 2003 Financials as of March 31, 2003 Financials as of February 28, 2003 Financials as of January 31, 2003 2002 Financials MEETING MATERIALS December 15, 2003 Meeting Packet October 29, 2003 Meeting Packet April 1, 2003 Meeting Packet February 6, 2003 Meeting Packet 2002 meeting agendas and packets CURRENT MINUTES Mississippi River Country, U.S.A. International Marketing Committee  Conference Call December 15, 2003 Mississippi River Country, U.S.A. (MRC) Chair John Edman, Minnesota Office of Tourism, called the meeting to order on Monday, December 15, at 2:00 PM CT.  ATTENDANCE In addition to Mr. Edman, the following were in attendance:  Ray Van Whye and Cheryl Offerman, Minnesota Office of Tourism; Mark Eckman, Iowa Tourism Office; Tiffany Polydoris, Illinois Trade Office; Lee Curtis and Susan Whitaker, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development; David Scheler, Wisconsin Department of Tourism; Regina Wood, Kentucky Department of Travel Development; Kristen McCaskill, Mississippi Division of Tourism; John Robinson and Debra Lee, Missouri Division of Tourism; Nancy Clark, Arkansas Department of Tourism; Lindsay Lightfoot, Louisiana Office of Tourism; and Hank Todd and Sarah Schultz, MRC Staff. Mr. Todd introduced Ms. Sarah Schultz who will be managing the USA Today insert project for MRC.   MINUTES Mr. Edman called for a motion to approve the minutes of the October 29, 2003 meeting held via conference call.  It was moved by Kentucky to approve the minutes as submitted.  Motion carried. FINANCIAL  Mr. Todd reviewed the financials and provided an update from the previous meeting.  He noted that the expenses to-date of $88,773.20 are a bit over the budgeted amount of $87,600, however as the end of the year is approached this should even out and the year will end as planned.  Mr. Robinson from Missouri noted that it looks favorable they will be able to pay the $15,000 dues as invoiced for 2004.  A motion was made by Missouri and seconded by Louisiana to accept the financial report as presented. Motion carried. USA TODAY INSERT PROPOSAL Mr. Todd reviewed the USA TODAY insert project proposal. As proposed, the insert will run in the April 2, 2004 edition of USA TODAY and Carlson Destination Marketing Services (CDMS) will work with MRC to sell a total of $100,000 in advertising. The maximum contribution by MRC will be $12,500, the price of one quarter page ad.  Mr. Robinson questioned the running of the free ad on the same day verses earlier in the week.  Ms. Schultz explained that this ad is intended to drive readers to seek out the insert as they are looking through the paper on that same day.  There was also some discussion on what the fall insert should focus on and overall timing of the second insert.  It was decided that MRC will analyze the success of the first insert and move forward with the second insert based on that.  Mr. Todd mentioned that the overall objective of producing more than one insert is to build frequency in these four key markets. Mr. Edman raised the question of what the response mechanism or call-to-action for this insert will be.  As previously discussed, the call-to-action will indeed be the new MRC web site.  Mr. Todd also mentioned developing a temporary VRU/Toll free number that consumers could call and be transferred to the respective state’s call centers.  Mr. Edman also questioned the role of MRC verses that of CDMS.  Mr. Todd explained that while it will be very important for MRC to provide CDMS with photography and information for the editorial (as well as camera-ready artwork for any advertising purchased), CDMS will be producing the entire insert.  MRC WEB SITE REDESIGN Mr. Todd next reviewed the three proposals for the Web site redesign. There was much discussion on how these proposals were generated and if they indeed compare “apples to apples”.  Mr. Edman questioned if Atomic Playpen’s proposal assumed that the site would be database heavy, as that would alter their proposal.  Mr. Edman also questioned Carlson’s approach, and it was discussed that Carlson uses a tool to actually create the interface and also has a foundation from which to work (verses staring completely from scratch.) There was also discussion around how to best divide the MRC budget between the Web site redesign and driving consumers to the new site.  It was agreed that the split should be about 50/50. It was decided to move on to discussing the 2004 budget and workplan and discuss the Web site redesign later in the meeting. JAPAN REPRESENTATION Mr. Todd reviewed both proposals for representation and noted that Taki’s current contract expires 12/31/03.  