01.23.2024 Minutes TCScandia Tourism Committee, Council Chambers January 23, 2024
Members in Attendance: Sue Dickens, Lynne Moratzka Sarah Porubcansky, and Jim Gribble.
Absent: Chrissi Larsen. Additional Attendee: Brenda "Bee" Stignani (Office Assistant.)
Call to Order —Chair Dickens called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m., a quorum is present.
Approve the Agenda — Porubcansky moved, Dickens seconded, to approve the agenda with
Flexibility. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve the Minutes — Dickens moved, Porubcansky seconded, to approve November 28,
2023 minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Scandia Heritage Alliance — American in Bloom Grant Agreement Request — Dickens presented
Susan Rodsjo's request for a member of the Tourism Committee to participate with meeting the
consultants this summer with this project. Discussion concluded either Moratzka or Porubcansky will
participate, depending on their availability when the consultants are scheduled. Porubcansky added
that SHA qualified for application to this grant by the Canadian Rail Road line that is in Scandia.
Vinterfest 2025 — VinterCraft Show Consideration — Dickens presented Greg Zauner's request for
the Tourism Committee to consider organizing a craft show, similar to Best of Scandia at VinterLights!
for a Sunday activity at Vinterfest 2025. The date would be Sunday, January 26, 2025. Discussion
concluded that a craft show would not be a good fit, but instead Dickens will respond with other
suggestions for expanding Vinterfest into Sunday. A Game Day with tournament style play as it
supports the community building effort of Vinterfest or to invite area businesses to consider a "make
and take" project for sampling products to encourage future patronage of their business.
Events —
Porubcansky asked the committee to ponder something in the future that has not taken exact
shape yet — but new business owner Dawn at Loon Holistic Health noticed that there are many
health -related businesses in Scandia. Moratzka added Elim's mental health program plan for
the season of Lent and the Swedish concept of hygge (relaxing.) Tabled for further discussion
at a future time to consider what Tourism could do to highlight this theme of Health Day
opportunities in Scandia.
Porubcansky asked if there could be a further consideration of a spring kick off in Scandia
similar to Walpurgis Night (or Valborg in Swedish), to burn off winter and welcome spring.
Best of Scandia recap — Dickens reported that no additional responses were received from the
Vendor Feedback results than reported in November. The Artisan Market will work out fine
tuning the layout, consider suggestions to hold hourly drawings of vendor donated goods to
encourage steady shopping streams, and consider suggestions to improve the live music in the
Heritage Room.
Scandia Evening Adventures recap — Dickens reported that most visited days for businesses
seemed to be October and November. December was an "odd day" but missed the major
snow storms of the last two years. Customers reported to some businesses that other
businesses closed early for the night and they were not able to go to those establishments.
Vendor participation did change as some registered, and then backed out at the last minute
for various reasons. Staff asked for clarification if local businesses were participating or not,
as some seemed to promote their other events in comments to the city's social media posts.
Scandia Tourism Committee Minutes
January 23, 2024
Preferred to ask them to participate and be in the main post over tagging on in comments.
Dickens to follow up. Dickens reported gathering specific style of photos at the 2023 event
with the intention to be able to submit to Explore Minnesota, or other considerations of paid
advertisements. Discussion over the effectiveness of paid advertisements over other
possibilities. Gribble will explore cost estimates for considering a direct mailing to Scandia
residents.
• Annual Garage Sale — Dickens clarified the date of the sale to be May 30"' — June 1"
Discussion concluded to eliminate the option to host a sale in the Community Center parking
lot on Saturday. Porubcansky requested staff include a required field of a zip code for the
digital map. May 3' to be the registration deadline with the goal to have the digital map
available by May 17`". Staff to follow up to make sure the banners ordered last year are good
to set up this year again. Community participants to continue to put up their own directional
signs.
Adjournment —Motion by Gribble, seconded by Moratzka, to adjourn the meeting. Motion
carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Brenda "Bee" Stignani, Office Assistant
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