[*A portion of this video is without audio* ]
[00:02:13]
[V. HOT Grant Application Presentations]
[00:05:56]
ESPECIALLY THAT LAST WEEKEND, IT FILLS UP SO FAST AND ALL OF THEM FELL OUT.SO WE WANNA GIVE EVERYONE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND THEN OUR 50TH CELEBRATION, WE'RE HAVING A GALA ON JANUARY 31ST AT LONE STAR FLIGHT MUSEUM.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AN AMAZING EVENT.
IT'S KIND DOVE, I WANNA SAY INTERACTIVE.
IT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL, SIT DOWN AND EAT, UH, RUBBER CHICKEN AND ALL THAT.
IT'S NOT JUST A, UM, A MEAL, BUT IT'S GONNA BE AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE.
UM, OUR GOLDEN HOUR, WE'RE GONNA BE PRODUCING THAT IN AROUND FEBRUARY.
WE'RE WAITING TO SEE SOME DATES ON SOME THINGS, BUT WE LOVE TO DO A MIXED DROP.
WE REALLY PRIDE OURSELVES AND OUR DANCERS, THEY HAVE A BACKGROUND HEAVILY IN CLASSICAL BALLET, BUT THEY ARE CONTEMPORARY AS WELL.
AND THEN WE'RE CLOSING OUR SEASON WITH A MUSICAL.
AND EVERY OTHER YEAR WE HAVE OUR DANCERS DO A MUSICAL AS WELL, SO THAT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE ALL ASPECTS OF THE ARTS.
IF YOU COUNT ON ONE HAND, YOU CAN COUNT HOW MANY PRIMA BALLERINAS THERE ARE IN THE WORLD, BUT, UH, A LOT OF OUR DANCERS GO ON AND ARE ON BROADWAY.
AND SO THEY THANK US, FORGIVE 'EM, THAT EXPERIENCE SO THAT THEY CAN USE THEIR TALENTS AND, AND TAKE IT, UM, IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
ALRIGHT, SWAN LAKE, WE WILL BE DOING, I'LL GO THROUGH THIS PRETTY QUICKLY.
UH, FOUR PERFORMANCES AND, UH, WITH AN ESTIMATE ABOUT 2000 ATTENDEES WILL BE COMING TO THAT.
THE NUTCRACKER, AS I SAID, 21 SHOWS, PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE.
WE DO SIX OF OUR PERFORMANCES, SIX DAYS FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN.
THEY COME TO THE THEATER, WE BUST THEM IN A SHOW AT NINE 30 AND 11 30, 3 DIFFERENT DAYS.
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE TITLE ONE SCHOOLS.
WE REACH OUT AND SEND THEM IN FREE SO THAT THEY CAN SEE, UM, LIVE ARTS, UH, ON STAGE.
SO WITH 21 SHOWS, WE SHOULD HAVE AN ATTENDANCE CLOSE TO 10,500.
AND THEN THIS IS OUR GALA, OF COURSE, LIKE I SAID, ON JANUARY 31ST.
UM, OUR GOLDEN HOUR, THIS ONE WE'RE GONNA DO THIS YEAR IN OUR BLACK BOX.
SOME OF Y'ALL BEEN THERE BEFORE.
WE SET TABLES JUST LIKE THIS AROUND THE BLACK BOX, AND WE'LL HAVE A DINNER AND WINE, AND THEN YOU'LL GET TO SEE THE PERFORMANCES WITH THE DANCERS AND MEET THEM UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
AND THEN OKLAHOMA, I LOVE THAT WE, WE GET TO PARTNER WITH UHCL TO DO OUR MUSICALS.
THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO DO, BUT UM, WITH THEIR HELP AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP, WE'RE ABLE, WE'RE ABLE TO, UM, KICK THOSE OFF.
WE'LL BE DOING EIGHT PERFORMANCES OF THOSE.
AND THE GOOD NEWS WITH THIS TOO, WE ARE A PART OF ARTS CONNECT IN HOUSTON.
IT'S AN ARTS ENTITY THAT PROFESSIONAL COMPANIES GET TO BE A PART OF.
THEATER WEEK IS COMING UP AND WE, THEY, THEY WILL BE ADVERTISING OUR, OUR SHOWS ON THEATER WEEK.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHICH ONES, BUT THERE, IT'S A BUY ONE GET ONE FREE.
AND ON AUGUST 24TH, IF YOU CLICK IT ON, YOU'LL SEE WHAT THEY ARE.
AND THEN YOU CAN DO BUY ONE GET ONE FREE.
BUT WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR, WE DID IT AND WE HAD 131 PEOPLE COME IN FROM HOUSTON TO THE BAYOU THEATER.
SO IT IS DRAWING THEM THIS WAY.
AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THEATER WORK WEEK IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL TO GET INCLUDED IN THAT.
SO IN A NUTSHELL, OUR 30, OUR 50TH SEASON, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING 37 FULL STAGE PRODUCTIONS.
UM, COMMUNITY APPEARANCES, LIKE I SAID WE LOVE TO DO.
YESTERDAY WE JUST DID THE LUNAR FASHION SHOW.
WE DO 32 DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE GO AND HELP OTHER NONPROFITS, GOLF TOURNAMENTS, GALAS, ALL KINDS OF STUFF THAT WE LOVE TO SEND OUR DANCERS TO.
WE PRO BONO, WE DON'T ASK FOR ANYTHING, BUT WE LOVE DOING THAT.
SO WE SHOULD HAVE AN ATTENDANCE OF ABOUT 16,000 FOR THE YEAR.
AND THEN OUR OTHER FUN EVENTS, WE HAVE THAT TWO, TWO FUN RUN.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT BIGGER NEXT YEAR.
[00:10:01]
I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE ARTS FOR OUR 50TH SEASON IS THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF 40 RESTAURANTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO ASKING THEM TO CREATE A DESSERT OR HIGHLIGHT A CERTAIN DESSERT.
AND THEN WE'RE ADVERTISING THEM.
THE SUGAR PLUMER WILL GO AND DO VIDEOS AND ALL THIS STUFF.
AND WE'RE GONNA, UM, FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, IF YOU ATTEND OR GO TO THESE RESTAURANTS, YOU, UH, AND ORDER THE DESSERT.
25% OF THE PROCEEDS COME BACK TO THE VALET.
BUT IT'S ALSO A TIME FOR US TO HIGHLIGHT.
THERE'LL BE TENT CARDS ON THE TABLE AND POSTERS AND ALL OF THAT.
SO WITH QR CODES THAT TAKE YOU TO OUR WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN SEE ALL THAT.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, LIKE I SAID, OUR KICKOFF AND THEN SUGAR FERRI GALA, THAT WILL HIT THAT.
THERE'S, IT'S ABOUT AN ATTI ATTENDANCE OF A THOUSAND THERE.
AND THEN OUR 50TH CELEBRATION.
AND AS I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A HIGHLIGHT OF OUR OUTREACH.
WE LOVE AND GO ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WE LIKE TO SAN LUIS SALUTE OVER TO GALVESTON.
UM, WOMEN'S CONFERENCE, GOLF TOURNAMENTS, LAKEWOOD YACHT CLUB.
WE DO THEIR FASHION SHOW AS WELL.
AND OUR FAVORITE IS BALLET IN THE PARK THAT WE DO WITH THE CITY OF LEAGUE CITY ON SHOP.
SMALL ON THAT, UH, SATURDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING.
AND OTHER ASPECTS THAT, OKAY, GO RED.
AND THAT IS, UM, WHAT'S HIS NAME? PIT BULL.
UM, JUST, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
I LOVE THE PICTURE IN THE MIDDLE.
THAT IS FROM, UM, BALLET IN THE PARK AND MEETING THE LITTLE ONES AND SHARING THE ARTS AND THE LOVE OF THE ARTS WITH EVERYONE.
THAT'S A PICTURE OF OUR SCHOOL PERFORMANCES.
