January Minutes 2024
Houma Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Regular Schedule Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2024
I. Board and Staff Member Attendance
Present: Staff:
Josh Ellender – Chair via Zoom Sondra Corbitt
William Bisland – Vice Chair Lindsey Loupe
Margie Scoby – Secretary/Treasurer
Judy Smart
Traci Hawthorne Board Absent:
Cheri Blanchard Yvonne Breaux-Jones
Julie Falgout
Celeste Landry
II. Meeting call to order: W. Bisland called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
III. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance: W. Bisland led the board in the Invocation. W. Bisland led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance.
IV. Roll Call: Quorum was present.
V. Public to be heard: Manny Merlos presented an overview of the Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie. M. Merlos exited the meeting at 8:51 a.m.
VI. Approval of the Minutes: W. Bisland provided an overview of the minutes. T. Hawthorne moved to approve December’s minutes. Seconded by: J. Smart. Motion passed.
VII. Approval of Financials: The financial statements, including the budget to actual comparison for the general fund, for the month of November 2023 were presented by S. Corbitt. J. Falgout moved to approve the November 2023 Financials. Seconded by: M. Scoby. Motion passed.
VIII. Policy/Procedures Updates Approval:
A.) Board Bylaws Approval: S. Corbitt provided an overview. J. Smart moved to approve the Board Bylaws. Seconded by: C. Blanchard. Motion passed.
B.) Employee Handbook Approval: S. Corbitt provided an overview. J. Smart moved to approve the Employee Handbook. Seconded by: T. Hawthorne. Motion passed.
C.) Accounting Policy Approval: S. Corbitt provided an overview. J. Falgout moved to approve the Accounting Policy. Seconded by: M. Scoby. Motion passed.
IX. 2024 Strategic Plan Approval: S. Corbitt provided an overview of the 2024 Strategic Plan. J. Falgout moved to approve the 2024 Strategic Plan. Seconded by: C. Landry. Motion passed.
X. 2024 Authorized Signature Approval: S. Corbitt provided an overview. J. Smart moved to approve the Authorized Signature. Seconded by: C. Blanchard. Motion passed.
XI. 2024 Executive Committee Bank Signature Approval: S. Corbitt proved an overview. J. Falgout moved to approve the Executive Committee Bank Signature. Seconded by: T. Hawthorne. Motion passed.
XII. Sponsorship Application Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie: S. Corbitt provided an overview. T. Hawthorne moved to approve the Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie Application for $4,000.00. Seconded by: C. Blanchard. Motion passed.
XIII. Sponsorship Application Bayou Bandits Volleyball Tournament: S. Corbitt provided an
overview. J. Falgout moved to approve the Bayou Bandits Volleyball Tournament for $5,000.00. Seconded by: M. Scoby. Motion passed.
XIV. Sponsorship Application Girls on the Run Bayou Region: L. Loupe provided an overview. C. Landry moved to deny the Girls on the Run Bayou Region application due to not meeting qualification policies and guidelines. Seconded by: T. Hawthorne. Motion passed.
XV. President/CEO Report: S. Corbitt provided the monthly report. Chamber Banquet, Louisiana Travel Leadership Association, 2024 1st Quarter Tourism Partnership Luncheon, HTV10 Marketing Partnership, Visitor Center updates, Marketing updates, Communication/Public Relations updates, Social Media/Digital Content updates, Sales updates, Group Tour/Sports updates, Financial updates, and Occupancy updates.
XVI. Board Announcements: Tourism Week, Rose Bowl Parade, Kick Off to CoCo Marina Grand Reopening, and 1st Anniversary Finding Our Roots African American Museum.
XVII. Executive Session: President/CEO’s Evaluation: T. Hawthorne moved to enter executive session at 10:03 a.m. Seconded by J. Falgout. Motion passed. For purpose to discuss President/CEO evaluation and wage review. T. Hawthorne moved to exit the executive session and return to the regular session at 10:16 a.m. Seconded by: J. Smart. Motion passed. T. Hawthorne moved to increase the President/CEO’s base salary as presented by the formula approved during the executive session. Seconded by: C. Blanchard. Motion passed.
XVIII. Adjournment: C. Blanchard moved to adjourn. Seconded by M. Scoby. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 10:17 a.m.
