ADVISORY BOARD SETS FUNDS PLAN

The Cape Girardeau Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board is hoping a new "funding request policy" will help it better administer the city's tourism and economic development fund.

The policy was adopted in response to an increase in funding requests over the past year.

"The new procedures bring the board in line with other advisory boards," said City Manager J. Ronald Fischer, "Requests for funding to other advisory boards are submitted to the liaison person between the board and the city."

Fischer is the liaison person between the CVB board and the city. All future requests will be submitted to the city manager's office.

In January and July of each year, the CVB board will convene to study and review all requests for funding. Requests should be submitted by Dec. 31 or June 30.

"This is an advantage for the advisory board," said Fischer. "It gives the members an opportunity to study and review the requests."

Funding requests which are recommended by the advisory board and subsequently approved by the City Council will be allocated through the city's standard expenditure procedures.

Once the request has the approval of both the board and council, the chairman of the advisory board will notify the organization or individual making the request of its status.

A "Tourism Think Tank," scheduled in Cape Girardeau Aug. 6; requests for jackets for the Paddlewheelers welcoming group; and the possibility of obtaining a sound system for the downtown area also were items discussed during the board's meeting Wednesday.

Several members of the advisory board indicated they would attend the `Tourism Think Tank' session, to be conducted here by the Missouri Division of Tourism Aug. 6.

"I attended a session in Ste. Genevieve last year," said Bob Hoppmann. "I'll be here this year. It's a meeting that all board members should attend."

The Cape Girardeau session is one of 10 that are scheduled throughout the state.

"Everyone has an opportunity to discuss their ideas for future programs and marketing strategies," said Hoppmann. "And the state group will present an overview of its current programs, projects, and promotions."

Board member Beverly Estes suggested jackets for members of the Paddlewheelers.

"The jackets will present a more professional atmosphere when greeting guests to the city," she said. The board agreed to study the costs of the jackets.

The board also agreed to look into the possibility of obtaining a loud-speaker system for the downtown riverfront area.

"When the riverboat was here July 7, the only thing missing was some music," said Hoppmann. "With a loud speaker system, we could have hooked into a tape player to provide some background music."

The next riverboat stop will be July 23. Cathy Crites, of the CVB said arrangements had been made for a bluegrass band to perform for the occasion.