THEY GET A TALK ABOUT TUTU'S AND GET TO SEE ALL THE PROPS AND ALL THE FUN STUFF WITH THAT.
WE DO A, A GREAT DEAL OF ADVERTISING.
WE ALWAYS, FOR EACH PRODUCTION, WE DO A HALF PAGE IN THEIR MAGAZINE.
THE STROLL MAGAZINE WORKS WITH US.
AND THAT'S, UM, OVER IN BAY OAKS.
UH, BILLBOARDS, WE DO FIVE A YEAR AND THEY SAY UP FOR A MONTH AND A STANDING ONE ON HIGHWAY THREE.
AND THEN FIVE DIGITAL BILLBOARDS THAT GO ALL AROUND TOWN FOR OUR PRODUCTIONS AS WELL AS SUGAR P AND SOCIAL MEDIA REALLY HITTING THAT HARD.
WE LOVE, I'VE REALLY WORKED HARD ON GETTING TO STEPHANIE, HELP THE MOM GROUPS IN HOUSTON.
ADVERTISING NOT SO MUCH OUR PRODUCTIONS, BUT I SEE A LOT OF TRACTION GETTING THEM WITH SUGAR PLUM.
LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING UNIQUE THAT THEY CAN COME AND VISIT AND EXPERIENCE ALL OF LEAGUE CITY THROUGH THAT.
SO, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA IS OUR BEST ANSWER TO GET, GET THAT ROLLING.
OF COURSE WE HIGHLIGHT LEAGUE CITY WHENEVER WE CAN.
UM, SOMETHING I REALLY LOVE IS OUR WEBSITE.
WHEN YOU GO TO BUY TICKETS FOR ANY AND ALL OF THESE THINGS AND YOU HIT OUR WEBSITE, THERE'S A PLAN YOUR STAY BUTTON IN THE MIDDLE AND IT ACTUALLY POPS UP WHEN YOU BUY YOUR TICKET AND IT TAKES YOU STRAIGHT TO A LINK.
AND LAKE CITY HOTELS ARE LISTED THERE.
I CAN TRACK HOW MANY CLICKS WE GET, BUT I CAN'T TRACK IF THEY ACTUALLY MADE A RESERVATION.
SO WE TRY TO TAKE IT ONE STOP FURTHER AND DO A SURVEY THAT EVERYONE GETS.
THANK GOODNESS WE'RE IN THE TECHNOLOGY AGE.
I REALLY HAD A DIFFICULT TIME LONG BEFORE ALL OF OUR TICKETS WERE ONLINE.
BUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE, I CAN CLICK EVERYONE THAT CAME TO A CERTAIN PRODUCTION, SEND THEM A SURVEY AND ASK 'EM THESE QUESTIONS.
AND THESE ARE THE RESULTS FROM LAST YEAR.
BUT HONESTLY, ONLY 37% OF THE PEOPLE TURNED IT IN.
EVEN WHEN I OFFER $5 OFF THE NEXT SHOW AND ALL IT IS.
BUT IT'S SO DIS I KIND OF GO THE NEGATIVE ROUTE.
'CAUSE I KNOW THESE NUMBERS ARE HIGHER, BUT THAT'S, UM, WHAT I GOT.
UM, OUR, OUR COMPANY IS REALLY STRONG AND I WOULD HOLD THEM BAR NONE TO TRAVELING INTO HOUSTON.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING ARTISTIC STAFF AND, UM, I, WE LOVE THE QUOTES THAT PEOPLE SEND TO US AND WE LOVE THAT OUR DANCERS ARE JUST, UM, PHENOMENAL.
TARA IS ACTUALLY DANCING IN NEW YORK.
ALEX IS WITH THE, UM, DUTCH BALLET, AND THAT'S LIKE THE BEST PRIMO PRIMA THING.
HE WENT ON TO DO THAT, WHICH IS GREAT.
AND THESE TWO ALSO MEMPHIS BALLET, CINCINNATI BALLET, UM, THE ONE UPSIDE DOWN THERE, THAT'S REALLY ME
[00:15:01]
NOT TEASINGSHE WAS SEEN, UH, BY AN, AN ARTISTIC STAFF DANCING IN HOUSTON AND SHE GOT A CONTRACT FOR BOSTON BALLET AT 16 YEARS OLD.
SHE WAS THERE CLARA THIS YEAR.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE QUOTES THAT IT DOES, UH, BRING HOME AND IT, IT, IT IS EXCITING TO, UM, TO THANK.
SO LET'S GO TO OUR SUGAR P FURY GALA.
UH, IT IS, I WANNA SAY THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON FOR EVERYBODY THAT HAS EVER BEEN.
THEY LOVE IT AND THEY TALK ABOUT IT ON AND ON.
THAT STAFF AT SOUTH HARBOR WORKS WITH US.
WE ASK A LOT
SO WHAT THAT ENTAILS WITH THE SUGAR PAN ON THURSDAY, THE HOTEL DOES THE GINGERBREAD UNVEILING, AND WE ARE ALL THERE WITH OUR LITTLE CHARACTERS AND WE LOVE BEING INVITED FOR THAT.
UM, ON FRIDAY, PEOPLE CHECK INTO THEIR ROOMS. THEY GET A SPECIAL GIFT FROM THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY.
UM, WHEN THEY CHECK IN, WHICH A LITTLE PACKET OF STUFF, I TRY TO TRACK HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CHECKING IN BY THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT GO OUT AS WELL.
EVEN THOUGH SOUTH SHORE DOES A GREAT JOB.
WE DO HAVE TWO ROOM BLOCKS ALREADY SET UP FOR US THIS YEAR.
WE, ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WE, WE, WE OFFERED THIS ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO, A FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER WITH CLAIRE AND FRIENDS, KINDA LIKE DISNEY WORLD WHERE WE GO IN AND YOU EAT AND ALL THE LITTLE CHARACTERS ARE AROUND.
WE DO THAT ON THE FRIDAY NIGHT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.
THE MOMS, EVERYONE'S IN MATCHING PAJAMAS.
THE MOMS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THEY GET TO SHOPPER BOUTIQUE FIRST BEFORE ANYONE ELSE DOES.
AND, UM, IT'S A BIG HIT AND IT'S FUN.
AND THEN WHEN SATURDAY COMES AROUND, WE OPEN, UH, BREAKFAST WITH THE SUGAR PLUMER AT NINE O'CLOCK.
THINGS ARE HAPPENING ALL OVER THE HOTEL WITH, IT'S JUST A LOT
THE, THE BALLROOM IS TRANSFORMED.
LAST YEAR, OUR TICKET SALES GO ON SALE SEPTEMBER 1ST.
WE SOLD 365 TICKETS WITHIN THE FIRST TWO HOURS.
WHEN COVID HIT SOUTH SHORE WORKED WITH US.
THEY LET US STILL HAVE THE EVENT, BUT OUR TABLES HAD TO BE LIKE, REALLY FAR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
AND AT THAT TIME I WENT TO ROY GREEN AND I WAS LIKE, WHAT IF WE FLIP THE ROOM AND WE DO A SECOND EVENT SINCE WE CAN'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE.
AND THAT, UH, STAFF IS WONDERFUL, LET'S US DO AS WELL.
COVID WENT AWAY, BUT WE DIDN'T, WE STILL DO IT BECAUSE WE STILL SELL OUT BOTH EVENTS.
AND SO THAT'S, UM, GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THERE.
SO WE DO A TEA WITH A SUGAR PEPPER AT TWO O'CLOCK, AND THEN THAT NIGHT AT SEVEN, WE DO AN AFTER PARTY FOR OUR DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS.
SO WE KEEP SOFTWARE BUSY THAT DAY,
AND THEN SUNDAY IS WHEN WE DO OUR AUCTION CHECKOUT IN CLEAN UP WITH ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS.
I WANNA SHOW YOU THOUGH, I THINK IT'S NINE YEARS HERE OF, UH, ATTENDEES, IF YOU CAN SEE IT HAS GROWN.
