09.e Minutes Tourism Committee 01.27.2026 DRAFT
Scandia Tourism Committee, Community Center Hall January 27, 2026
Members in Attendance: Sue Dickens, Lynne Moratzka, and Sarah Porubcansky. Absent: Jaimin
Brown and Renee Lee. Additional Attendees: Jim Gribble (City Council) and Brenda “Bee” Stignani
(Office Assistant).
Call to Order Chair Dickens called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. A quorum is present.
Porubcansky moved to approve the agenda with flexibility, seconded by Dickens. Motion
carried unanimously.
Porubcansky moved, Moratzka seconded, to approve the November 25, 2025, Tourism
Meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion – Draft Tourism Work Plan
Dickens reviewed the U of Mn Tourism Development Opportunities in Scandia, reporting that many
concepts have started. $4,000 budget levied for 2026, Dickens suggests identifying the top three goals
to address this year which meet the mission (The Tourism Committee advises City Council in matters
to promote Scandia as a travel destination in ways that enrich community life and bring economic
vitality to the City by capitalizing on Scandia’s historic, cultural, art, and environmental assets.)
Dickens facilitated discussion which concluded with the top three goals:
1. Prepare a strategy of performance measurements.
2. Prepare a strategy for paid advertisement.
3. Introduce one new event in 2026.
Porubcansky and Dickens to share advertising contact information. Gribble to research options for
online paid advertisements. Dickens to investigate official Scandia Tourism Instagram and Facebook
accounts. Moratzka to investigate a 30-circular mile Vilhelm Moberg Memorial Bike Ride to
encompass historical sites and monuments in Scandia, Center City, Lindstrom and Chisago City,
proposed to be held in connection with the Fall Crawl on September 26th & 27th. Dickens to
recommend to the Scandia Sister City Council to use this route for the visitors from Mellerud, Sweden
as an event in their schedule but in a car tour instead of on a bicycle. Porubcansky requested searching
for both the initial organizers of the Fat Cat event and remnant members of Cycling Scandia to both
assist in a Moberg Memorial Bike Ride and to investigate bring back Fat Cat in the future. Brainstorm
which events the Whacky Wild Goosechase app game would complement – National Night Out or
Farmer’s Market Community Outreach Tables? Scandia Evening Adventures? Or an event to pair
with Gammelgarden on a weekend, 250th USA birthday, MN statehood birthday, or something with
the Water Tower Barn project?
Dickens will send to all committee members more details of this discussion for committee members
to review, work on re-wording, and to be sent to Staff for collection and discussion at the February
24th Tourism Committee Meeting.
Adjournment – Motion by Porubcasky, seconded by Dickens, to adjourn the meeting Motion
carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 5:21 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant