Present: Dave Siegel, Vice Chair, John Edman, Rob Buntz, Chair, Nancy Hanson, John Valliere, Michele Peters, Tom Whelan, Debra Lloyd, Lisa Paxton (via conf call).

Purpose: Solidify the importance of tourism in Minnesota using a variety of tools to educate the industry and candidates running for office, building the foundation for increased funding.

Web site Update:
Web site has been created, but is not yet live; pending final content. On behalf of the EMT Council, the Task Force asked EMT to have the site go live with its current domain name. Other possible domain names for the public policy initiative were discussed, but tabled for review by the PR consultant.

Materials needed:

  • Speaking points - well done; no immediate changes
  • Power Point downloadable from Website that gives framework for overall statewide impact of tourism and allows local customization and benefits of increasing funding. - Dave S. will work on this August 17. Michelle will send Dave the power point.
  • Resolution of support - Rob and Tom will craft this using the points in the brochure.
  • Budget Comparisons
  • State and County info on sales/taxes/employment
  • Ad budget buying power
  • Candidate lists by district
  • Assignments

Candidates:

  • Discuss potential debate or debate questions for Gubernatorial candidates - consensus not to coordinate this.
  • Meet the candidates in each district - request commitment for funding
  • Nature of materials for candidates - different from media? similar?

Next steps:

  • Debbie offered to track and report on the progress of the meetings with legislators. Nancy is sending list of candidates to Dave and Deb on 08/11/06. Deb will send an email out to EMT council members on w/the list of legislative candidates and ask members to identify to connect with their representatives. She will then identify gaps in who will be contacted.
  • Emails will be sent to industry members asking them to connect with their legislators/candidates, educates about the campaign, and make a contribution. (Future)
  • Regional meetings are still important - it wasn’t clear who would lead this initiative.
  • Identify group meetings with legislators - such as through regional organizations.
  • Letter to all candidates telling them tourism is important to MN will be drafted by Rob and Tom - Tom will create letterhead for the EMT Council - Nancy will coordinate the mailing. Letter will be complete by August 16 - per Tom.  Dave will coordinate the mailing and pay for the postage.

Public Relations:
Tom and Rob are going to meet with Ginger Sisco - ask for pro bono massaging of the letter message; hire her immediately through Hospitality MN, assuming funds are forthcoming.

  • ID spokespersons
  • Refine speaking points
  • Develop media materials
  • Schedule press conference or meetings with editorial boards
  • Letters to editors, opinion pieces
  • Tracking outcomes

Industry Action:

  • Develop mailing/email to tourism industry on goal and action needed
  • Provide speaking points/request
  • Direct to tourism council website for resources
  • Provide timeline and follow up response (post to website?)

NOTE from Debbie: She will ask the council to return information when she sends the email. She would also be open to have any one else in the industry send her an email when they’ve made contact with a candidate and/or post it to the website - whatever makes more sense. The email address she is using for this effort will be: deblloyd@usfamily.net

  • Ask tourism and tourism related associations to pass resolution and submit
  • Follow up on assignments

Management and Budget:

  • Hospitality MN will be fiscal agent and will provide detailed accounting (per Dave).
  • Lisa will lead fundraising and work with Rob on his history of contacts. (Contact on Monday)
  • Dave Siegel offered to make phone calls for fundraising.

Other Business
John Edman presented the councils’ funding idea to Governor Pawlenty and he is very interested in learning more. A meeting with EMT Council members is scheduled for Sept. 6 at 11:30 a.m. in St. Paul.

Recommended participants are: Rob Buntz, Shawn Mason, Dutch Cragun, Dave Siegel, and John Edman. Alternate: Hank Todd.