UM, THAT 1031, I WILL BE HONEST, I WILL BE FULL DISCLOSURE.
THAT'S COUNTING HOW MANY COME TO THE FRIDAY DINNER AS WELL, WHICH A LOT OF THOSE THAT COME TO THE FRIDAY DINNER STILL GO TO THE OTHER.
SO THEY ARE COUNTED KIND OF TWICE THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T, THEY'RE BUYING TICKETS FOR TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, SO I'M COUNTING 'EM.
SO
UH, THE 5 21 IS WHEN WE HAD COVID AND THAT THAT NUMBER WENT DOWN.
AND THESE ARE ROOMS THAT WE HAVE, UH, THAT SOUTH SHORE GIVES ME THE PRINTOUT OF WHO IS, UH, RESERVING ROOMS. HONESTLY, TOO, A LOT OF OUR VOLUNTEERS GET THEIR ROOMS THROUGH EXPEDIA OR DIFFERENT PLACES AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN ON THE LIST.
SO I THINK THESE NUMBERS ARE HIGHER, BUT BECAUSE MY VOLUNTEERS DON'T READ THE DIRECTIONS AND THEY DON'T READ THEIR EMAILS, SO THEY DON'T DO THEIR ROOM DIRECTLY THROUGH THE HOTEL.
AND, UH, LEAGUE CITY LOVE LEAGUE CITY, WE, UM, LOVE DOING STUFF.
ANYTIME SARAH CALLS, WE SAY YES AND WE JUMP ON IT.
UM, MY FAVORITE, I EVEN LOOKED FOR IT AND I I DIDN'T GET IT UPLOADED IS OUR, UM, WE DID THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY WENT AND TAUGHT BALLET LESSONS TO THE CITY WORKERS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THAT, PLEASE GOOGLE IT.
I SEE IT BECAUSE IT IS PRECIOUS.
WE JUST, ANYTIME SARAH'S BRAIN, 'CAUSE IT WORKS A LOT LIKE MINE GOES OFF, I'M LIKE, YES, LET'S DO IT.
UM, I WOULD LOVE TO BRING THIS BACK.
DURING COVID, WE TOOK THE SUGAR P FERRY, THE RAT KING AND CLARA AROUND TO ALL THE LOCAL, UH, STORES, RESTAURANT, ALL KINDS OF PLACES AND DID LITTLE PROMOS FOR THEM.
I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT AGAIN.
OH, THERE'S THAT SAME PICTURE.
[00:20:01]
FAVORITE ONE, SO I'D SHOW IT TWICE.I WANTED TO SHOW YOU, I KNOW YOU SEE WHAT WE DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, WHAT WE DO, BUT WHAT WE DO FOR THESE DANCERS IS I THINK BAR NONE AND KIND OF IMPORTANT.
HOW DO I GET THAT TO PLAY? SHOULD JUST BE ABLE TO CLICK THE BUTTON.
IS IT EMBEDDED IN YOUR POWER? OH YEAH.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE IT NOT ONLY FOR THE INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES WE GET AND JUST TEACHING US HOW TO BECOME SUCH GREAT DANCERS, BUT ALSO TEACHING US HOW TO BECOME GREAT HUMANS.
THAT HAS TAUGHT US TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND GO TO SUPPORT US BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, IT REALLY WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE.
THEY TAUGHT US THAT KINDNESS, LOVE, AND SUPPORT SHOULD GO ABOVE ALL IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DID.
THIS SUMMER I ATTENDED BAYHILL BALLET SCHOOL'S, FOUR WEEK SUMMER INTENSIVE, AND I'LL BE GOING TO ELLISON BALLET'S TWO WEEK CLASSICAL VARIATION INTENSIVE IN NEW YORK.
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT BALLET IS THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO IMPROVE.
YOU ALWAYS HAVE A GOAL TO WORK TOWARDS AND YOU'RE JUST NEVER DONE WORKING.
AND I ALSO LOVE GETTING TO LEARN FROM THOSE I LOVE THE MOST, NOT JUST MY FRIENDS AND MY PEERS, BUT ALSO MY PARENTS.
I LOVE JUST ALL THE CORRECTIONS I GET FROM THEM AND JUST LEARNING HOW TO APPLY THEM WELL.
AND I JUST, I LOVE HEARING ABOUT EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE AND EVERYWHERE THEY'VE GONE.
AND IT'S JUST INSPIRED ME IN MY DANCING SO MUCH.
Y'ALL KNOW OUR DISTRICT DIRECTOR'S NELSON AL AND HIS WIFE LORNA RUNS THE SCHOOL THAT SUBLEASE IS FROM US IN OUR BUILDING.
UM, SHE'S AN, SHE'S 14 AND SHE WILL BE, SOME ARE BIG SOMEDAY.
WELL, THE LAST SLIDE SAID THANK YOU
UM, I DO WANNA SAY TOO, UH, IN IT SOMETHING TOO THAT I WOULD LOVE SOMEONE'S HELP I'M NOT SURE ABOUT.
UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRACKING, FOR EXAMPLE, WE JUST DID OUR FOUR WEEK INTENSIVE AT OUR STUDIO.
THEY WERE PRECIOUS, TWO OF THEM WERE 16, ONE WAS 17, I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAS WHICH ONE WAS A MALE AND TWO FEMALES FROM TAIWAN.
THEY CAME ALL THE WAY FROM TAIWAN TO TRAIN UNDER NELSON AND THEY STAYED AT A, UH, BRBO.
AND I KNOW THAT GOES INTO HOT FUNDING AS WELL, BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW TO TRACK THOSE.
UH, BUT THAT'S, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE, HOTELS ARE ONE THING.
I'M SURE YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME AND DO HOMES INSTEAD.
IT'S VERY CHALLENGING AND I'M ALWAYS THERE FOR ANY ADVICE THAT YOU GIVE.
UM, WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT OUR PARTNERSHIPS.
AND LEAGUE CITY IS ONE OF THOSE HUGE PARTNERSHIPS THAT IS BAR NONE THE MOST IMPORTANT TO US.
I FORGOT TO DO OUR ADVERTISING TOO.
WE ALWAYS GIVE YOU GUYS THE, NOT GIVE YOU, BUT YOU THE FRONT COVER OF EACH OF OUR PROGRAMS FOR ALL OF OUR, AND WE PRINT CLOSE TO 12,000 PROGRAMS, UM, EACH YEAR.
SO ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO FOR LAKE CITY OR FOR YOU? WE LOVE DOING IT.
THEAM BOY RESTAURANTS, ARE THOSE ALL IN LAKE CITY? NO.
YEAH, A LOT OF 'EM ARE IN LAKE CITY.
HAVE YOU CHOSEN THE RESTAURANTS YET? YOU ALREADY UHHUH.
NO,
I KNOW MEXICAN BARS ARE HARD TO DO DESSERTS AND THINGS, BUT EVEN LIKE ROSEWATER IS DOING A SPECIAL DRINK, LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE DESSERTS.
SO, AND JAVA OWL IS DOING LIKE A MUFFIN OR SOMETHING THAT THEY'LL HIGHLIGHT.
WHO DID YOU TALK TO? YOU TALKED TO THE WRONG BROTHER.
WELL THAT'S THE THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS.
IT'S ONE, IT'S A ONE AND DONE.
LIKE I'M NOT GONNA BE COMING BUGGING YOU NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE LOOKING, YOU KNOW, FOR SPONSORSHIPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT'S A ONETIME THING ONLY.
WE DON'T DO A GALA IN JANUARY EVERY YEAR.
SO THE 50TH YEAR WE PUT A LOT AND WE DO HAVE A, A GREAT DEAL OF, UM, UH, VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE HELPING WITH ALL OF THIS.
SO A VOLUNTEER WENT TO
UM, AND I GUESS, UH, WE CAN DISCUSS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY, UH, LAST QUESTIONS FOR BILL AND JILL BEFORE THEY GO? NO.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE ONE MORE MENTION OF YES.
