-August 11 in Defiance, MO at the Wine Country Gardens

The meeting commenced at 10:25 a.m. with approximately 35 people in attendance.

Welcome to Defiance

Robin White and Todd White of Defiance’s Katy Bike Rental and Robins Nest welcomed everyone to Defiance. Todd told the story of why Defiance is called Defiance.

20th Anniversary of the Katy Trail

Steve Johnson gave an overview of the activities planned for the 20th Anniversary of the Katy Trail in 2010. KTMaC is planning to apply for a grant through the DNR’s Recreational Trails Program. The grant title is “Katy Trail 20th Anniversary Celebration Activities Project”. Steve has offered to write this grant, but needs some input today re: level of commitment. Also, for a $20,000 grant, KTMaC has to spend $12,000 up front in order to receive it.

He gave a brief overview of the Missouri Regional Cuisines Project and the VISTA Heritage Tourism Initiative. He introduced the four VISTAs in attendance.

History of KatyMaC

Lisa McClary gave an overview of the three previous Katy Trail conferences.

Katy Trail State Park Update 

Dawn Frederickson of DNR 

There were brief overviews of the eastern segment of the Katy Trail.  

The Rock Island section has been started, and the first 5 miles out of Pleasant Hill should be completed by 2010. The goal is to complete the entire spur in 5 year.

The Katy Trail bike ride is celebrating its 10th anniversary next year. This year was the largest ride, with over 335 people, from 28 different states, participating. Funding might present an issue for next year’s ride, but they are open to getting sponsors, Businesses have an opportunity to place an ad in their ride map book. The location where they stop changes every year. They will limit the riders to 300 next year because the staff is strained if there are too many people, and it is also difficult to find appropriate locations to stay. The SAG stops present a great opportunity to volunteer!

DNR is looking at the economic impact of the Katy Trail ride and the Katy Trail in general on the communities along the Trail. They have hired a group to do an economic impact study of the ride, which should be available by the end of 2009.

The Division of State Parks is funded by a sales tax. There is a $12 million budget shortfall because of the sales tax declines—this year saw a 7% decline and a 3% loss in earnings. Where can they cut? What can they do to generate revenue? They cut seasonal labor force money by 50%. There are only 12 full-time staff covering the entire 225-mile length of the Trail. This year, with all the rain, there have been lots of washouts and fixing those is the #1 priority. They are grateful that KTMaC has organized to help market the Trail because it takes some pressure off of their marketing budget. They could create Katy products and have communities sell them and share the profits. They want to make a big deal of the 20th anniversary but only have a $2,700 budget for it.

They are going to try to coordinate with MU an economic impact study in four communities along the trail. The meeting with MU is set for September 1.  

20th anniversary: State Parks Passport Program will be focused on the Katy Trail. They will partner with local communities to do that. These programs have been highly successful. Each year the State Park sends out a letter to all the businesses listed on their Katy Trail website asking them to update their info.  

Committee Updates 

Mike Kellner—Marketing

Number 1 priority is getting a logo and look for the organization. Another high priority item is to increase membership. Another priority is how to work with businesses to partner in marketing—wants to get some feedback from the businesses on which direction they would like to go. Guidebook corresponding with the 20th anniversary? Maybe something a little more merchant centered than the existing Katy Trail Guidebook? Getting businesses listed on the KTMaC website? Take out a cooperative ad in Missouri Life centered around the 20th anniversary? Top Three things to do in ______? Basically, we want to build on what is already out there; fill the gaps.

Amanda Swaim—Organization

Presented the bylaws and told the group to read over them during the lunch as we will be voting on our regional board member later this afternoon.

Linda Hunter—Events

Working on 20th Anniversary event of the Katy in 2010. They made a mission statement that is focused on coordinating events along the Trail during a specific time-frame—May 28-June 20. (Ends just before the Katy Trail ride, but leads right into their event.) They need a name for the big event. Steve Johnson said that the grant could come up with a graphic that could be customized for each community’s events. We need to stay focused on it and get it done!

Maria Dorsey—Internal Communications

Thanked Columbia for the coupon book; talked briefly about katytrailmac.com; KTMaC on Facebook and MySpace is coming

Tour of Defiance 

The attendees took a one-hour tour of the Defiance area, from “Downtown” to Klondike Park to Daniel Boone’s home.  

Group Workshop 

Split into the Three Regions. Regions meet each quarter. One representative from each region will be on the board.

Parris Johnson was elected to be the representative for the Western Region.

Maggie Peck was elected to be the representative for the Eastern Region.

Nancy Grant was elected to be the representative for the Central Region.

Taglines for the 20th Anniversary Party:

“Pedaling forward into the Future: The 20th Anniversary of the Katy Trail”

“Over 200 miles long, over 20 years strong—Oh What Fun!”

Journey Through Missouri

Birthday

Trail…

Month-long birthday party

Rolling Through Missouri

Moving Through Missouri

Catch the Katy!

Carrying the torch!

There was a suggestion that Pat Jones be involved with this birthday celebration effort.

-February 3 in Defiance, MO at the Katy Depot

Linda Hunter, manager of the Katy Depot welcomed everyone to Sedalia. She gave a brief history of the Katy Depot. She explained that unlike Rocheport in which Brett, mayor of Rocheport described their problem within his community as a seen that and done that Sedalia has been able to keep visitors coming back. She believes they get repeat visitors because of the great customer service. It is important for businesses to know what community resources are available to visitors such as where you can locate water and bathroom facilities. To learn more about the Katy Depot please go to http://www.sedaliakatydepot.com/

Jill White of the Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site gave the keynote presentation at the Hotel Bothwell. She presented the contributions of prominent Sedalia lawyer John Homer Bothwell. Mr. Bothwell was active in local politics, represented Pettis County for eight years in the Missouri General Assembly, and unsuccessfully ran for governor in 1904. His influence helped to make Sedalia the permanent home for the Missouri State Fair. To learn more about Mr. Bothwell and the historical site please go to http://www.mostateparks.com/bothwell.htm

Karin Thomas of Rivermiles promoted the MR340 which is the longest nonstop canoe and kayak race in the world. She explained that one of Rivermiles’ goals in creating this race on the Missouri River is to involve communities in finding ways to benefit from this event. This year there is an opportunity for merchants and community organizations to sponsor racers and donate prizes towards the winners. As a result of sponsoring racers businesses can get their name on their website which gets a high volume of hits.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities please contact Travis at travis@rivermiles.com

If you are interested in volunteering at a checkpoint please contact Karin Thomas at karin@rivermiles.com

To learn more about Rivermiles please go to http://rivermiles.com/mr340/ 

Rivermiles is also in the process of starting a new race that would be an ultra marathon on the Katy Trail. The race would be a 100 miles in which it would be 50 miles to and back. They are looking for support from merchants and communities along the trail to insure that the Missouri State Parks gives permission to hold the event. If you are interested in supporting this event a future e-mail will be sent requesting a letter of support.

Ed Siegmund of the Mid-Missouri Regional Planning Commission (RPC) explained that his organization works with city and county governments in Mid-Missouri which includes 6 counties and 38 cities. They focus on community and economic development by helping communities determine how they can tap into public funds and find grant opportunities. Public officials direct what work the RPC what projects they undertake. RPC will be hosting a seminar in Boonville on May 20, 2009 at Turner Hall. The topic will be on “Silos & Smokestacks” a program that is based out of Northeastern Iowa.

For notes from the workshops facilitated by MU Extension Community Specialist Larry Dickerson and AmeriCorps VISTAS Andrew Kanis, Nancy Holloway, James Vittetau, and Maria Dorsey please click on: sedalia workshops notes