Community confidence is tourism board mission

by Bill Boender

The Sublette County Joint Tourism Promotion Board met Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Pinedale Library and approved grant requests from the Pinedale Music Boosters and the Mixed Media Artists.

Jennifer Ball was officially elected as secretary-treasurer for the board. Eric and Kathy Secrist of Cutting Edge Marketing presented the director's report and the treasurer's report along with the 2003-2004 marketing plan.

The board's mission statement in the plan is "To inspire community confidence in the Sublette County Joint Tourism and Promotion Board's goal of increasing travel, tourism and visits to the county through a variety of awareness campaigns,"

John Godfrey presented the latest draft of the contract with Cutting Edge Marketing for review by board members. Details will be worked out and presented to the board for final approval at the next meeting.

Tom Brown, Pinedale Area Chamber of Commerce President, attended and discussed the joint operations of the tourism board and chamber, which will have a coordinating committee of Glenna Johnson and Alan Blackburn of the tourism board along with John Culbertson and Janis Nelson of the chamber. PACC will provide the hut and 10 percent of costs of operation, with the tourism board covering 90 percent of costs.

Johnson again declined to read the declaration presented by John Godfrey at the last meeting citing concerns about possible litigation involving Lauren McKeever. A final bill from McKeever for her services was approved for payment subject to receipt of a release of liability from McKeever.

The next meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Big Piney Library.