Blue Carpet Corridor Coalition
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center
Present: Robyn Bouillon (Carlinville), Bill Deck (Girard), Cheryl Jett (Edwardsville), Bill Kelly (Scenic Byway), Steve Steelman (Girard), Dave Tucker (Gillespie), Jim Wreath (Litchfield).
Meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm by President Cheryl Jett.
Dennis A. Koppo gave a brief presentation about providing short recorded voice clips narrating info about Route 66 attractions in our communities. These clips could be used with QR codes in the Social Scavenger program. Dennis gave his qualifications to provide such a product: former tour coach guide, interest in historically significant roadways, professional musician who can provide background music, has production studio, has produced a commercial CD on Route 66 in Arizona. His price is $100 per finished minute for audio and $1,000 per finished minute for video. Although his program has possibilities, we do not have enough time to consider this for the 2015 event and it was tabled until later this year.
Minutes: March meeting minutes were distributed, read, and amended. Bill Kelly made a motion to approve the amended March minutes with Bill Deck second. Motion carried.
Correspondence: Cheryl reported that she had received the completed “change of registered agent” from the IL Secretary of State after changing it to her name and home address from Stan Barker.
Treasurer's Report: Jim Wreath reported that we had received Glen Carbon's $300 check and that there is a balance of $3,895.58 in the BCC checking account. The savings account, which was opened to keep the Route 66 Conference funds separate, balance is $2,500 ($2,500 from City of Edwardsville in tourism funds).
Website: Vice-President and Webmaster Dave Tucker encouraged everyone to take time to look at the website and its various pages. Dave is continually updating the website as he receives information from the various communities, so visit often. Also, be sure to take advantage of the member page, where meeting information and minutes, logos for merchandise, and other information just for our community members is located.
Facebook Page: Cheryl gave the Facebook page report. As of that afternoon there were 439 “likes.” With page editors from the various communities posting, the page is growing exponentially.
Route 66 Conference: Cheryl reported that all is going well in planning the conference and brought a sample of the graphic design for the conference flyer and copies of the Prairie Land Buzz with her Route 66 column containing the press release for the conference.
Old/New Business:
Search for pro bono attorney – Dave contacted a couple local attorneys to inquire about pro bono work but there was no reply. Secretary Suzanne Gray contacted St. Louis University Law School to see if our 501(c)(3) application could be done through a student project. Dave followed up on the SLU idea and has a call in to a law professor there.
Finalization of passport and stamps – Dave has designed a passport with a map of BCC and 19 spaces (one for each community) for the passport stamps on the interior, which is 17 x 11 inches unfolded and laid flat. The passport folds in half to a size of 8 ½ x 11 with text, advertising logos, and information on the front and back covers. It will be printed on card stock so it will be sturdy enough to hold up for the weekend for visitors. We will get sponsors to pay a good share of this so that we can print it in color. Dave Tucker made a motion to print 4,000 color passports for $2,052. Robyn Bouillon second. Motion carried.
The passport stamps will all be printed at George Press in Litchfield. BCC will order and pay for one stamp for each community. They will all be alike in design, with the Route 66 shield in the center and the words “Blue Carpet Corridor” on the bottom half curving around the shield. The community name OR community passport stop name will be on the top half curving around the shield. For example, Litchfield's will have the museum name across the top. If you wish your passport stop name on your stamp, please contact Dave Tucker asap. Otherwise your stamp will have the name of your town. The stamps are self-inking and can be refilled. Each stamp will cost BCC approximately $30.
A mini-version of the passport in black-and-white will be used as a flyer for distribution at Red Carpet Corridor weekend May 2-3. Dave Tucker made a motion to print 2,000 b&W mini-brochures based on the passport for $248. Jim Wreath second. Motion carried.
Scavenger hunt using Social Scavenger: Social Scavenger is an app that we can use to hold a scavenger hunt throughout BCC weekend plus throughout the year, increasing traffic to our businesses and attractions. The company will design an app specifically for BCC and sponsor(s) will be given a banner page.
Sponsorship request: Dave has made contact with a company that has numerous local offices along the BCC. So far they have been intrigued with our request and Dave has learned that they have $28,000 that they must donate to a good cause(s) soon. A meeting will soon be set up with the district or regional office.
Mini-grant community program: Dave and Cheryl have written a letter which may be used and tweaked to approach your local city council or chamber to request a small grant ($50 or $100) to go to a local organization for start-up for BCC weekend. Examples would be asking for funding for supplies for a fish fry or other food vendor, or banners or signage for a vendor or activity. Dave is doing this in Gillespie.
