The invocation was given by Dr. Terrell Watts.
Minutes were read by Secretary Pat Allen. On a motion by Jim Cameron and a second by Margaret Stewart, minutes were approved as read.
Treasurer Reggie Hinson reported that after all the bills were paid, GOBA has (withheld) in the bank.
Guests Bruce and Becky Rowell recently opened their business, Rowell’s Screenprinting, next to the Union Power Co-Op building. They make custom screenprinting and promotional products. Welcome to Oakboro!
Tourism development was updated by Bob Barbee and Annabelle Morgan. Annabelle made a poster of several recent news articles about Oakboro. She gave a summary of Greta Lint’s promotional efforts. (A copy of Greta’s email follows these minutes).
Bob told us about the events at the I 77 and I 85S Information Center during National Tourism Week. Jerry Crayton gave a special thanks to the volunteers who brought their cars and spent untold hours working during this event. The overall consensus was that the event had been successful and several ‘good contacts’ were made.
Annabelle updated us on the next issue of the Oakboro magazine. It will focus on our Fire Department and options are being considered on printing more magazines as well as having more pages.
Jerry Crayton updated us on the next Cruise-In events; more than 100 cars are expected.
Jim Cameron updated us on the Fourth of July Parade. The parade book is due June 27th. Next year’s plans on having a talent contest are under way.
Terrell Watts reported that combined choirs of more than 30 voices will sing during a Community Service on July 2nd. He added that attracting visual artists to the talent contest are being discussed.
Larry Branch announced that Oakboro has received a $350,000 grant for the park.
Bob Barbee updated us on the railroad museum; a bid within budged has been received. So, as soon as the Town officially accepts it, construction can begin.
Ron Taylor announced that The Art House Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony would be June 24th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Bob Barbee and second by Jim Cameron.
End of Meeting
Email from Greta Lint Follows
From: "Greta Lint"
Subject: Report for noon meetingI look forward to coming to Oakboro and regret that family health needs are keeping me away from Thursday's meeting. Please pass along my regards to everyone. You may want to pick and choose elements of this report to keep it short.The month of May was spent primarily working on the movie premiere - media kit, media preview, National Tourism Week. I've sent some of the releases. You should already have all the others.
Distribution Date and Name of Release (I will give your later a detailed list of where all releases and invitations went.)
April 11 - Mayberry Impersonators Appear at Restaurant
April 25 - April Cruise-in and Burnout
May 9 - Media Preview invitation
May 11 - Oakboro participating at National Tourism Week events
May 14 and 15 - Media kit with fact sheet, trivia sheet, story tip sheet, story about Michael Lackey, story about film and story about Oakboro
May 18 - Big Lick Bluegrass Festival calendar release
May 18 - Big Lick Bluegrass Festival regular release
May 22 - May Cruise-in and Burnout
Greta apologizes that she has not been able to forward all the releases to the members of GOBA. Half of the members utilize email. The other half may or may not have a readily accessible fax.
Would it be possible to post the releases on the town's Web site?
Overview of Activities
Three area newspapers attended the media preview on Monday, May 15. The Salisbury Post reporter returned on Friday, October 26 with a photographer. The piece is scheduled to run before the June Cruise-in and Burnout. One of the invitations was sent to Business North Carolina, prompting an inquiry from the travel editor there. That publication, operated by NCCBI (NC Citizens for Business and Industry) typically only writes about member organizations.
The Stanly County Chamber of Commerce is one - and the Town of Oakboro is a member. As a result, the editor is interested in doing a story on Oakboro.
The Charlotte Observer included the April and May Cruise-in and Burnout in its calendar of events in the paper and on-line. The Charlotte Observer published a story on Michael Lackey, the film and Oakboro just prior to the May Cruise-in and movie premiere. And, a reporter from the paper attended the Thursday night premiere and concert in hopes of writing yet another story about the movie and Oakboro.
Greta has worked very closely with Mark Price who has hounded his editors about publishing more news about Oakboro. Greta sent information to the sports editor for material to be included in the Charlotte Observer's Race Week insert.
Working with Michael Lackey and his mother, Angel Teer, Greta produced a media kit with stories about the film and Oakboro. The invitation was distributed via email and fax to nearly 100 media, including traditional media, NASCAR publications, network news magazine shows and wire services. Portions of the media kit were distributed to radio and TV stations, wire services, magazines and newspapers throughout the state and region. The story about Oakboro, itself, will be sent to other publications too.
In addition to the media, the invitation was sent to the NC Film Office in Charlotte and Raleigh - and selected members of the tourism industry, including the membership of Mid-Carolina Host, a 15-county membership organization of which the Stanly CVB is a member.
National Tourism Week was observed May 15-19. Oakboro was the hit of the party at the I-77 and I-85 South North Carolina Welcome Centers.
Musician Mark Yow, model Lindsey Eudy, trade show expert Ted Hinson and car owners spent the day at each facility promoting Oakboro. That resulted in yet more coverage in the Charlotte Observer. Greta sent a release about Oakboro's involvement to 20 media outlets.
So that's 3 stories, at least, in the Charlotte Observer during May.A calendar release and a full press release were distributed on May 18 for the Big Lick Bluegrass Festival. Greta is working with Jeff Branch to arrange for additional publicity through ticket giveaways on radio stations.
Greta is playing phone tag with the news/promotions director of WKKT Radio in Charlotte (Kat Kountry) to set up an interview for the station's public affairs program.
Switching gears, Greta has just completed a direct telemarketing program to identify nearly 300 motorocoach operators coming into North Carolina. She will be coordinating a direct mailing campaign to them that will include information about current and future Oakboro offerings, including the train, museum and depot.
The DVD, magazine and professional motorcoach profile sheet will be included in the mailing. Once the mailing goes out, it will need to be followed up by phone calls and new mailings (via fax, email or snail mail) to the operators on a regular basis.
She is developing a new list of qualified group leaders from North and South Carolina. Group leaders put together trips for bank clubs, senior centers, college alumni, parks and recreation, and the list goes on. She isn't sure when that list will be available.
Now that the film premiere is over, she is redirecting her energies to work on the marketing plan.
It will be available by mid-July.
Thank you.Respectfully submitted - Greta Lint