[00:25:01]
TO THE HOT FUNDING OR ANYTHING, BUT, UH, SOMETHING THIS YEAR, UH, THIS IS A MARINE TWO TOURS IN VIETNAM, PTSD SUFFERING.I ACTUALLY MET HIM ON A CRUISE LAST SUMMER.
HE'S COMING TO HOUSTON AS OUR SPECIAL GUEST.
HE'S, UH, HE'S GOT A BOOK OUT THERE.
AND, UM, HE'S ALSO, UH, HIM AND HIS WIFE ARE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL WALK.
THEY'VE WALKED, HE'S WALKED ON SEVEN CONTINENTS AND MET KING'S, PRESIDENTS AND DIGNITARIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
HE'S GONNA BE OUR SPECIAL GUEST HERE AND HE WANTS TO TALK TO DIFFERENT GROUPS.
SO IF YOU KNOW ANY GROUP YEAH.
HE TALKS ABOUT HIS, UH, WHATEVER THE SUBJECT OF THE CROWD WANTS TO SCHOOLS, UH, HOSPITALS, PTSD VETERANS OR WHATEVER.
HE DOESN'T CHARGE FOR THE SPEECHING SPEECHES AND HE HANDS HIS BOOKS OUT FOR FREE, JUST LOOKING FOR DONATIONS, AIR SHOW'S, PAYING FOR HIS TRIP HERE TO BE ABOUT A WEEK AHEAD OF TIME TO GO OUT AND REACH OUT TO PEOPLE.
I'LL LEAVE SOME OF THESE RIGHT HERE.
THERE'S A QR CODE TO SCAN HIS BOOK.
UM, AND HE'S COMING TO HOUSTON AND WILLING TO TALK TO ANY, ANY GROUP.
WE, I HAVE A GREAT GROUP IN MIND THAT I THINK WOULD, WOULD WORK.
WE HAVE A GROUP CALLED TRANSITION PLUS THAT WE, THAT WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH, WITH A HUGE VETERANS, UM, DISPLAY LAST YEAR.
AND THEY FOCUS ON PTSD AND RECOVERY AND THEY HAVE ABOUT A HUNDRED MEMBERS THAT COME EVERY THURSDAY AND TALK AND JUST, YOU KNOW, FROM VIETNAM TO CURRENT DAY.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAYBE SEE IF I COULD EXTEND.
YEAH, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME AFTERWARDS.
YEAH, I I'M KIND OF THE LIAISON HERE.
WE, WE'LL BRING NO, THAT WOULD WOULD BE GREAT.
AND IF, EVEN IF WE JUST HAVE 'EM COME TO THE MEETING AND TALK TO SURE.
YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T, HAS TO BE LIKE A BIG THING AT THE CIVIC CENTER, WHATEVER, BUT JUST HAVE 'EM COME TALK FORMALLY AT THEIR THURSDAY GATHERING.
THEY WOULD REALLY, THEY WOULD REALLY ENJOY THAT.
HE JUST, HE'S A WONDERFUL GUY AND, AND WONDERFUL WIFE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, REACH OUT TO ME.
YEAH, I'LL DEFINITELY BE REACHING OUT TO YOU.
[VI. Discuss and take action on HOT Grant Requests]
UH, SO FIRST WE'LL DISCUSS THE WINGS OVER HOUSTON APPLICATION.UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? I HAVE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.
I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF THE WINGS OVER HOUSTON, SO IT'S KIND OF MM-HMM
IN FACT, UM, I HAVE TO ATTRIBUTE THE, NOT THE WINGS OVER HOUSTON, BUT THE SHOW THAT PREDATED IT AS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL.
SO, UM, I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF IT.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT THAT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND, AND WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST SPONSORS OF THAT, UH, OPERATION.
SO, UM, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF IT.
ALSO, I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THE BALLET STUFF AS WELL.
I JUST THINK THESE THINGS ARE SO ENDEARING TO OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE THIS SUCH, IT IS SUCH AN IMPROVEMENT ON QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL THE CITIZENS, UM, FROM BOTH ASPECTS AND, UM, THE HOW FAR IT REACHES THESE PRESENTATIONS THAT THEY SHOW REALLY DON'T TOUCH THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS, ESPECIALLY ON YOUNGER GENERATIONS.
LIKE I SAID, ESPECIALLY THE AIR SHOW, FOR ME, WHAT IT MEANT FOR ME WAS JOINING THE SERVICE.
SO, UM, AND IT'S DONE IT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
UH, EVERY YEAR THEY'RE RECRUITING AND OUR COUNTRY NEEDS IT, SO MM-HMM
I JUST THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.
UM, HOTEL WISE WINGS OVER HOUSTON.
I KNOW HE MENTIONED, WHICH HE DIDN'T SAY IT TODAY, BUT WHEN WE'VE CHATTED INFORMALLY, HE SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT STAYING AT THE HOTEL THIS YEAR AT, AT SOUTH SHORE.
USUALLY THE THUNDERBIRDS STAY THERE OR THE, WE'VE HAD, WE HAD THE THUNDERBIRDS.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE HAD, UH, A BLOCK OF ROOMS, HOWEVER THEY ARE, THEY, THEY ARE KIND OF SCATTERED THROUGHOUT MM-HMM
UM, IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT AREA PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING FROM TO, TO SEE THE EVENT.
UM, IN ADDITION, WE, I TALKED TO HIM AFTER A MONTH, UH, AFTER WE SAW 'EM THIS LAST TIME.
THEY HAVE A AIR SHOW INSIDER, UH, PROGRAM ON THEIR WEBSITE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S ALSO, UM, A, A BOOKING TOOL.
WE, WE DO GET ROOMS. UM, IT, IT JUST, WITH, WITH ALL OF THE, UH, FORMATS AND, AND BOOKING
[00:30:01]
ENGINES THAT YOU CAN, THAT YOU HAVE NOW, UH, JILL KIND OF ALLUDED TO IT, SOMETIMES IT'S KIND OF HARD TO REALLY NAVIGATE THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WHO'S BOOKING THROUGH WHAT WE CALL THIRD PARTIES, UH, EXPEDIA, HOTELS.COM, PRICE LINE, ET CETERA.UM, WE DO GET VOLUME, BUT, UH, IN TERMS OF THE BLOCK ITSELF, UH, IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY ONE OF OUR LARGER ONES.
BUT, UH, TO ECHO YOUR POINT, UH, IT, I, I KNOW THE VALUE OF MM-HMM
OF THIS AIR SHOW IS VERY POPULAR.
UH, THE VAL OR THE ON MONETARY SIDE, UP TO, WHAT NUMBER ARE THEY ALLOWED TO REQUEST? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I BELIEVE WE'VE DONE UP TO 10 AND I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT.
OUR, I THINK OUR BYLAWS SAY 10, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY, AND I ACTUALLY ASKED STEPHANIE ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY.
'CAUSE, BUT WHAT WE'VE, WHAT WE DID WITH THEM LAST YEAR IS WE KIND OF LIKE SPLIT IT UP, RIGHT? MM-HMM
THE WAY, SO IT'S NOT IN OUR BYLAWS, IT'S JUST IN OUR GRANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES.
UM, THAT IF THE BOARD WANTED TO VOTE AND CHANGE THAT THEY COULD, BECAUSE WE JUST VOTED TO CHANGE IT AND SAY WE'RE GONNA DEC CAP 'EM AT 10,000 BEFORE.
BUT WHAT THIS ONE IS, IS, UH, IT'S SPLIT OVER TWO DIFFERENT FISCAL YEARS.
SO WE DO HALF THIS FISCAL YEAR AND HALF NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AND YOU'RE SEEING 15,000 UP THERE.
THAT'S BECAUSE LAST YEAR WE PAID HALF IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND HALF IN THIS FISCAL YEAR AS WELL.
