January Meeting Minutes 2023

Houma Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Regular Schedule Meeting Minutes
January 26, 2023

I. Board and Staff Member Attendance
Present: Staff:
Julie Falgout – Chair Sondra Corbitt
Joshua Ellender – Vice Chair Lindsey Loupe
William Bisland – Treasurer/Secretary
Traci S. Hawthorne
Gary Williams Sr.
Cheri Blanchard Board Absent:
Judy Smart N/A
Margie Scoby

II. Meeting call to order: J. Falgout called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m.
III. Roll Call: Quorum was present.
IV. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance: W. Bisland led the board in the Invocation. C. Blanchard led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance. M. Scoby entered the meeting at 8:34 a.m.
V. Public to be heard: Katie Portier provided an overview of the Houma Rotary Cast Iron Cookoff Sponsorship. K. Portier exited the meeting at 8:40 a.m. Noah Lirette provided an overview of the 3rd Annual Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie Sponsorship. N. Lirette exited the meeting at 8:56 a.m. Paul Schwab with Terrebonne Bird Club discussed the organization and future events in Terrebonne Parish. P. Schwab exited the meeting at 9:03 a.m.
VI. Approval of December’s Minutes: J. Ellender moved to approve December’s Minutes. Seconded by: J. Smart. Motion passed.
VII. Approval of November 2022 Financials: The financial statements, including the budget to actual comparison for the general fund, for the month of November 2022 were presented by S. Corbitt. W. Bisland moved to approve the November 2022 Financials. Seconded by: J. Ellender. Motion passed.
VIII. Sponsorship Application Rotary Cast Iron Cookoff: L. Loupe provided an overview. Discussion: application deadline, Terrebonne Parish community, and downtown businesses. J. Ellender moved to approve the Rotary Cast Iron Cookoff for $3,000.00. Seconded by: G. Williams. J. Smart voted nay. W. Bisland abstained. Motion passed.
IX. Sponsorship Application Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie: C. Blanchard moved to approve the Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie for $5,000.00. Seconded by: T. Hawthorne. Motion passed.
X. 2023 Strategic Plan Approval: S. Corbitt provided an overview. W. Bisland moved to approve the Strategic Plan. Seconded by: J. Ellender. Motion passed.
XI. HACVB’s Employee Handbook Approval: S. Corbitt provided an overview. C. Blanchard moved to approve HACVB’s Employee Handbook. Seconded by: M. Scoby. Motion passed.
XII. Executive Director’s Report: S. Corbitt provided the monthly report. Discussion: Occupancy rates, hotel updates, River Parishes Tourist Commission Marketing Partner Quarterly Meeting, Downtown Walk-Through Study Results, Houma Restoration Board Update, Keep Louisiana Beautiful Grant, Mardi Gras Campaign, Gift Shop E-Commerce, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Visitor Center updates, Marketing/Communication/Public Relations updates, Sales updates, and Financial updates.
XIII. Board Announcements: Southdown Plantation king cake tasting on February 04, 2023.
XIV. Executive Director’s Evaluation: J. Ellender moved to enter executive session at 9:50 a.m. Seconded by: J. Smart. Motion passed. For purpose to discuss Executive Director evaluation and wage review. C. Blanchard moved to exit the executive session and return to the regular session at 10:05 a.m. Seconded by M. Scoby. Motion passed. W. Bisland moved to increase the Executive Director’s base salary as presented by the formula approved during the executive session. Seconded by: T. Hawthorne. Motion passed.
XV. Adjournment: J. Ellender moved to adjourn. Seconded by C. Blanchard. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 10:06 a.m.