Board
Minutes
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council,
Inc. Board of Directors Meeting
March 15, 2007 @ Blackstone Valley Tourism Headquarters
1. Roll Call
Attendees:
Dave Balfour, Chairman
Dave Richards, Member
Louis Yip, Member
Helen Moroney, Member
Sue Tessier-Mackenzie, Secretary
Len Clingham, Member
Theodore G. Garille, Member
Robert Billington, President
Natalie Carter, Director of Operations
Don Marshall, Member
Absent:
Sam Butera, Vice-Chairman
Louise Champigny, Member
Dan O’Brien, Treasurer
Robert Conway, Member
Anthony Capuano, Member
Marcia Green, Member
Dave DePetrillo, Member
Paul Eno, Member
John Lefrancois, Member
Richard Murphy, Member
Robert Cahill, Member
Also:
Kevin Sylvia, Financial Management Services
Dave Balfour opened the meeting with a “Point of
Privilege of the Chair. Balfour noted he was concerned about
articles appearing in the Valley Breeze regarding the Corridor
Keepers organization. He felt that possibly the Corridor Keepers
would be competing with this and other non-profit groups for funding
in the Valley and be duplicative in their work. Sue Tessier
Mackenzie wanted to know the mission of the Corridor Keepers. Mr.
Billington sought to wait and see if the Chairman’s concerns were
warranted. He would speak to another non-profit organization to
sense their level of concern. The Board asked Mr. Billington to look
into the situation further. Richards and Balfour were to meet with
Mr. Billington next week to discuss the situation further.
2. Minutes
On a MOTION by Mr. Clingham, seconded by Sue
Tessier-Mackenzie, the minutes of the January 19, 2007 meeting were
approved with the following amendments. Under “new business”, “d”,
Mr. Garille’s name and title were corrected to read, “Theodore G.
Garille, General Manager /CEO of the Pascoag Utility District.”
Unanimously approved. (Copies attached)
3. Treasurer’s Report
Kevin Sylvia submitted a Financial Report, dated
January 2007, due the recent resignation of Treasurer Dan O’Brien.
(A copy of the Financial Report is attached and made a part of these
minutes.)
The Report was accepted with a motion from Sue Tessier Mackenzie and
seconded by Helen Moroney.
The Chair read a letter from Dan O’Brien, Treasurer
resigning from the Board. The Board accepted with regret.
Dave Richards suggested that Jackie Boudreau be
invited to the Board of Directors and to serve as Treasurer. Dave
Richards agreed to speak with her.
4. President’s Report and
Old Business
Mr. Billington updated the Board on the following:
a. RI Tourism Legislation
Mr. Billington updated the board on legislation H6062, A
Burrillville Farm Bill and S413 that addresses a shifting of the
tourism tax from the tourism districts to the cities and towns over
5 years.
Both bills are of interest to the Tourism Council.
b. RI DEM Contract
Mr. Billington noted that the contract between Dunkin Donuts and
RIDEM to provide Visitor Services to the Lincoln Visitor Center has
been signed by all parties.
c. Boat Operations - Spirit of the Blackstone
Valley
Mr. Billington noted that the boat was still for sale. He has had
some interest.
d. Bay Queen Cruise
Mr. Billington asked all Board Members to please purchase a seat on
the upcoming fund raising cruise.
e. Water Cruises of RI
Mr. Billington has a meeting with Central Falls Credit Union to
discuss the outstanding loans on the Ferry Boats.
f. UNWTO S.best Certification
The Post Card Announcement for the UNWTO certification was
circulated to the Board.
5. New Business
a. Green Tourism Conference – Rhode Island
The draft of flyer promoting the Conference was circulated to the
Board.
b. Travel Satellite Conference
Mr. Billington notified the Board that the Tourism Council would be
participating in a Tourism Economic Impact Report being performed by
Global Insights on behalf of the State of RI. Our financial chare
would be $7,000.
c. Rhode Island Rivers Day Award
The Board would like to nominate Bob Sutton of RIDEM as the River’s
Day Award winner for 2007, if he is not a state employee at time. If
he is, the Board suggested we wait till 2008.
d. Rhode Island Governor’s Tourism Award 2007
The Board accepted the nomination by Dave Richards and the second by
Sue Tessier Mackenzie of the Historic Sites of the Great Road
Lincoln as the 2007 Governor’s Tourism Award winner for the
Blackstone Valley. Kathy Hartley and John Scanlon would be
recipients of the award.
e. Annual Meeting
Mr. Billington suggested that Kevin Lima a movie director, a
Pawtucket native, be recognized at our Annual Meeting for his work
for Disney Pictures. He was a recipient of a Directors Guild of
America Award and a long list of credentials next to his name and
career. The Board overwhelmingly agreed that Lima should be
recognized with a special recognition award.
f. Recent News Stories
Mr. Billington shared a recent story in the Boston Globe and the
Providence Journal that talked about the rich cultural, heritage
resources of the Blackstone Valley.
Mr. Clingham noted to the Board that he was staging
an event on August 20th at the Monument to our Forefathers in
Provincetown Ma. All were invited.
6. Adjournment
Dave Richards motioned to adjourn. There being no
further business before the board, the board adjourned at 1:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Tessier-Mackenzie
Recording Secretary