WE WOULD PAY THE FIRST HALF OF THIS FISCAL AND IT WOULD SPLIT ACROSS TWO.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE, THE APPLICATION ASKS THAT THEY CAP IT AT 10, BUT WE HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, IT IS UP TO THE BOARD AUTHORITY TO SAY, WELL, WE WANNA GIVE THEM THE FULL 15 THAT THEY NEED BECAUSE THIS IS JUST A LARGE SCALE EVENT.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT LIKE SOMEONE WITH A CRAWFISH PARTY COMING, ASKING ME FOR 15 GRAND, BUT WINGS OVER HOUSTON OBVIOUSLY IS A MAJOR PRODUCTION.
UM, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT CLASS.
UM, ONE THING THAT WE DID IN PREVIOUS YEARS, AND THIS WOULD COME DOWN TO SARAH AND STEPHANIE REQUESTING THIS, I LIKED WHEN THEY GAVE SOME TICKETS THAT Y'ALL COULD GIVE TO CITY EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY DO THAT EVERY, WE DO IT EVERY YEAR.
I WOULD ABSOLUTELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS AGAIN, UM, AS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING Y'ALL CAN USE FOR A RAFFLE OR ATTABOY AWARDS OR SOMETHING.
AND LAST YEAR I WAS ABLE TO GIVE THEM TO SOME OF THE, UH, EMPLOYEES AT THE HOTELS AS WELL.
AND THEY WERE JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT TO GET TO GO.
SO, UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS JUST, JUST TO CONFIRM MM-HMM
SO IT'S, IT'S 15 THIS FISCAL YEAR AND 15 FOLLOWING, OR IT'S 7,500? 75 75, 7, 5.
WELL, ANYONE HAVE A A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE BOTH OF THESE.
WELL, LET'S JUST START WITH JUST ONE AT A TIME.
SO WINGS OVER HOUSTON GETS THE FULL $15,000.
UM, NOW WE CAN OFFICIALLY MOVE ON TO THE BAY AREA, HOUSTON BALLET AND THEATER.
AND JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND 'CAUSE SOME OF YOU ARE NEWER, YOU'LL SEE, 'CAUSE WE, THIS, THIS APPLIES TO THAT $10,000 QUESTION.
UM, A COUPLE YEARS BACK, WE ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED THAT SHE SPLIT, SHE USED TO COME AND JUST ASK FOR ONE AMOUNT AND WE FELT LIKE THE, THE GALA IS AN EVENT, RIGHT? SO IT'S KIND OF SEPARATE THEN SPONSORING THEIR SEASON.
SO IN ORDER TO KIND OF MAXIMIZE WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THIS GROUP, WE ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED THAT SHE SUBMIT TWO SEPARATE APPLICATIONS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ACCOMPLISHING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS IN A WAY, EVEN THOUGH OBVIOUSLY IT'S ALL TIED TOGETHER AND IT HELPS THE ORGANIZATION.
THAT'S WHY THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE APPLICATIONS.
SO THERE'S AN APPLICATION ON THE TABLE FOR THE SEASON ITSELF, WHERE WE WOULD BE IN ALL THE PROGRAMS AND ON THE BILLBOARD AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND PROMOTING THE ARTS IN THE AREA.
AND THEN THERE'S AN APPLICATION FOR THE GALA, WHICH IS LIKE SHE SAID, THEIR LARGEST FUNDRAISERS.
SO US KIND OF SPONSORING THAT HELPS CUT BACK ON THEIR EXPENSES.
AND, UM, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS ATTENDED THOSE EVENTS WITH MY DAUGHTERS, THEY ARE A, THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB OF, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY ARE THEY AT, YOU KNOW, THE NICEST HOTEL IN TOWN, BUT THEY HAVE THE VOLUNTEERS MAKE THESE HUGE CENTER PIECES AND THEY HAVE LINENS AND THEY HAVE THE DANCERS EVERYWHERE DOING A LITTLE VIGNETTE FOR THE KIDS.
AND SOME OF THE FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, GO TO THIS AND MAYBE DON'T GO TO THE BALLET 'CAUSE THEIR KIDS ARE TOO LITTLE OR SOMETHING.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN INTRODUCTORY.
AND THEN SOME FAMILIES, THIS IS PART OF THEIR TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS, THEY GO EVERY YEAR, EVEN THOUGH THEIR KIDS ARE TEENAGERS AND OLDER, THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR GRANDKIDS NOW.
I ACTUALLY SAT AT A TABLE ONE YEAR WITH PEOPLE WHO HAD STAYED IN THE HOTEL.
THEY WERE FROM SOMEWHERE NORTH OF HOUSTON, MAYBE KINGWOOD AREA OR SOMETHING, AND IT WAS LIKE THREE GENERATIONS
[00:35:01]
OF LADIES AND THEY HAD ALL BEEN COMING.SO, UM, KIND OF YOUR SENTIMENT WITH THE, THE WINGS OVER HOUSTON IS KIND OF MY, SAME WITH THE BALLET.
IT'S A TRADITIONAL THING FOR THESE FAMILIES.
AND, UM, THEY DO GET HEADS IN BEDS LIKE SHE'S SHOWN US, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING REALLY GREAT FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER TOO.
UM, SO AGAIN, MAYBE WE, DOES SHE KIND OF GIVE YOU GUYS ANY TICKETS THAT YOU CAN OFFER TO CITY EMPLOYEES AS WELL? OH YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SHE GIVES US A WHOLE TWO TABLES, I THINK.
ONE TABLE MAYBE FOR THE EVENT.
AND THEN SHE GIVES US TICKETS TO THE BALLET.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, I DO KIND OF LIKE HAVING SOME THINGS TO GIVE BACK TO OUR, TO THE EMPLOYEES.
SO, UM, THAT'S MY 2 CENTS ON IT.
I THINK THEY'RE BOTH, YOU KNOW, A GREAT INVESTMENT FOR US AND WE HAVE THE MONEY.
JUST TO, UH, TO ECHO WHAT, UH, PRETTY MUCH WHAT JILL LAID OUT, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, I, I, FOR THE LAST TWO, THIS WILL BE ACTUALLY THE THIRD SEASON THAT I WILL HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR THE, UH, UH, OR WORKED WITH JILL, UM, AT THE HOTEL.
UH, THE DETAIL, THE PRODUCTION, IT'S, IT IS FIRST CLASS.
UH, AND I'VE TALKED TO JILL ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ACTUALLY DO LIKE ABOUT, UH, AREA VAH BT IS, IS UM, KIND OF WHAT SHE MENTIONED ABOUT INVITING SOME OF THE OTHER SCHOOLS AND THE CHILDREN THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT, MAY NOT BE EXPOSED TO THIS MM-HMM
UM, IN, IN, IN THEIR PARTICULAR SETTING.
UH, TO ME THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE REAL VALUE LIES.
BUT GOING BACK INTO THE SUGAR PALM FERRY AT SOUTH SHORE HARBOR, IT'S KIND OF AS, SINCE THE DAY I GOT THERE, UH, OUR GINGERBREAD HOUSE UN BAILING GOING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, IT, IT IS JOINED AT THE HIP WHEN IT COMES TO SUGAR, PALM BERRY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF INVOLVEMENT WITH THEM AND THAT KIND OF WORKS OUR WAY INTO THEIR GALA AND THEN INTO OUR HOLIDAY SEASON.
UM, BUT AGAIN, JUST TO ECHO WHAT SHE SAID, IT'S, IT'S AS ADVERTISED MM-HMM
AND IT'S A REALLY IMPRESSIVE PROGRAM AND, UM, BALLET THAT THEY PUT ON.
SO I LOVE IT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO HOUSTON TO ENJOY THE ARTS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT ENDEARS PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, AND SPEND THEIR DOLLARS HERE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, ITEM B, THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON? I MAKE A MOTION, WE APPROVE IT.
PASSES FOR THE FULL 10,000 FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON.
UM, AND THEN NEXT STEP IS THE ACTUAL, UH, EVENT.
UH, ANY MOTION THERE? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE IT.
MIGHT GOING, UH, ANY SECOND? I EARNED MY SALARY TODAY.
UM, ONE FINAL NOTE IS SARAH, I THINK THE LOCAL SHOPKEEPERS REALLY DID LOVE WHEN Y'ALL WENT AROUND WITH THE SUGAR PUMP.
I MEAN, SO IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO SQUEEZE THAT IN, I THINK WE CAN, I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN THIS YEAR.
I'LL IF JUST BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW PLACES.
AND I KNOW NEW THINGS TO HIGHLIGHT MANY AND I THINK WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE IT WORK.
THERE'S A NEW TOY SHOP COMING TO MAIN STREET.
IS THERE REALLY, REALLY? WHERE? WHERE AT? WHERE? GINGER SNAPS.
IT'S GONNA BE ACTUALLY A TOY SHOP AND, UM, ART.
SO THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT SEGUE.
FULL DISCLOSURE, SHE'S A FRIEND OF MINE, SO, SO
[VII. Communications Update]
COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE.I WILL BE SHORT AND SWEET AND IT'S ACTUALLY ART RELATED, MOST OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
SO I PUT A COPY OF CITY BATTER'S MAGAZINE.
IT'S YOUR ADVANCED COPY, YOU SHOULD BE GETTING IT IN YOUR MAILBOXES.
UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, IT'S AT THE POST OFFICE, WHICH I NEVER CAN CONTROL THE POST OFFICE AND HOW QUICKLY THEY GET IT DELIVERED.
BUT SO OUR, OUR NEW ARTISTS AND RESIDENTS ARE ON THE COVER.
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT 'EM IS IT'S ALL AGE RANGES.
WE HAVE A 23-YEAR-OLD, A 44-YEAR-OLD, AND A 67-YEAR-OLD.
SO I LOVE THAT WE, WE'VE PICKED FOLKS THAT WERE ALL DIFFERENT AGES.
WE DO A WHOLE SPREAD ON THEM ON PAGE THREE AND FOUR.
UH, SO YOU GET TO MEET THEM AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THE FACT THAT IT STARTED.
WE ARE DOING A MEET AND GREET WITH THE ARTISTS AND A GALLERY RECEPTION THIS FRIDAY.
EVERYONE'S INVITED FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM YOU CAN SEE THE ARTWORK IN THE LOBBY.
[00:40:01]
BELONGS TO THE ARTISTS THAT HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE PROGRAM, BUT IT ALSO HAS ARTISTS WHO APPLIED FOR THE PROGRAM AND DIDN'T MAKE IT.WHO ALL WANNA MEET THOSE THAT WERE, WHO MADE IT? YEAH.
SO IT SHOULD BE, UM, WE'LL HAVE LIGHT REFRESHMENTS.
THE PATRONS OF THE PARKS AND ARTS ARE BRINGING WINE TO SERVE.
SO THERE'LL BE WINE AND LIGHT REFRESHMENTS.
SO FROM SIX TO EIGHT, EVERYONE'S INVITED TO COME ON OUT THIS FRIDAY.
AND IS IT HERE OR IS IT IT'S HERE.
WE'RE DOING IT HERE THIS TIME BECAUSE THEY'VE JUST MOVED IN TO, TO THE BUILDING, THE GIRARD HOUSE.
AND WE WANNA GIVE THEM TIME TO CREATE SOME WORK.
SO WE WILL BE HOSTING, UM, AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE GIRARDI HOUSE, AT THE ART GALLERY STUDIO, UH, PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER.
GIVE THEM SOME TIME AND GET SCHOOL BACK IN SESSION AND ALL OF THAT.
UM, IF YOU HAVEN'T, IT'S, THERE'S MAJOR CONSTRUCTION GOING ON OVER THERE RIGHT NOW, UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE HISTORIC DISTRICT DRAINAGE PROJECT.
BUT WE'VE PUT SOME GREAT SIGNS ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING THAT SAY ARTIS IN RESIDENCY.
UM, AND IT LOOKS REALLY, REALLY COOL.
AND THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WALK THAT PARK, THAT KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND BE LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE? AND THEY'RE GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO LET THEM IN I BET.
SO IT'S BEEN GETTING A LOT OF, UM, INTEREST FROM THE LOCAL, UM, HISTORIC DISTRICT FOLKS THAT REGULARLY WALK THAT PARK AND WANNA KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND THEY USUALLY INVITE THEM IN AND SHOW THEM WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THAT KIND OF THING.
SO, UM, SECONDLY, WE'RE, UH, WORKING FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH THE MASONS AND THAT WILL BE HOT GRANT MONEY THAT IS USED TO PAINT THAT KIND OF UNATTRACTIVE BUILDING THAT MASONIC LODGE THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO LEAGUE PARK.
SO WE'RE GONNA BEAUTIFY ALL FOUR SIDES OF THAT BUILDING.
UM, AND SO THAT WAY IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT KIND OF BLENDS IN THE PARK WILL BE INTERACTIVE SO PEOPLE CAN TAKE PHOTOS NEXT TO IT.
AND I THINK JUST TO CREATE A, A BETTER ATMOSPHERE, JUST KIND OF AROUND THAT PARK AND THAT BUILDING, WHICH IS KIND OF, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, NOT THE MOST ATTRACTIVE.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO PAINT BECAUSE IT'S ALL, IT'S NOT EVEN, IT'S, IT'S LIKE SHELLS.
OH IS, IT'S LIKE SHELLS AND ROCKS THAT WERE JUST THROWN ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
AND IF YOU REALLY SCRUB ON THEM, THEN THEY, THEY COME OFF.
SO THE ARTIST THAT'S BEEN CHOSEN TO DO THAT IS ADAM SOCI WHO DID THE BIG MURAL.
UM, AND HE USES SPRAY PAINT, SO IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO, UM, TO PAINT THAN WITH A BRUSH.
SO IT ACTUALLY IS WHY WE CHOSE HIM.
UM, AND HE'S USED ALL, HE'S DONE ALL KINDS OF, BETWEEN BRICKS AND STUCCO AND REGULAR, HE'S, HE'S FIGURED OUT.
SO WE'RE, HE'S FINISHING UP THE DESIGNS, WE'RE PRESENTING THAT TO THE MASONS AND THEN NEXT TWO WEEKS, AND THEN HE SHOULD GET STARTED PRETTY QUICKLY.
I'D LOVE TO HAVE, MY GOAL IS TO HAVE IT DONE IN TIME FOR HARVEST FEST.
UM, SO THAT WAY EVERYBODY GETS TO SEE IT AND ENJOY IT.
UM, AND IT'LL BE THERE FOR HOLIDAY IN THE PARK AND EVERYTHING TOO.
SO, UM, THAT'S, WE'RE USING HOT FUND DOLLARS, UH, FOR THAT.
UM, AND THEN MOVING AHEAD FOR BUDGET, WE'RE IN BUDGET SEASON.
UH, SO THE COUNCIL WILL BE DOING THREE BUDGET WORKSHOPS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THE FIRST ONE IS NEXT TUESDAY.
AND SO WE DO HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BUDGETED IN THE CBB BUDGET JUST FOR ART.
AND THEN OUR OTHER FUNDING COMES FROM PARK DEDICATION FEES WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE PUT ART IN THE PARK.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A LOT OF OUR ART IN PARKS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE BULK OF OUR MONEY IS FROM THE PARK DEDICATION FEES.
UM, AND WE'RE WORKING, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HEARD OR NOT, UM, THE NEW PAT HALSEY PARK IS GONNA HAVE A MEMORIAL AREA TO THE VICTIMS. AND I HATE TO CALL IT THE, THE, THE FIELD KILLING, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? MM-HMM
THE, THE VIC, THE LADIES, UM, THAT WERE VICTIMS TO THE, UM, FELL VICTIM TO THE TO MM-HMM
WHAT WE BELIEVE IS A SERIAL KILLER TO THIS DAY.
