BUREAU KEEPS ADS IN-HOUSE

The Cape Girardeau Convention & Visitors Bureau has initiated an in-house advertising agency to plan its advertising campaign.

"We plan to budget the same dollar amount of $45,000," said CVB Director Lyn Muzzy. "But we'll be realizing more money for actual advertising with savings realized by not using an outside agency.

Muzzy told CVB advisory board members Wednesday, during the board's monthly meeting, that the schedule for print advertising had been completed for 1992.

Board members also reviewed the River Heritage area schedule of events for a six-month period October through March. The majority of the events on the six-page schedule take place in the Cape Girardeau area.

Muzzy reported that two inquiries had been received from the Missouri Film Commission, which were promptly answered.

"A San Francisco advertising agency, working with Honda for automobile commercials, wanted pictures of an airport runway here," said Muzzy. "Evans/de la Torre Productions needed pictures of a school playground," Muzzy said. The film company is working on a film, set around a school playground in the summer of 1962.

"We're just one of several communities to be contacted about the film sites," added Muzzy. "Now, we just have to wait and see."

Laurel Adkisson, a member of the CVB staff, said planning is under way for the 1992 Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive, which was held for the first time this year.

"We had good participation in the first drive," she said. "The first 1992 committee meeting was held Wednesday."

Adkisson also reported on the Cape Girardeau Area Youth Soccer Association (CAYSA) soccer tournament.

"A date has not been established for the 1992 fall tournament," she said. A meeting between tournament directors and motel representatives was held recently, she added.

The 1991 tournament at Cape Girardeau required 609 hotel rooms for players, coaches and spectators, Adkisson said.

"Due to some prior reservations at hotels here, we had to send people to Perryville and Sikeston," she said.

Muzzy reported that travel tours were increasing, with 39 tour groups to visit Cape Girardeau during October.

CVB board member Beverly Estes reported on the Paddlewheeler group, which serves as tourism ambassadors for Cape Girardeau.

"Paddlewheelers are being utilized to greet groups and hand out information about our group services," said Estes, who updated the advisory committee on the activities of the Paddlewheelers.

"We have 35 Paddlewheelers," she said. "We assist in a number of ways helping with registrations, programs, and serving as guides on motor coaches. We work with conventions, meetings and bus tours.

"We're always looking for volunteers to help in the program," she said.

Estes introduced the group to Anita Meintz, who has been a Paddlewheeler since the program was initiated.

In other business, Walt Wildman, director of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association (RCGA), discussed regional tourism with the group.

Wildman explained to the group that the RCGA focused in on two areas, transportation and tourism.

"My group takes a wider regional approach to tourism," he said. "But we work together with several local tourism groups and would like to work with the local CVB to promote happenings in the Cape Girardeau area."