CONVENTION BOARD SEEKS COUNCIL MEETING

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board wants to have a special meeting with the City Council.

"We're requesting a working lunch session with members of the council," said Bob Hoppmann, chairman of the advisory group. "We want to discuss establishing a contingency fund of $50,000."

The board has suggested Sept. 1 for an open meeting to discuss the contingency fund and other topics.

The purpose of the contingency fund would be to fund small projects concerning tourism.

"We have had some worthwhile projects brought to our attention recently," said Hoppmann. "We expect to hear from others in the future."

Two funding requests for an Indian Trade Show and Pow-Wow and for mural projects came during the regular monthly meeting of the advisory group Wednesday.

Dr. Frank Nickell of the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University, appeared before the group Wednesday to request funds for an Indian Trade Fair and Pow-Wow, which would be included in the program for the annual Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive to be held April 24-25, 1993.

"I think such an event would be a great tourist attraction here," said Nickell. "We could hold the trade fair at the Trail of Tears State Park and hold an Indian dancing contest at the Show Me Center."

Nickell explained that the Indian trade fair concept would bring authentic Indian craftsmen and artisans here to display and sell their materials at the park.

"Authentic Indian dancers would compete for prize money before Indian judges at the Show Me Center on Saturday night," said Nickell. "This type of activity should have an appeal to visitors from a wide area from St. Louis to Memphis."

Nickell attended a recent Indian trade fair and Pow-Wow at Trade, Tenn., in the eastern portion of the state.

"Trade, Tenn., is a small town," said Nickell. "But the event, in its fourth year in 1992, attracted up to 40,000 people each of the two days."

Admission at the Trade event was $5 for adults and $2 for children.

"We felt the trade fair at the park here could be free," said Nickell. "We could charge admission at the Show Me Center to help offset the costs of judges and dancers."

But to host such an event is costly, said Nickell.

"We're looking at about $15,000," he said. "The Tennessee show allows about $12,000 for prizes to attract Indian dancers from all over the U.S. I have talked with the people involved in the Tennessee show, and they are receptive to coming to Cape Girardeau."

The second funding request Wednesday was by letter, from the River Heritage Mural Association, which requested $15,000 over the next five years for the association's plan to paint two murals a year for the next five years.

Both requests were tabled until the advisory board can meet with the City Council concerning the contingency fund requests.

Lyn Muzzey, director of the CVB, was not present for the meeting. He is attending the National Motorcoach Network Marketplace in New Burgh, N.Y.

Cathy Crites, CVB staff member, said that September will be a busy month for tour groups, with 11 already on the schedule. Also scheduled next month are conventions by the World Safety Organization, Midwest Forest Products Association, and Missouri Circuit Clerks Convention.