BUT ANYWAY, SO WE'RE WORKING ON POSSIBLY HAVING AN A BRONZE SCULPTURE, SOMETHING THAT COULD BE IN THAT KIND OF REFLECTION GARDEN AND HIRING THE SAME, UH, BRONZE SCULPTURE ARTIST THAT DID THE JC LEAGUE STATUE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING.
MAYBE WE HAVE A, UH, A YOUNG LADY WITH HER ARMS STRETCHED OUT HOLDING A BUTTERFLY, MAYBE SOME BUTTERFLIES IN THE AIR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, AND SO WE CAN KIND OF PAY TRIBUTE.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY, UM, USING HOT RUN FUNDS FOR THAT.
SO WE WOULD, UH, OR PARK DEDICATION FEES, WE'LL SEE PROBABLY PARK DEDICATION FEES.
SO WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF PROJECTS.
UM, BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE ARTISTS AND RESIDENCE AND REALLY EXCITED THAT THE ART EFFORTS THAT WE'RE DOING AS A CITY BLEND REALLY WELL WITH WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SUPPORTING AS FAR AS WITH BAY AREA, HOUSTON BALLET OF THEATER.
SO IT REALLY GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE PERFORMING ARTS AND NOT JUST VISUAL.
I'M EXCITED TO MEET THESE ARTISTS.
YEAH, THEY'RE REALLY, THEY'RE REALLY INTERESTING.
AND IF YOU'VE SEEN THEIR ARTWORK, YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT IN THE LOBBY IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT ON FRIDAY.
SO YOU'RE ALL RESPONSIBLE ALSO FOR LIKE, THE PAINTING ON SOME OF THOSE UTILITY BOXES.
SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT.
WE HAVE FIVE MORE THAT WILL BE GOING UP THIS SUMMER.
THOSE POOR ARE, THIS ARE GONNA BE HATING IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER.
UM, BUT WE HAVE FIVE MORE BOXES THAT'LL BE UP AND PAINTED BY SEPTEMBER.
AND THE ACTUALLY HOT FUNDS PAY FOR THAT AS WELL, SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE IT IS THAT'S FANTASTIC.
[00:45:01]
DESIGNS ARE REALLY COOL TOO.SO, UH, I'M ALWAYS AMAZED AT WHAT THESE ARTISTS CAN COME UP WITH.
AND WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS THAT SPECIALIZE IN PAINTING UTILITY BOXES.
DO IT BECAUSE IT'S A VERY SPECIAL PRIMER.
THERE'S A VERY SPECIAL PAINT AND THEN YOU'RE ALSO PAINTING IN THE SUN NEXT TO TRAFFIC.
AND SO YOU REALLY, WE JUST DON'T LIKE TO PUT ANYBODY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU HAVE STUDENTS DO IT? I'M LIKE, THAT'S THE LAST THING I WANT STUDENTS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PAINTING A BOX.
SO WE USE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS THAT SPECIALIZE IN THAT.
MY GOAL IS TO HAVE EVERY SINGLE BOX THAT WOULD BE NICE IN THE CITY COVERED AT SOME POINT IN TIME, SO.
WELL, WE GET TONS OF COMMENTS.
YEAH, NO, I THINK PEOPLE REALLY LIKE THEM AND BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL KIND OF NATURE INSPIRED AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S LIKE CONTROVERSIAL OR TOO ABSTRACT AND CRAZY, UM, THAT I THINK PEOPLE, PEOPLE LIKE THEM SUCH AN IMPROVEMENT.
IT ADDS SOME BEAUTY TO THE CITY.
[VIII. CVB Tourism Report]
UP.I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK TOO 'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE TO GET OUT ON TIME.
UH, THE BIGGEST, SO WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER.
IT'S A VERY BUSY SUMMER FOR US.
UM, WE ARE, WE JUST FINISHED OUR TOURISM FRIENDLY CERTIFIED TEXAS COMMUNITY DESIGNATION PROJECT.
UM, AND WE ARE OFFICIALLY TOURISM FRIENDLY HERE IN LAKE CITY.
IT'S A, WE ARE JOINING, UH, CITIES ACROSS THE ESTATE IN THIS NEW DEDICATION PROGRAM.
SO IT'S, UH, WE WE'RE DEMONSTRATING A SMALL, A STRONG COMMITMENT TO WELCOMING VISITORS, SUPPORTING LOCAL TOURISM INITIATIVES AND FOSTERING POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT THROUGH TRAVEL IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY HERE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THAT SIGNIFIES.
IT WAS JUST OFFICIAL A FEW WEEKS AGO LAST WEEK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UH, WE HAVE THREE NEW PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROMOTING OUR LOCAL HISTORY RIGHT NOW.
UH, THE HISTORIC DISTRICT BUCKET LIST.
CARD RACK CARD IS DISTRIBUTED AT THE VISITOR CENTER.
WE ARE ALSO DOING A TIME TRAVEL TUESDAY SOCIAL MEDIA SERIES EVERY WEEK WHERE WE SHOW THE HISTORIC PICTURE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNEL AND GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT THE THING.
AND THIS WEEK WAS THE BUTLER'S COURTYARD.
THIS IS AN OLD PICTURE I GRABBED.
UH, WE ALSO DID A SPECIAL WHITE LINEN NIGHT EDITION VISIT WIDGET TOUR THAT HIGHLIGHTED OUR HISTORIC, UH, ATTRACTIONS.
AND THERE'S A LITTLE CARD OVER THERE IF YOU WANNA PICK IT UP.
UH, YOU CAN SCAN THE QR CODE AND WE HAVE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT BUCKET LIST THAT ALL OF THE CITY KIOSK THAT WE HAVE AT LIKE CITY HALL MM-HMM
AND, AND HOMETOWN AND ALL THAT.
AND THE PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE PICKING 'EM UP.
SO WE'RE NOT ONLY DOING VISITORS, WE'RE DOING RESIDENCE AS WELL.
AND IT JUST SHOWS YOU ALL THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BUCKET LIST FOR THE HISTORIC DISTRICT SO YOU CAN EXPLORE.
I NEED TO GET A STACK OF 'EM FOR THE MUSEUM.
YEAH, I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE MAIN SUPPLY AT THE VISITOR CENTER IN THE CLOSET THERE, SO I NEED TO GO, I NEED TO GO OVER THERE.
WE HAVE A, UH, TRAVEL INFLUENCER VISITING VERY SOON AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
SHE'S COMING, UH, TO US FROM THE VISIT HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH OUR AROUND HOUSTON GROUP.
SHE HAS A VERY LARGE AUDIENCE REACH.
SHE'S VERY, I INFLUENTIAL IN TEXAS TOURISM OVERALL.
YOU CAN DO A FOLLOWER ACCOUNT FOR TIKTOK, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST PLUS NEWSLETTERS, UH, VERY GOOD THERE.
UH, I'M WORKING ON AN ITINERARY AFTER THIS MEETING TO SHOW HER THE BEST OF THIS AREA.
THIS IS A BAY AREA HOUSTON VISIT, SO IT WILL BE NOT JUST LEAD CITY, BUT UH, THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES AROUND BAY AREA BECAUSE, UH, WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT WHAT THE, WHY ALL THE REASONS WE SHOULD COME INTO DO.
SO WE'LL DO PHOTOS WITH HER ON, UH, THE WATER AND CLEAR LAKES AND THE PADDLEBOARDING, THAT SORT OF THING.
SO I'LL BE WORKING TO COORDINATE AND SET UP ALL THAT AFTER THIS MEETING.
YEAH, SO, UH, NOTHING, WE HAVE A LOT OF ADVERTISING RUNNING.
