SALEM - The Tourism Advisory Board of Salem discussed two requests for funds this year, agreeing to support the Quaker City Weekend Cruise, but not at this time the Columbiana County Golden Triangle Group, a new group aiming to attract tourists to Salem, Lisbon and Hanoverton.
Previous Chairman of TABS, David Schwartz, appeared before the board to pitch the Golden Triangle request for money. Schwartz said the group began after those interested in tourism from those three towns attended a group of events in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and elsewhere.
"We found out we all have a lot in common with each other," Schwartz said of the three communities. Members of the group include Stevie Halverstadt in Lisbon; David Peterson with involvement in both Salem and the Spread Eagle Tavern; Schwartz; and Barb Weikart-Kuder, who also attended Thursday's meeting.
Those involved set out to create itineraries to create one-day tour trips that can be pitched to tour operators and would involve people coming to the three towns. With next year starting the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Schwartz said they intend to create brochures explaining all the important places in the three towns and nearby that were part of the Civil War.
Schwartz said the idea is to give people reasons to travel to Columbiana County, including not just the Civil War, but Christmas tours and ghost walks. He pointed out that the area is full of history, but people here take it for granted.
"There are 88 counties in Ohio," Schwartz said. "How do you pick Columbiana County? You have to have something to snag them."
Weikart said the group has the support of Lisbon, the Lisbon Chamber of Commerce and Hanoverton. They were seeking $2,200 for the printing of 5,000 brochures and $500 to assist with the creation of a Web site.
But the board had reservations. Judy Allio and David Coy both talked of their concerns about appearing the board was supporting the Golden Triangle Group over the Columbiana County Tourism Community. Already involved in a similar project, that group is made up of members from throughout the county, including TABS Chairman Audrey Null.
Null showed the board a brochure they have completed, which also names a long list of places throughout the county to visit. Like the Golden Triangle Group, the Columbiana County Tourism Community is working with a woman who has a background in bringing tour buses to the area. Unlike the Golden Triangle Group, the Tourism Community found a company, ExpressPrintPlus in Calcutta, which donated the printing of 10,000 brochures. Both groups are in the process of creating Web sites.
Both Allio and Coy said they had concerns about duplicating the efforts, but Schwartz returned that different groups will attract different tourists.
"The more the merrier," Schwartz said.
Coy said while he is a Civil War enthusiast himself, he had concerns about slighting the county group. Weikart asked why the county group would care if they had not asked for any money. Null pointed out both groups will be raising funds, trying to get the same dollars for duplicate efforts.
After they left, Mayor Jerry Wolford asked why the members of the Golden Triangle Group were not volunteering to help with the county effort, noting that it complicates things when they have broken off on their own.
Hope Theiss said her concern is that the groups focus on promoting Salem, because she feels groups in the past have led to people skirting around Salem to get to other destinations such as Columbiana. Null said she knows the county group is working to attract tourists to Salem, also.
The board did approve the $500 for the Quaker City Weekend Cruise presented by Wolford and Director of Service and Safety Steve Andres. The money will go toward the printing of fliers and brochures.
Andres talked about some of the parts of the event planned for this June 24-27, including the local bands, DJs and efforts to raise money to cover all the expenses including the police overtime expense.
"I couldn't sleep at night if we laid off three police officers and three firefighters and then had to pay a bunch of overtime to throw a big party," Andres said.
Wolford added that all the donations and money given for advertising will go through the municipal events fund, which he credited Councilwoman Rita Joseph O'Leary with getting created. All money is going through the city books so everyone will know what was spent.
Coy later suggested TABS think about some fund-raising efforts for themselves during the Quaker City Weekend Cruise, taking advantage of the large crowds in town to help fund the organization. Currently, the board's major source of funding, the bed tax, cannot be collected with Timberlanes closed. Selling bottled water was one idea discussed, but the board plans to bring other ideas to its next meeting.
Finally, the group also approved the hanging of a banner by the Salem Jubilee Chorus for an upcoming concert on May 1 at Salem High School. The group will pay $100 to hang the banner for three weeks prior to the event.
The next meeting of the TABS is set for 6:30 p.m. May 20.
