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Minutes <br /> Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau <br /> Advisory Board Meeting <br /> Sheraton Chapel Hill <br /> June 12, 2024 <br /> 8:00—9:15 AM <br /> Board Members Present: Sharon Hill, Randee Haven-O'Donnell, Jon Hartman-Brown, Spring Council, Sam <br /> Vadgama, Meredith Saybe, Tanya Moore, Heidi Werner-Dawson <br /> Not Present: Karen Dehart- Chair, Grace Holtkamp, Anna Richards, Matt Hughes, Paris Miller-Foushee, <br /> Steven Peck, Jeri Lynn Schulke, Donald"DR"Bryan, Wendy Smith <br /> Staff Attendance: Laurie Paolicelli, Marlene Barbera, Hannah Hemphill, Katie Murray <br /> Call to Order <br /> Sharon Hill,Vice-Chair called the meeting to order 8:10 AM. <br /> Round Table Introductions <br /> Approval of Minutes <br /> Sharon Hill requested a motion to approve the May 15, 2024, minutes. Randee Haven- O'Donnell made a <br /> motion to approve the minutes and Tanya Moore seconded the motion. All members were in favor of <br /> approving the minutes. The vote will be ratified at the next board meeting on August 21, 2024. <br /> Marketing Update <br /> • Several programs were reviewed including the Visitors Bureau continuing commitment to LGBTQ <br /> initiatives. An advertisement program was implemented in WALTER magazine, distributed to <br /> Triangle readers. Posters were produced for the Carrboro event and Paolicellli coordinated distribution <br /> with the Town of Carrboro's Public Information Officer, Catherine Lazorko. <br /> • The Visitors Bureau unique public art sculpture, Rainbow Ram,will be used in the parade. <br /> • Paolicelli reviewed marketing for the upcoming Manchester City vs. Celtic Game and thanked Board <br /> Member Randee Haven-O'Donnel for her work in securing the $10,000 grant money for the Trolley. <br /> Trolley advertising, staffing, PR, and marketing were reviewed. <br /> Executive Director's Report <br /> • Finalizing Budget with BOCC which included a special session on the Visitors Bureau fund balance. <br /> Paolicelli emphasized that the BOCC voted to allow the Visitors Bureau to maintain a 15% fund <br /> balance reserve and use fund balance for special event opportunities that occur at the end of the fiscal <br /> year,using European Soccer as an example. <br /> • The Visitors Bureau contracted with a website evaluation company to engage website users on the <br /> site's usability and functionality. Final reports showed that the website needed to lead with restaurants, <br /> events, live music, and the mobile version of the site was not ranked as high. The Visitor's Bureau is <br /> now redesigning its site for ease of use. <br />