BCC bus trip to RCC: We will take a bus to the Red Carpet Corridor on Sat., May 2. We are taking a 14-passenger bus. Dave made a motion to pay the $200 deposit for the bus with Robyn Bouillon second. Motion carried. This trip will show support for our sister event, give us an opportunity to publicize our BCC event, familiarize BCC folks with what RCC has, and provide lots of photo ops to blast on social media. A BCC t-shirt and a blue fedora or mining hat will be provided to those who sign up early for the trip. Bill Deck made a motion and Dave second to spend no more than $100 for “props” for the trip – hats. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm. Next meeting is Thursday, May 14, 15 6:00 pm at the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Jett, President
April 13, 2015
Blue Carpet Coalition Amended Meeting Minutes
March 12, 2015
Attending:Suzanne Gray, Virden
Linda Worlow, Virden
Bill Deck, Girard
Sara Waggoner, Litchfield
Carol B. Dappert, Glenn Carbon
Larry Jones, Glenn Carbon
Diane Rasplica Jones
Bill Kelly, Route 66 Scenic Byway
Rich Henry, Staunton
Martha Jackson, Litchfield
Jim Wreath, Litchfield
Shellie Perry, Chatham
Lynn Fraelle, Benld
Mike Dragovich, Mt Olive
Stacy Conn, Route 66 Scenic Byway
Dave Cissler, Staunton
Dave Tucker, Gillespie
Guest, Sara Thomack, Litchfield, WSMI Intern
Dave Tucker, Vice President opened the meeting with introductions.
Jim Wreath, Treasurer provided a report. The BCC has $3575.63 in its account. A separate savings account has been set up as a pass through for the Edwardsville Route 66 Conference with a balance of $2500.
Dave reported that that the BCC website www.bluecarpetcorridor.org traffic is picking up. The members password is Member66.
Dave reported that no progress has been made on obtaining a pro bono attorney. If anyone knows an accountant or attorney that might help with this please let him know.
A digital passport was discussed. The estimated cost is $3,000 - $4,000. Due to the cost this was tabled until next year when it can be revisited. A paper passport will be used this year. Bill Kelly committed the Route 66 Scenic Byway to $500 to be used to by each town for one passport stamp and towns will need to by any additional ones. There will be two size stamps, a smaller version and a larger version. Dave will modify the map to accommodate a stamp. (NOTE AS OF 4/9/15: It was later found that two size versions were not needed.)
Bill Kelly spoke of a tourism program, Atlas Obscura. Think of any quirky or really cool things and submit to Bill. He will forward them to the collection point for an Illinois inventory of these places. (NOTE AS OF 4/9/15: Bill Kelly said that Scenic Byway is not participating with this program at this time.)
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center
Present: Robyn Bouillon (Carlinville), Bill Deck (Girard), Cheryl Jett (Edwardsville), Bill Kelly (Scenic Byway), Steve Steelman (Girard), Dave Tucker (Gillespie), Jim Wreath (Litchfield).
Meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm by President Cheryl Jett.
Dennis A. Koppo gave a brief presentation about providing short recorded voice clips narrating info about Route 66 attractions in our communities. These clips could be used with QR codes in the Social Scavenger program. Dennis gave his qualifications to provide such a product: former tour coach guide, interest in historically significant roadways, professional musician who can provide background music, has production studio, has produced a commercial CD on Route 66 in Arizona. His price is $100 per finished minute for audio and $1,000 per finished minute for video. Although his program has possibilities, we do not have enough time to consider this for the 2015 event and it was tabled until later this year.
Minutes: March meeting minutes were distributed, read, and amended. Bill Kelly made a motion to approve the amended March minutes with Bill Deck second. Motion carried.
Correspondence: Cheryl reported that she had received the completed “change of registered agent” from the IL Secretary of State after changing it to her name and home address from Stan Barker.
Treasurer's Report: Jim Wreath reported that we had received Glen Carbon's $300 check and that there is a balance of $3,895.58 in the BCC checking account. The savings account, which was opened to keep the Route 66 Conference funds separate, balance is $2,500 ($2,500 from City of Edwardsville in tourism funds).
Website: Vice-President and Webmaster Dave Tucker encouraged everyone to take time to look at the website and its various pages. Dave is continually updating the website as he receives information from the various communities, so visit often. Also, be sure to take advantage of the member page, where meeting information and minutes, logos for merchandise, and other information just for our community members is located.
Facebook Page: Cheryl gave the Facebook page report. As of that afternoon there were 439 “likes.” With page editors from the various communities posting, the page is growing exponentially.
Route 66 Conference: Cheryl reported that all is going well in planning the conference and brought a sample of the graphic design for the conference flyer and copies of the Prairie Land Buzz with her Route 66 column containing the press release for the conference.
Old/New Business:
Search for pro bono attorney – Dave contacted a couple local attorneys to inquire about pro bono work but there was no reply. Secretary Suzanne Gray contacted St. Louis University Law School to see if our 501(c)(3) application could be done through a student project. Dave followed up on the SLU idea and has a call in to a law professor there.
