Board
Minutes
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council,
Inc. Board of Directors Meeting
March 27, 2009 @ Blackstone Valley Tourism Headquarters
1. Roll Call
Attendees:
Dave Balfour, Chair
Louise Boulanger, Vice Chair
Sue Tessier Mackenzie, Secretary
John Lefrancois, Member
Maurice Rondeau, Member
Helen Moroney, Member
Louis Yip, Member
Najwa Murphy, Member
Absent:
Richard Murphy, Member
Jackie Boudreau, Treasurer
Robert Conway, Member
Anthony Capuano, Member
Mark Brodeau, Member
Len Clingham, Member
Dave Richard, Member
Paul Eno, Member
Also:
Robert Billington, President
Natalie Carter, Director of Operations
2. The meeting was called
to order at 12:06 pm with a quorum present.
3. Minutes
On a MOTION by Helen Moroney, seconded by Sue
Mackenzie, the minutes of the Jan 30, 2009 meeting were approved as
presented. (Copies attached and made a part of these minutes.)
4. Treasurer’s Report
Billington presented the Treasurer’s Report dated
03/18/09. A YTD Budget, a Profit and Loss statement, a Statement of
Cash Flows and Balance Sheet were presented along with a report on
Room Tax revenues for all years. Billington noted that Room Tax
revenues were down by $40,000 YTD. The Board discussed the falling
revenues and reasons for such a drop.
On a MOTION by Sue Mackenzie and seconded by Mr.
Yip the Treasurer’s Report was accepted as presented.
5. President’s Report and
Old Business
Mr. Billington updated the Board on the following:
-
He discussed that he would like two more weeks
of patience to try to pull together funding to put the
Blackstone Valley Explorer in the water. He circulated a report
from Bob Dombrowski that detailed how the boat may operate more
efficiently. He is seeking funding from the City of Central
Falls, the National Heritage Corridor and Citizen’s Bank. He
will report back to the Board for a special meeting over the
next two weeks when a plan is worked out.
-
Mr. LeFrancois told the Board that he would
help run a fund raiser for the boats and that he would design a
booklet to contain advertising revenue to keep the boats afloat
this season.
-
Billington explained that with a contribution
from Helen Moroney, and in an effort to raise cash the Tourism
Council was ready to launch a product line of Salsa and Dynamite
Sauce along with it’s Coffee Syrup.
6. New Business
Billington explained that all salaried positions
were cut 20% until further notice. Work hours were not cut however.
Ms Carter explained that the Tourism Council was approved for
“workshare” with RIDET. This may help replace some of the income
that each employee will be loosing with this cut back in salary.
Billington and Carter announced a grant being
received from the RI Foundation to help RI create a new “Blue Print
for new Tourism.” Billington will be leading this effort through the
Sustainable Tourism Laboratory.
Billington announced that VISTA will be providing
two positions to the Tourism Council this year with a possibility of
a third.
The Board ratified the appointment of Barry
Mechanic to the Board with a Motion from Helen Moroney and a second
by Sue Tessier Mackenzie.
The Board ratified unanimously the Second Amendment
to Loan Documents dated 30 December 2008 for Watercruises of RI LLC
and Navigant Credit Union signed by David Balfour and Peter Conway
of Conway Bus Service.
7. Adjournment
There being no further business before the Board,
it adjourned at 1:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert D. Billington
President
