SOUTHERN MINNESOTA TOURISM ASSOCIATION JULY 16, BOARD MEETING REDWOOD FALLS, MN Hosted by:

Welcome SMTA – Anne Johnson Redwood Area Chamber & Tourism Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

Agenda 9:00am: Welcome and Introductions 9:30am: 2016 Explore Southern Minnesota Guide Presentation – Greenspring Media 10:00am: "Mock County Commissioner Presentation" 10:30am: Q&A and Networking Break 10:45am: Business Meeting 12:00pm: Adjourn Meeting & Lunch 12:15pm: "Paddling Tourism" presented by Wild River Academy 1:00pm: Door Prizes and Adjournment Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

2016 Explore Southern Minnesota Guide Jamie Flaws & Team - Greenspring Media Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

Agenda 9:00am: Welcome and Introductions 9:30am: 2016 Explore Southern Minnesota Guide Presentation – Greenspring Media 10:00am: "Mock County Commissioner Presentation" 10:30am: Q&A and Networking Break 10:45am: Business Meeting 12:00pm: Adjourn Meeting & Lunch 12:15pm: "Paddling Tourism" presented by Wild River Academy 1:00pm: Door Prizes and Adjournment Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

SMTA County Commissioner Mock Presentation 2016 SMTA County Appropriations Packet Invoice Tourism & the Economy Fact Sheet Next Steps - Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

Agenda 9:00am: Welcome and Introductions 9:30am: 2016 Explore Southern Minnesota Guide Presentation – Greenspring Media 10:00am: "Mock County Commissioner Presentation" 10:30am: Q&A and Networking Break 10:45am: Business Meeting 12:00pm: Adjourn Meeting & Lunch 12:15pm: "Paddling Tourism" presented by Wild River Academy 1:00pm: Door Prizes and Adjournment Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

Financials – Treasurer’s Report ExpensesIncomeInterest Interest Interest Waseca County (1 st ½ payment) Rock County Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN Heritage Direct Savings Account #633 Balance $ 52, Heritage Direct Checking Account #169 Balance $15.44 Chk # ExpensesIncome No activity this period Balance $15.44 Balance $53,326.11

Financials – Marketing Account Income Expenses Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN As of June 30, 2015 INCOMEACTUALBUDGETED fiscal 2015 *County Funding$25,616.00$29, *Transferred from SMTA Account Other$0.00$ Subtotal$25,616.00$30, Balance Forward$17,480.92$1, TOTAL INCOME$43,096.92$36, As of June 30, 2015 EXPENSESACTUALBUDGETED fiscal 2015 *41110 Print/Advertising$2,500$1, *Pheasants Forever Advertising Colle McVoy$17,367.30$22, Barcodes Plus$8,252.88$5, Other Operating$0.00$ Purchased Services$0.00$ *Carry Forward$4,309.68$1, *10% of Total Income TOTAL EXPENSES$32,429.86$31,951.00

2015 County Appropriations Comparison 31 Counties Paid To Date32 Counties Paid $27,465.80$28, Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN Annual County Funding ComparisonTotal 2010 County Funding$29, County Funding$27, County Funding$28, County Funding$28, County Funding$28, County Funding (YTD)$27,465.80

Executive Committee Report Open Executive Committee Positions - Accepting nominations to vote on at Annual Meeting nomination to Lisa Havelka by September 1 st Bylaws Review Update – will vote on changes at Annual Meeting Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

Marketing Report Current Campaign Remaining 2015 Marketing Plans Proposed 2016 SMTA Marketing Plans 2015 Explore Southern Minnesota Guide Distribution Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

Marketing Report National Average Open Rate10% SMTA Open Rate10.94% National Click-thru Rate1.75% SMTA Click-thru Rate1.64% Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

Marketing Report Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

Marketing Report National Average Open Rate10% SMTA Open Rate11.26% National Click-thru Rate1.75% SMTA Click-thru Rate4.34% Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

2015 Explore SOMN Guide Distribution Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN 2014 Explore SOMN Guide Distribution CY14 and Jan, Feb & Mar 2015 = 56,705 Top 5 Distribution Locations 1. Travel Info Centers = 18, Tourism Organizations =12, Individual Requests = 12, Affiliate TIC’s = 5, MOA & Airport = 5,320 combined MOA = 2660MSP = Explore SOMN Guide Distribution CY15 starting April, May, June = 28,921 Top 5 Distribution Locations 1. Travel Info Centers = 15, Tourism Organizations =4, Individual Requests = 3, Affiliate TIC’s = 2, MOA & Airport = 2,125 combined ◦MOA = 1,500MSP = 625

Manager’s Report 10-Day Minnesotan’s Update – SW MN & SE MN 2016 EMT Grant Guidelines now available EMT Co-Opportunities Announced EMT Marketing Opportunities Available MN Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener o Proposals due August 7 Ad Sales Available in State Travel Guide o Early bird deadline July 31 st EMT Listening Sessions coming up this Fall ◦ September 29 Marshall 1:00p.m. Marshall Public Library ◦ September 30 Rochester 9:30a.m. Kahler Apache Hotel 2016 Centennial of National Park Service o Looking for photos 2016 EMT Conference Location Announced o Feb. 2-3, 2016, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji NEW Minnesota State Highway Maps Available for FREE MN Deer Hunting Opener Seeking Host Community U of M Certificate in Festival & Event Management Course Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

10-Day Minnesotan’s – June 5 (Pei Ketron) July 17 – (Kirsten Alana) Mankato St. Peter Henderson Minneopa State Park Sleepy Eye New Ulm Pipestone Sanborn Sherburne Luverne Lake Benton Blue Mound State Park Worthington Fairmont Red Wing Winona Wabasha Lake City Lanesboro Rochester Faribault Northfield This summer Explore Minnesota invited a few world renowned travelers to road-trip through Minnesota to see and share what they discover along the way. Stops in Southern Minnesota include: Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

Manager’s Report 10-Day Minnesotan’s Update – SW MN & SE MN 2016 EMT Grant Guidelines now available EMT Co-Opportunities Announced EMT Marketing Opportunities Available MN Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener o Proposals due August 7 Ad Sales Available in State Travel Guide o Early bird deadline July 31 st EMT Listening Sessions coming up this Fall ◦ September 29 Marshall 1:00p.m. Marshall Public Library ◦ September 30 Rochester 9:30a.m. Kahler Apache Hotel 2016 Centennial of National Park Service o Looking for photos 2016 EMT Conference Location Announced o Feb. 2-3, 2016, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji NEW Minnesota State Highway Maps Available for FREE MN Deer Hunting Opener Seeking Host Community U of M Certificate in Festival & Event Management Course Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

Next SMTA Meeting – Annual Meeting September 17, 2015Worthington September Annual Meeting Topics to Include: Vote on SMTA Bylaw Changes Vote on New Officers Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN

Speaker: Wild River Academy Paddling Tourism WHAT IS WILD RIVER ACADEMY? Wild River Academy is a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, MN dedicated to engaging communities in watershed education through outdoor recreation. Southern Minnesota Tourism Association July 16, Board Meeting Redwood Falls, MN