08.d 11.28.2023 Minutes TC DRAFT
Scandia Tourism Committee, Council Chambers November 28, 2023
Members in Attendance: Sue Dickens, Lynne Moratzka Sarah Porubcansky, and. Chrissi Larsen.
Absent: Jim Gribble. Additional Attendee: Brenda “Bee” Stignani (Office Assistant.)
Call to Order –Chair Dickens called the meeting to order at 5:12 p.m., a quorum is present.
Approve the Agenda –Dickens moved, Porubcansky seconded, to approve the agenda with
Flexibility. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve the Minutes – Porubcansky moved, Moratzka seconded, to approve the October 24,
2023 minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Advertisement – 2024 Saint Croix Valley Visitor Guide – Rosemary Mansfield provided an
updated version of the advertisement, included in the meeting packet. Discussion concluded for staff
to send the following feedback suggestions:
1. Thank Rosemary for the beautiful work in the latest version
2. Correct name for the event is “VinterLights!” – the capital “L” helps to distinguish from
Vinterfest and the exclamation mark is part of the ‘branding.’ It is listed in both the paragraph
and list of events, both to be corrected.
3. The website reads better if the letters “V” and “S” are capitalized – www.VisitScandia.com
4. Please remove from the box the “(Swedish Fold Music Festival)” it is incorrect (correct in the
text) and deemed unnecessary to be repeated after Spelmansstamman.
5. Please move from the box the “THE GREAT OUTDOORS” section to be directly under the
“ATTRACTIONS” section. And move the entire list of “EVENTS” to the other side.
6. Remove the extra space between “large- mouth Bass” to read instead “large-mouth Bass.”
7. Correct “38 acrec site” to “38 acre site” in the Crystal Spring paragraph.
8. Completely change the paragraph under the Community Center Playground and
Tennis/Pickleball Courts section to:
• At the Community Center Park is the new playground next to the Tennis/Pickleball
Courts. Picnic tables are available. (Feel free to dress this one up! The information
was just incorrect. Shade trees are planning to go in, but not enough there right now
to make a bold statement.)
9. Change the sentence under “Cycling in Scandia” to “Scandia’s scenic country roads offer great
views and rolling hills.”
10. If the words between the map and the Rustic Roots photo are just fill in, and not a paid portion
of their advertisement, please remove all words and expand the map. The map was very
difficult to read and if Scandia is seen as pushing one business, there are many more that may
believe should be mentioned also.
Upcoming Events –
• Best of Scandia – Dickens provided a recap of the event, and some preliminary responses
from the vendor participation survey with the intention to provide full responses at the next
meeting. Highlights of the recap:
o Up to 40% lower sales mirror retail market, Artisan Markets or similar events lower
sales over the entire year; consumer spending seems to be up in specific markets like
electronics.
Scandia Tourism Committee Minutes
November 28, 2023
2 | P a g e
o Compared to 2022, shopper volume seemed low and antidotally attributed to the lack
of a free door prize contributed. In 2022, the 300 ornaments were given away within
the first two hours.
o Confusion over timing of the tree lighting will be addressed next year
o Food Truck will continue to be only one as each has a minimum sale, the truck is not
a highlighted draw but a major benefit to the Artisan Sellers. Their vendor fee and
meal ticket provide the minimum sale requirement for one truck only.
o Heritage Room music improvements for next year to open both doors and move the
location of the signs to keep food in the room instead of around vendor’s merchandise.
o Provide vendors an opportunity to contribute to a gift bag for the volunteer musicians.
o Consider hourly drawings for shoppers to win donated items
o Staff to investigate if the city’s license to play music publicly at the Skating Rink covers
playing it in the Community Center Hall or not.
o Discussion to consider extras to make Best of Scandia a more family event (cut out
photo-opportunity stands) or an Artisan Market.
o Dickens plans to provide feedback to all Best of Scandia Artisan Market vendors, as
in a response to their feedback. So that vendors know why some of their suggestions
or complaints from this year or past years are not being addressed as they are not
negotiable and they deserve an explanation. And allow vendors to see what is being
taken into consideration from their input and altered for 2024 planning.
o Staff to add to 2024 Vendor Registration Form two items –
▪ Include a cell number for vendors to submit product photos for social media
improvements
▪ Include a request for the name of any Facebook Account to tag in the City’s
posting for the Event as well as when their individual business is highlighted
in social media postings. All vendors are named one time.
• Scandia Evening Adventures – December event on the 21st, nothing new to update.
Flexibility – Discussion concluded to cancel the December 26th meeting and not reschedule. The
next Tourism Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
Adjournment –Motion by Dickens, seconded by Porubcansky, to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 6:16 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant