08.d Draft minutes 10.22.2024 Tourism
Scandia Tourism Committee, Community Center Hall October 22, 2024
Members in Attendance: Sue Dickens, Jim Gribble, Chrissi Larsen, and Lynne Moratzka. Absent:
Sarah Porubcansky. Additional Attendees: Brenda “Bee” Stignani (Office Assistant).
Call to Order –Chair Dickens called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m., a quorum is present.
Approve the Agenda – Dickens moved, Moratzka seconded, to approve the agenda with
Flexibility. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve the Minutes – Gribble moved, Dickens seconded, to approve September 24, 2024
minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Business Breakfast (November 13, 2024) – Chair Dickens will update staff’s EDA Breakfast
contact list. The prepared invitation with an option to be removed from the list for future
communication and information to invite other business owners will be sent by staff when complete.
Invitation to participate will also be posted on Scandia’s social media sites. Dickens reported receiving
feedback to change first breakfast simple format to a ‘meet and greet’ format only. The committee
agreed to plan for 25 attendants, be onsite at 7:30 a.m. to set up a “U” shaped table arrangement to
encourage participant interaction and a light menu for the first Business Breakfast after a long hiatus.
Dickens to contact New Scandia Café to provide pastries, Gribble to provide oatmeal, Moratzka to
provide table decorations, Dickens to provide OJ, ice, fresh fruit and large centerpiece. Chair Dickens
to MC event. Include announcement regarding VinterLights!, referring specifically to hourly drawings
and request assistance in promoting event with provided informational poster/flyers. Gribble will
spearhead kitchen clean-up, all members contributing to cleaning up and resetting the hall back to the
standard layout.
VinterLights! Planning (December 1, 2024) –
• Best of Scandia Artisan Market:
o Advertising: Dickens reported all of the places she has announced
VinterLights! for free, including Event Bright, Out & About in the County
Messenger, and the Peach. Dickens reported details for a paid advertisement
in the Country Messenger, discussion concluded to use free options only, use
banners, promotional flyers, and to put out more press releases to more print
and digital newspapers, radio and tv stations. Moratzka provided more free,
online event calendar sites to utilize. Staff confirmed continued membership
in the Forest Lake Chamber of Commerce for more promotional assistance.
Dickens to provide details of promotional avenues used to vendors, and accept
feedback for future consideration.
o Additional Signage: Moratzka will report at a later date the findings of small
yard signs in city storage. Discussion concluded the past signs need to be
reconsidered for branding, as well as how to get volunteers to place them
correctly (avoiding all Right of Ways); all to be considered for future events.
Dickens has provided vendors with a flyer to promote searching for more
vendors. The venue is now full. Larsen volunteered to design a new flyer for
promoting shopping – to be distributed at the Business Breakfast.
o Entertainment Update: Larsen confirmed the hours of live entertainment
will be 1-4 p.m. in the hall and reported the intention to contact past volunteers
Scandia Tourism Committee Minutes
October 22, 2024
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after the election. If necessary, will expand to search for more volunteers.
Dickens or Moratzka will confirm at the next Sister City Council meeting if
they will host a gift-wrapping station. Larsen will include signage/decorations
in the entertainment organizing. Dickens will confirm with Lion Darleen if the
Lions will provide coffee in the Heritage Room which also falls under the
space organized by Larsen. This confirmation will determine if following up
with a potential beverage food truck mentioned by Moratzka with a
connection to Elim Church is necessary or not.
• Tree Lighting:
o Gribble reported he has secured the firewood, the city will provide the fire
rings and he will also request two picnic tables, Helke will put the string of
lights on the trees, the Bone Lake Ladies are making the cookies, and he is
searching for a thermal container for hot cocoa instead of small carafes. Staff
confirmed the need to communicate with Chief Hinz to borrow the Fire
department’s portable PA system and that there are caroling books in the
inventory that Moratzka will locate. Dickens will provide the contact to the
last-minute volunteer who sang indoors to request assistance to lead singing
outdoors instead. Staff to order any missing supplies, including cocoa mix.
Adjournment –Motion by Dickens, seconded by Larsen, to adjourn the meeting. Motion
carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 5:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant