AUBURN’S HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITES COMMISSION
Meeting minutes from June 10, 2007
Present: M. Tarnow (Auburn B.I.D.), D. Stankus, B. M. Lewis, S. Schuster, K. Walker, D. Carabajal, M. Vanek,
M. Alberici, Jeff Alberici (guest), Matt Drastal (guest) and J. Kline
Excused/Absent: B. Barrett, S. Tucker, J. McCormick, L. Leary, P. Wisbey, E. McHugh, Rev. Carter, P. Copes Johnson, B. Anderson and D. Dempsey
I. Approval of the Minutes
S. Schuster read the Commission’s mission and vision statements, and M. Alberici asked for approval of the 4/10/07 minutes. Matt Drastal noted he was named “Mark” in the minutes. J. Kline said she would make the change. S. Schuster made a motion to accept the amended minutes, seconded by K. Walker. All were in favor and the motion carried.
Committee Reports
II. Planning & Development Committee
M. Alberici introduced teachers Jeff Alberici and Matt Drastal who have been working on promotional DVDs and lesson plans for “Lessons on Auburn.”
M. Drastal passed out copies of an update on the project, denoting what the status was with each of the site’s lesson plans and promotional DVDs. S. Schuster asked to see a draft of the Schweinfurth’s plan. M. Drastal said to speed up the video production; they are adding another camera/production person to their team, plus 4 middle school actors. Once the lesson plans/videos are done, downloadable PDFs and quick time video clips could be added to the website. J. Kline said she would make sure there was a place for that on the site, which is in the process of being redone.
Next the group discussed the proposal from GeoPoint Systems that offer cell phone audio tours. This could either be a free service for visitors, or they could pay to hear the tour. M. Drastal said he thought using MP3 players or I-pods for this purpose might be more effective. We could host a downloadable tour on the website. M. Drastal said another option would be offering small GPS units that could be used, for example, during a Fort Hill Cemetery tour. They cost around $100 and the Commission could have 3-4 available for visitor’s use. (This could be tricky to manage, to make sure the units find their way back safely.) This idea will be flushed out further at another time.
III. Marketing Committee
J. Kline passed out copies of the monthly report, showing inquiry numbers since the last meeting. Numbers are very high now, since lots of ads are running. M. Vanek said, unfortunately, the niche publication Preservation Magazine did not produce a large amount of inquiries (76), but it could still be considered good PR for the sites’ visibility. M. Vanek said the Tourism Office’s administrative contract was approved and signed off on by the City. We are still waiting for the budget to be passed to make sure the money is available, but the turn around time was quick. (The City budget has since passed, with $50,000 allotted for the Commission.) The details of the contract remain the same as past years. We will keep the postage rate the same even though postage costs have increased.
J. Kline circulated tear sheets from the May ads that ran in Country Home, More and Preservation Magazine. She also secured ads in the summer calendar inserts that run in the Post-Standard and Syracuse New Times.
J. Kline said things are moving forward on updating and optimizing the Commission website. A draft of the new flow chart was discussed at the last meeting, and recommended changes and additions have been made. J. Kline is almost finished with the new copy that will get passed onto Coburn Design.
S. Schuster wanted to clarify the order of the sites listed under each category on the website. After a brief discussion, it was agreed that the (Commission member) site with the biggest draw in that niche should be listed first, and then others should follow alphabetically. For Tiffany: Willard Chapel, Cayuga Museum, and then Westminster Presbyterian Church. Underground Railroad: Tubman Home, Seward House, etc. Visual Arts: Schweinfurth Art Center, then alpha listing. Performing Arts: Auburn Public Theater, then alpha listing. History: Cayuga Museum, then alpha listing. J. Kline said she will make these order changes and the new site will be up soon.
IV. Community Outreach Committee
M. Alberici passed out copies of the “Passport to History” report summarizing the visits to the sites by the students. Prizes were given out at the end of May. B. M. Lewis helped M. Alberici with the presentations and D. LaRue helped secure the prizes. M. Alberici said the students were asked why they didn’t visit all of the sites, and they answered that sports or extracurricular activities made it hard within the timeframe. M. Alberici suggested that the program start earlier to give the students more time. Everyone present thought that was a good idea, yet fall was too soon and over the holidays would be hard, so February was proposed. S. Schuster said this would be good timing with the Schweinfurth’s student (and senior) exhibit, “Both Ends of the Rainbow.” J. Kline said she will
write a press release about this year’s stats, and get it out to the local papers. For those that weren’t present at the meeting, all extras passports need to go back to the Chapel for next year’s program.
V. Other Business
J. Kline passed out the Treasurer’s Report and reviewed expenses incurred since the last meeting. D. Stankus made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as submitted, seconded by K. Walker. All were in favor and the motion carried.
The new B.I.D. Director, Michelle Tarnow, said things are well and she is getting settled in. S. Schuster passed out fliers for the “Made in NY” show, and their special event on July 1st. D. Carabajal said the Arts Council has paired up with Turning Stone Casino to sell PGA Tour Tickets as a benefit. She passed around fliers for people to display.
The Commission adjourned at 5:02PM. The next meeting will held August 7th at 3:30PM, in the 3rd Floor meeting room, City Hall.
Recorded by Jesse Kline
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