at The Cotton Palace Bed & Breakfast, Waco

Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008

Hosts: Becky Hodges and Betty Schroeder

Our first business meeting of the 2008 year began shortly after 6:30. We had 14 different B&B members represented. It was called to order by our President Linda Williams.

The treasury report was read by Sandra Twitty and showed a balance of $1929.57. We have taken in $655 in dues and had the following expenses: $288 (Jan. Social Dinner- paid for one member of each B&B); $17 to Pam Allen for the printing of an ad.

Old Business

Brochures- we voted to keep the brochures out at the airport; $180 is the amount we paid last February and the amount will be paid when it is requested. Cindy Draper will continue to replenish and monitor the supply of brochures at the airport.

Ad in Austin American-Statesman -- $250.   Pam Allen designed the Association ad for the magazine.

New Business

We had a guest at our meeting:  Pam Traylor of Ant Street Inn in Brenham and a local representative of Hospitality Accommodations of Texas (HAT). She provided a great deal of information about HAT and what it has to offer. She discussed different levels of membership. She also mentioned a 1 day training for innkeepers in Boerne, TX, on Feb. 25. This training is $225. For more information on this training and membership rates and levels, go to the HAT website: www.hat.org

Some of our members also belong to this organization. 

We had discussion for a standing committee to conduct visits for new B&B’s wanting to join the Association. The committee would also provide mentoring as needed. The committee would consist of the Executive Committee of the Association (president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer) and the past president. A motion was made to establish the Membership Committee; the motion passed.

Our president, Linda Williams, appointed a Marketing Committee (JoAnn Heitmiller, Susan Mazanec, Pam Allen, and David Stoops) to explore options and websites to promote our Association to reach more guests. Exploring personal navigation systems (Google Analytics-  www.google.com/analytics) to help us with marketing was also discussed. Pam Allen will be checking into the cost of our Association joining the Waco Chamber of Commerce for marketing purposes. It was asked that all members of the Association e-mail the Marketing Committee the ways we are marketing our own B&B’s to help assist them with their research.

John Boggs discussed a new reservation answering service:  www.callinginn.com/. Call 1-877-680-5500 now and you’ll enjoy one month of service free, with no obligation to continue. He also mentioned a company, Color Concepts of Granbury, who created some new business cards for their B&B.

Congratulations to Andrew and Nancy Nelson, the new owners of the Hawkins House, which was featured in an article on Groesbeck, Texas in Texas Highways Magazine.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:45 p.m. We were then treated to wonderful desserts provided by Becky and Betty of the Cotton Palace. Thank you for being wonderful hosts.