I JUST, I DON'T WANT TO GET IN THE WEEDS TOO MUCH WITH THE METRICS HERE, BUT, UH, WE ARE TRYING TO DRIVE VISITATION, INCREASE BOOKINGS, AND PROMOTE SUMMER GETAWAYS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS RUNNING HOUSTON CHRONICLE DATA FI, ORANGE DIGITAL, UM, TOUR TEXAS.COM.
AND SO I JUST TOTALED UP THE IMPRESSIONS, ENGAGEMENT NUMBERS, AND PAGE VIEWS FOR YOU GUYS THERE.
UH, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT, UH, THIS IS JUST A SCREENSHOT OF WHAT THE, UH, ANALYTICS FROM OUR SPONSORED CONTENT WITH THE CHRONICLE LOOKS LIKE.
WE HAD OVER 8,000 ENGAGEMENTS AND A LOT OF IMPRESSIONS WITH THAT ONE TOO.
UH, AND THEN THIS IS DATA BY SCREENSHOT, LAUNCH 0.2 IMPRESSIONS.
I KNOW THIS IS LIKE, UH, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T RESONATE WIDE AND WHAT WE'RE TRACKING AND WHAT, WHAT THE CLICKS ACTUALLY MEAN, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET IN FRONT OF OUR AUDIENCE AND REMIND 'EM POSSIBLY ABOUT OUR, UH, OFFERINGS HERE.
AND THEN THAT'S JUST AS SHOW, UH, ONE OF THE ADS THAT WE HAVE FOR SUMMERTIME.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM, UH, AND THIS IS JUST FOR THE MAY AND JUNE, MAY AND JUNE MONTHS THERE, WE HAD, UH, 8,116 ACTIONS AND ENGAGEMENTS WITH OUR CONTENT FOR WEBSITE STATS.
OUR TRAFFIC IS GROWING, WHICH I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CONTENT STILL TO WORK ON, BUT OUR NEW SITE IS PERFORMING WELL.
UM, WE ARE WORKING IN IT EVERY DAY.
SO WE HAVE OUR TOP PAGES THERE, HOMEPAGE, SUMMER EVENTS, PAGE NOT FOUND.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, SO WE'RE GETTING IT FIXED.
UH, AND THEN OUR EVENT CALENDAR WHITE ONE NIGHT WAS A HUGE SPIKE FOR US AS WELL.
AND THEN OUR VISIT WIDGET APP, WE'RE TRACKING, UH, WE TRENDING HIGH ALSO FOR THAT.
WE JUST RE-SKINNED IT AND UPDATED
[00:50:01]
OUR HOME PAGE PICTURE AND GRAPHIC THERE.SO THAT'S WHAT OUR APP LOOKS LIKE.
AND WE MADE THE, UH, HISTORIC DISTRICT WHITE LAND AND I TOUR AND WE HAD 171 VIEWS FOR THAT TOUR, UH, FOR FACEBOOK, SOCIAL MEDIA.
UH, WE HAVE OVER 3,500 FANS NOW, AND FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS WE HAD OVER, UH, 2000 CLICKS.
AND THIS IS OUR TOP PERFORMING CONTENT FOR MAY AND JUNE.
IT IS MOSTLY EVENT, UH, CENTRIC.
SO WE HAD JULY 4TH, WHICH IS A BIG SPIKE.
WE HAD, UH, WHITE LINEN KNIGHTS, WHICH WAS HUGE.
AND THEN WE ALSO PROMOTE THE, UH, SIP AND CELL CRUISES, TOM TRAVEL TUESDAY.
AND THEN WE HIGHLIGHT LOCAL BUSINESSES AS WELL.
AND THEN THIS IS OUR INSTAGRAMS. SO, UH, SINCE THIS WAS TAKEN, WE HAVE NOW TALKED 3000 FANS.
SO THIS IS AT THE END OF JUNE, BUT WE, TODAY, I CAN TELL YOU IT'S OVER 3000.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T FOLLOWED US, FOLLOW US.
AND THERE'S OUR TOP CONTENT THERE.
AND THEN FINANCIALS, EVERYTHING IS GOOD.
WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE, UM, Q3 COLLECTIONS IN YET.
UH, WE'RE SO FAR WE'RE, WE'RE ON TRACK.
WE'RE GONNA PROBABLY EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS THIS YEAR, BUT, UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
SO, UH, HOPEFULLY I'LL GET THOSE NUMBERS IN, UH, MAYBE BY THE NEXT MEETING, IF NOT FOLLOWING FOR SURE.
UH, BUT EVERYTHING IS GROWING AND GOING WELL.
I DID GET A CALL ABOUT, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF A DECLINE IN HOTEL BOOKINGS FROM CANDLEWOOD AND HAMPTON INN.
I HAD A, A PHONE CALL FROM ONE OF OUR HOTELIERS AND THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT DO WE DO? JULY IS NOT AS BIG AS WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.
AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS.
BUT OVERALL, IT'S STILL VERY STRONG.
WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO EXCEED OUR ANTICIPATED BUDGET PROJECTIONS FOR THIS YEAR ON REVENUE.
AND THEN WE ARE SPENDING, OUR SPENDING IS VERY, IT'S, IT'S UNDER, WE'RE UNDERSPENDING AT THIS POINT, SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING RAMPED BACK UP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
SO I WAS OUT FOR A COUPLE MONTHS LAST FALL, SO THAT KIND OF DETERRED A LITTLE BIT.
SO I'M TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING CAUGHT UP.
[IX. Board member comments and updates]
UH, ANY COMMENTS OR UPDATES FROM BOARD MEMBERS, JOSE, ANYTHING? NO, THE ONLY THING FOR ME IS WE HAD OUR OPEN HOUSE LAST WEEKEND.UM, WE DO IT TWICE A YEAR, SO OPPORTUNITY FOR BYE BYE SEE YA.
FOR BRIDES TO COME AND SEE THE VENUE.
AND WE HAD 19 NEW COUPLES REGISTER.
I MEAN, I ALSO HAVE ALL MY BOOKED BRIDES COME, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE THEIR MONEY, SO
I MEAN IT'S, I HAVE OF COURSE CHARTED THESE NUMBERS FOR, YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS AND IT'S DEFINITELY LIKE A DECLINE IN ATTENDANCE FOR EVENTS LIKE THESE OVERALL.
BUT I FELT PRETTY GOOD WITH ABOUT 19 OR 20 FOR OUR SUMMER OPEN HOUSE.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT HALF WHAT WE DO IN THE WINTER.
UM, I'VE GOTTEN GREAT FEEDBACK FROM ALL THE VENDORS WHO ARE MOSTLY LAKE CITY VENDORS.
SO OVERALL IT WENT PRETTY WELL, I THINK.
UM, AND WE BOOKED A 2027 WEDDING.
WE, I'M ALWAYS LIKE, DO I REALLY WANNA OPEN THIS CALENDAR? BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S ONLY TWO YEARS OUT FOR, YOU KNOW, 18 MONTHS FOR THEM.
'CAUSE THEY BOOKED JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.
THERE WILL BE AT LEAST ONE WEDDING IN LAKE CITY IN 27, IN 2027.
[X. Discuss requests for future agenda items]
REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? I, I DO.I JUST, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN ANY DISCUSSION PRIOR TO ME COMING ON THIS BOARD ABOUT THE WORLD CUP.
SO, UM, LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT WHAT, UH, WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING AS FAR AS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND WHAT WE'VE GOT IN THE WORKS ON HOW WE'RE APPROACHING THAT OPPORTUNITY.
STEPHANIE, CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT NEXT MARK? ABSOLUTELY.
AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE PAST, BUT IT'S BEEN A A MINUTE SINCE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THIS GROUP.
NO, I ACTUALLY, LAST MONTH I WAS GOING TO KIND OF GET A LITTLE UPDATE 'CAUSE BARRY HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP IS, UH, WE HAVE A TOURISM COMMITTEE AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST FOCUSES IS THE WORLD CUP STUFF.