Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Inc. Board of
Directors Meeting
January 30, 2009 @ Blackstone Valley Tourism Headquarters
1. Roll Call
Attendees:
David Balfour, Chair
Jackie Boudreau, Treasurer
Louise Boulanger, Vice Chair
Maurice Rondeau, Member
Paul Eno, Member
Len Clingham, Member
Ted Garille, Member
Richard Murphy, Member
Louis Yip, Member
Najwa Murphy, Member
Absent:
Robert Conway, Member
Anthony Capuano, Member
Mark Brodeur, Member
Sue T-MacKenzie, Member
John Lefrancois, Member
Helen Fairbrother Moroney, Member
Also in Attendance:
Robert Billington, President
Natalie Carter, Director of Operations
The meeting was called to order at 12:00
pm with a quorum present.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the November 21, 2008
meeting were distributed to the members. On a MOTION by Mr.
Rondeau and a Second by Mr. Clingham the Minutes of the
November 21, 2008 meeting were approved Unanimously.
4. Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Boudreau reviewed the Draft
Compilation Report for the years ending June 30, 2008 and
2007 dated January 28, 2009.
Ms. Boudreau noted a $12,000 decrease in
assets. The overall report was in line with last year. The
Liabilities have gone down and that was a positive sign.
Ms. Boudreau then reviewed the Profit
and Loss statements for the Council dated January 26, 2009.
The Board asked about the APR on the
Credit Cards and asked questions about how they were being
paid and their credit amounts. They suggested speaking with
other Credit Card Companies in an effort to lower the APR.
Mr. Billington requested all Board
members review the financial statements in depth and call
with any questions or concerns.
Ms. Boudreau asked to meet with the
Council’s new accountants and Natalie Carter will set up the
meeting.
On a MOTION by Mr. Rondeau and a Second
by Mr. Eno the reports submitted and explained by Ms.
Boudreau were accepted as presented.
5. President’s Report and Old Business
Mr. Billington updated the Board with
financial information on the following projects:
The Fall train excursion to Putnam
Connecticut and the Polar Express.
The Annual Dinner and Auction
The Inaugural trip to Washington
Funds raised to date for the Explorer scholarship funds
2009 Trends in Travel Investment report from Hudson Crossing
LLC
Rhode Island 2007 Satellite Account Report by Global Insight
Lt. Governor’s Buy RI campaign program
Blackstone Valley Buy Local campaign
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Annual Work Plan for 2009
Tour Rhode Island, There’s No Place Like Home Project
The Operations of the Explorer and the Samuel Slater. Mr.
Billington advised the Board that Boat operations lost about
$40,000 last year and felt that if $50,000 were not secure,
the boats may be in jeopardy of being on the Blackstone
River this year. The Board suggested that possibly naming
rights for the Explorer could be secured. They suggested a
host or corporations that might be contacted for help. Ms.
Boudreau suggested that possibly a person of wealth might be
found and a reception held in his honor.
Mr. Billington asked that the Board become more active in
securing solutions that might keep the boats floating on the
Blackstone River this year.
6. New Business
Chairman Balfour asked the Board to
consider the name of Barry Mechanic, Publisher of The Call
and The Times newspapers as a new Board member for the
Tourism Council. Mr. Balfour has asked that his name be
considered at the March 2009 meeting
7. Old Business
Bank RI Line of Credit – Item held for
next meeting
8. Adjournment
There being no further business before
the board, the board formerly adjourned at
1:10 pm with a MOTION by Mr. Garille and seconded by Mr.
Rondeau.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert D. Billington
President
