Travel and Tourism board hears on how CARES funds are being spent

At the most recent Travel and Tourism board meeting, Jackie Dorothy said in her director’s report that the bulk of her time this past month has been concentrated on spending the CARES Act money appropriately and completing the creative projects for each campaign.

Dorothy said, “Our ‘Be Happy, Be Safe, Be You’ campaign is up and running with radio and social media.” Recently they received the first version of their television commercial that they shot. They plan to launch their first e-newsletter with over 3,000 email leads from Yellowstone.com. These emails will also be future content for their blog when it is launched with the new website. The magazine is slated to be finished by the end of the month and sent to the printers in early November.

Dorothy also explained that part of the CARES Act funds was used to hire Darren Rudloff as a consultant to help ensure that the board stays in compliance with the fund spending. Dorothy said, “Not only is he making sure we are funding appropriate projects, writing editorials and content, he has also found several small areas we are out of compliance on and is helping us tidy up loose ends.”

Also, Dorothy recently spoke with Howie Samelson as she has learned about Route 20, the Yellowstone Highway. Samelson is already promoting the same program. Dorothy said, “I have been researching opportunities to promote Route 20. There is the potential of historic highway signage to promote the famous route which connects Boston to Yellowstone.” Samelson has a window display at Discover Thermopolis for this route. 

Dorothy also said that she is working on signage and workforce as other action items. She is looking into new signs that better communicate county and town features. In a discussion regarding the workforce, Chamber of Commerce director Meri Ann Rush said it is hard for businesses to find workers. Another added problem to the workforce is that many oil field workers are unemployed and cannot find work because businesses won’t hire them because they think at any moment the oil fields will open up and they will quit their new jobs.

In new business, the board passed a motion to accept new CARES Act money they received. They also passed a motion to accept an amended budget. Bob Roos resigned from the position of Board Secretary, but he is still a member. The secretary position was offered to Susan Lankford, who accepted. 

The secretary position was given its proper descriptions to the board members so that they understood and worked toward becoming compliant. According to Funding for Good Organization: Board Solutions, they say, “The role of the board secretary is one of the most critical. The board minutes, one approved by the board, become the official record of the organization.” The resources also said that “concise and transparent records are more important than ever. Due to the increased numbers of legal claims filed annually against nonprofit directors and officers over the past decade, documentation is critical.”

Jurri Schenck, representing his father Jeb’s business Schenck Photography, presented several commercials that visually express the county’s features for marketing to tourists. There were three one-minute commercials, three 30 second commercials and two 15 second ads. Schenck Photography has been shooting drone videos and other cinematography all summer long. Jurri Schenck edited the footage to music and wrote the spots as well.

The content shows features such as the Wind River Canyon, the Hot Springs State Park, the pools, rodeos and other places.