September Meeting Minutes 2023
Houma Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Regular Schedule Meeting Minutes
September 28, 2023
I. Board and Staff Member Attendance
Present: Staff:
Julie Falgout – Chair Sondra Corbitt
Joshua Ellender – Vice Chair Lindsey Loupe
William Bisland – Secretary/Treasurer
Judy Smart
Cheri Blanchard Board Absent:
Yvonne Breaux-Jones Gary Williams
Traci Hawthorne
Margie Scoby
II. Meeting call to order: J. Falgout called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
III. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance: C. Blanchard led the board in the Invocation. J. Falgout led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance. J. Ellender entered the meeting at 8:38 a.m.
IV. Roll Call: Quorum was present.
V. Public to be heard: Brenda Babin provided an overview of the Houma Elks Lodge Duck Extravaganza. Latoya Walters provided an overview of the Boo on the Bayou Festival. B. Babin exited the meeting at 8:51 a.m.
VI. Approval of the Minutes: W. Bisland moved to approve August’s minutes. Seconded by: J. Ellender. Motion passed.
VII. Approval of Financials: The financial statements, including the budget to actual comparison for the general fund, for the month of July 2023 were presented by W. Bisland. W. Bisland moved to approve the July 2023 Financials. Seconded by: J. Ellender. Motion passed.
VIII. CEA State Funding Approval: S. Corbitt provided an overview. W. Bisland moved to approve the CEA State Funding Approval. Seconded by: Y. Jones. Motion passed.
IX. Sponsorship Application Southdown Plantation Marketplace: S. Corbitt provided an overview. W. Bisland moved to approve the Southdown Plantation Marketplace for $5,000.00. Seconded by: C. Blanchard. Motion passed. J. Smart abstained.
X. Sponsorship Application Boo on the Bayou Festival: Laytoya Walters exited the meeting at 9:17 a.m. S. Corbitt provided an overview. W. Bisland moved to approve the Boo on the Bayou Festival for $5,000.00. Seconded by: C. Blanchard. Motion passed. Latoya Walters entered the meeting at 9:24 a.m.
XI. Sponsorship Application Houma Elks Duck Extravaganza: S. Corbitt provided an overview. W. Bisland moved to approve the Houma Elks Duck Extravaganza for $5,000.00. Seconded by: J. Ellender. Motion passed. C. Blanchard abstained.
XII. Executive Director’s Report: S. Corbitt provided the monthly report. Discussion: 2024 Budget, Levee Tour update, new billboard, Eat Local Marketing Campaign, conference attendance updates, Downtown Restoration Board, Houma Downtown Development Board, upcoming schedule, Visitor Center updates, Marketing updates, Communication/PR updates, Social Media/Digital Content updates, Sales updates, Group Tour/Sports updates, Financial updates, Datafy, and occupancy/hotel updates.
XIII. Board Announcements: Seafood Industry, We the People event, Melvin’s Restaurant, Tillmen’s Seafood, Veterans Day Museum event, Frenchies podcast, Elks Lodge essay contest, and possible Terrebonne Parish tours.
XIV. Adjournment: J. Ellender moved to adjourn. Seconded by J. Smart. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 10:08 a.m. Latoya Walters exited the meeting at 10:08 a.m.
