Tourism board to go from nine to five

by Bill Boender

The Sublette County Joint Tourism Promotion Board met Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the new Sublette County Chamber of Commerce office for its regular November meeting with all active members present. Three seats on the board are presently vacant and the board passed a proposal to reduce the number of seats on the board from nine to five. A letter requesting the change to be effective in January will be sent to the Sublette County Commissioners and to the three town councils for approval and action.

Chairman John Godfrey recommended the seats be filled with two from Pinedale and one each from Big Piney, Marbleton and the county at-large. Board Member Toni David felt Pinedale should have one seat and the county should have two. The board agreed to let the county commissioners make that determination.

The board discussed delays in having advertising and promotional literature available, but did not make any decisions regarding promotional videos or summer and winter visitors guides. Randall Marketing will be retained to review the marketing plan developed by Cutting Edge Mar-keting and make recommendations regarding advertising material and website design when they visit Pinedale in February, 2005.

Board secretary Jennifer Ball submitted her resignation from the board. An attempt to fill that position was unsuccessful as no current member was willing to take the job. Director Kathy Sechrist will perform those duties until the January meeting when there may be new members available.

Godfrey reported that the political action committee formed to promote the renewal of the lodging tax spent $4,950 in its successful effort. Godfrey also advised the board that purchase of property on Pine Street for a new visitors center was progressing well and should be concluded soon.

The next meeting was scheduled for Dec. 14 at the Big Piney Library at 7 p.m.