It was decided to extend Taki’s current contract for one more year. 2004 BUDGET AND WORKPLAN Mr. Todd reviewed the 2004 proposed budget.  It was decided, after discussing the USA TODAY insert project, to remove the $200,000 revenue and expense allocated to the project from the budget entirely.  The $12,500 cost of one quarter page ad will be added as an expense for this project in the 2004 budget.  Mr. Todd also discussed that in the interest of efficiency for MRC, CDMS will move to an hourly rate structure, working at $85 per hour. This will be more advantageous to the MRC as they move forward with a few large, key projects in 2004. Mr. Edman requested that CDMS share monthly, with the chair and vice-chair, a summary of hours-to-date. Mr. Todd agreed. Ms. Polydoris raised the question of how MRC will be treating member states that are unable to pay their dues.  Mr. Todd mentioned that, using the USA TODAY project as an example, states that can not pay their dues could purchase an ad in the insert at a slight premium, or perhaps seek out convention and visitor bureaus or other industry members as partners to help offset the costs. Mr. Scheler mentioned that in Wisconsin they have an extensive co-op program and have had success securing partners in both the public and private sector.  He then raised the question of who the checks will be made out to for the USA TODAY project.  Mr. Todd answered that CDMS will be totally flexible in terms of how the advertisers wish to submit payment.  Also, it was discussed that to best help the stated secure advertising for the insert, CDMS will develop a one-page “sell sheet” and distribute as soon as possible.  Mr. Edman requested a motion be made for each of the individual proposals on the table.   Wisconsin moved to approve the USA TODAY project as proposed, with an MRC commitment of $12,500 from the 2004 budget. States will help secure a January 26, 2004 as to if the project should go forward.  Louisiana seconded the motion. Motion carried. A motion was made by Iowa to accept Taki’s proposal for Japan Representation for one year. The motion was seconded by Arkansas. Motion carried. There was further discussion on the Web site redesign and the three proposals on the table. It was decided that in order to get the best result, there needs to be a clearer understanding on what database capabilities already exist, as well as more specific project parameters. Mr. Edman suggested forming a committee to discuss these issues further.  Ms. Danielle Elbert, MRC Staff, will organize a meeting with Mr. Scheler, Ms. Lee and someone recommended by Ms. Wood in Kentucky.  Ms. Offerman also raised the question of $8,000 in the budget for press kits. After discussion that at $10 per kit we can develop about 500 kits for $5,000, Mr. Todd agreed to decrease this line item in the 2004 budget. It was also discussed that MRC will take advantage of their new web site by posting all materials on line and directing press to the site when appropriate. The extra $3,000 will be moved into contingency, along with the $10,420 currently allocated to the Web site redesign.  Iowa moved that the 2004 budget as amended be approved. Kentucky seconded the motion. Motion carried.  UPDATE Mr. Todd mentioned that the federal program for $50 million in international marketing has the potential to be reduced. The House in their Omnibus bill has put in a rescission order canceling $40 million of the $50 million appropriation if it has not been allocated. The Senate did not vote on the bill, so it will not be taken up by the Senate until sometime after January 20th when the new Congress reconvenes. The Advisory Committee for the Commerce Department will be going ahead with a request for proposal for an agency and hope to allocate the funds prior to Congress acting on the bill that includes the rescission. Based on this, there is a strong possibility that the funding for this might be reduced to $10 million. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held January 22, 2004 at 9:00 AM CST.  The call will only be to discuss the status of the USA TODAY insert advertising sales and to make a decision.  The meeting adjourned at 3:47 PM.  Attachments:      2004 Proposed Budget      2004 Work Plan ___________________________________ PAST MINUTES Minutes - 10.29.03 Minutes - 8.26.03      Strategic Plan      Draft KPIs Minutes - 5.18.03      Feedback from Planning Meeting - Notes       Draft Strategic Plan      Draft KPIs      Strategic Plan Meeting PowerPoint Minutes - 4.1.03 Minutes - 2.06.02 2002 meeting minutes TRADESHOW CONTACT REPORTS ARLAG Contact Report      ARLAG Contacts in Excel Pow Wow Contact Report      Pow Wow Contacts in Excel 2002 contact reports OTHER REPORTS 2002 reports