Finalization of passport and stamps – Dave has designed a passport with a map of BCC and 19 spaces (one for each community) for the passport stamps on the interior, which is 17 x 11 inches unfolded and laid flat. The passport folds in half to a size of 8 ½ x 11 with text, advertising logos, and information on the front and back covers. It will be printed on card stock so it will be sturdy enough to hold up for the weekend for visitors. We will get sponsors to pay a good share of this so that we can print it in color. Dave Tucker made a motion to print 4,000 color passports for $2,052. Robyn Bouillon second. Motion carried.
The passport stamps will all be printed at George Press in Litchfield. BCC will order and pay for one stamp for each community. They will all be alike in design, with the Route 66 shield in the center and the words “Blue Carpet Corridor” on the bottom half curving around the shield. The community name OR community passport stop name will be on the top half curving around the shield. For example, Litchfield's will have the museum name across the top. If you wish your passport stop name on your stamp, please contact Dave Tucker asap. Otherwise your stamp will have the name of your town. The stamps are self-inking and can be refilled. Each stamp will cost BCC approximately $30.
A mini-version of the passport in black-and-white will be used as a flyer for distribution at Red Carpet Corridor weekend May 2-3. Dave Tucker made a motion to print 2,000 b&W mini-brochures based on the passport for $248. Jim Wreath second. Motion carried.
Scavenger hunt using Social Scavenger: Social Scavenger is an app that we can use to hold a scavenger hunt throughout BCC weekend plus throughout the year, increasing traffic to our businesses and attractions. The company will design an app specifically for BCC and sponsor(s) will be given a banner page.
Sponsorship request: Dave has made contact with a company that has numerous local offices along the BCC. So far they have been intrigued with our request and Dave has learned that they have $28,000 that they must donate to a good cause(s) soon. A meeting will soon be set up with the district or regional office.
Mini-grant community program: Dave and Cheryl have written a letter which may be used and tweaked to approach your local city council or chamber to request a small grant ($50 or $100) to go to a local organization for start-up for BCC weekend. Examples would be asking for funding for supplies for a fish fry or other food vendor, or banners or signage for a vendor or activity. Dave is doing this in Gillespie.
BCC bus trip to RCC: We will take a bus to the Red Carpet Corridor on Sat., May 2. We are taking a 14-passenger bus. Dave made a motion to pay the $200 deposit for the bus with Robyn Bouillon second. Motion carried. This trip will show support for our sister event, give us an opportunity to publicize our BCC event, familiarize BCC folks with what RCC has, and provide lots of photo ops to blast on social media. A BCC t-shirt and a blue fedora or mining hat will be provided to those who sign up early for the trip. Bill Deck made a motion and Dave second to spend no more than $100 for “props” for the trip – hats. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm. Next meeting is Thursday, May 14, 15 6:00 pm at the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Jett, President
April 13, 2015
Blue Carpet Coalition Amended Meeting Minutes
March 12, 2015
Attending:Suzanne Gray, Virden
Linda Worlow, Virden
Bill Deck, Girard
Sara Waggoner, Litchfield
Carol B. Dappert, Glenn Carbon
Larry Jones, Glenn Carbon
Diane Rasplica Jones
Bill Kelly, Route 66 Scenic Byway
Rich Henry, Staunton
Martha Jackson, Litchfield
Jim Wreath, Litchfield
Shellie Perry, Chatham
Lynn Fraelle, Benld
Mike Dragovich, Mt Olive
Stacy Conn, Route 66 Scenic Byway
Dave Cissler, Staunton
Dave Tucker, Gillespie
Guest, Sara Thomack, Litchfield, WSMI Intern
Dave Tucker, Vice President opened the meeting with introductions.
Jim Wreath, Treasurer provided a report. The BCC has $3575.63 in its account. A separate savings account has been set up as a pass through for the Edwardsville Route 66 Conference with a balance of $2500.
Dave reported that that the BCC website www.bluecarpetcorridor.org traffic is picking up. The members password is Member66.
Dave reported that no progress has been made on obtaining a pro bono attorney. If anyone knows an accountant or attorney that might help with this please let him know.
A digital passport was discussed. The estimated cost is $3,000 - $4,000. Due to the cost this was tabled until next year when it can be revisited. A paper passport will be used this year. Bill Kelly committed the Route 66 Scenic Byway to $500 to be used to by each town for one passport stamp and towns will need to by any additional ones. There will be two size stamps, a smaller version and a larger version. Dave will modify the map to accommodate a stamp. (NOTE AS OF 4/9/15: It was later found that two size versions were not needed.)
Bill Kelly spoke of a tourism program, Atlas Obscura. Think of any quirky or really cool things and submit to Bill. He will forward them to the collection point for an Illinois inventory of these places. (NOTE AS OF 4/9/15: Bill Kelly said that Scenic Byway is not participating with this program at this time.)
