Minutes
KEEP ARKANSAS BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION
Little Rock, AR 72201
November 20, 2013
Commissioners Present
Thurston Lamb, Chairman Laurie Black
Dianne Hammond Debbie Hoofman
JeNelle Lipton John Pope
Betty Shaw
Commissioners Absent
Georgette Garner
Julie McQuade Heyes
Staff Present
Robert Phelps, Brenda Halbert and Elizabeth Philpott
Guests Present
Betty Barnhardt, Keep Sherwood Beautiful, Sherwood
Ann Owen, graduate student at Clinton School of Public Service, Little Rock
Richard Davies and Gloria Robins, AR Department of Parks & Tourism, Little Rock
Julie Robbins and Erica Dierich, Mangan Holcomb Partners, Little Rock
Meeting Opening
Call to Order/Invocation/Roll Call
Thurston Lamb called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m., welcomed everyone and asked
Ms. Hammond to serve as timekeeper. Chairman Lamb presented the invocation, and
Ms. Halbert called the roll.
Welcome/Special Announcements
Mr. Phelps recognized guests.
Action Items
Approval of Agenda, Minutes and Financial Report
Chairman Lamb called for approval of the agenda.
John Pope made a motion, seconded by Dianne Hammond, to approve
the November 20, 2013, KAB Commission meeting agenda, as printed.
The motion passed.
Chairman Lamb called for corrections or additions to the September 23, 2013 minutes. There being none, a motion was made.
KAB Commission Minutes
November 20, 2013 – page 2
Dianne Hammond made a motion, seconded by Betty Shaw, to approve
the September 23, 2013, KAB Commission minutes, as printed. The
motion passed.
The Financial Report Ending October 31, 2013, reflected year-to-date expenditures of $149,349 or 22% of the FY 2014 budget. There being no questions, a motion was made.
Dianne Hammond made a motion, seconded by Debbie Hoofman, to
approve the KAB Financial Report for the period ending October 31,
2013. The motion passed.
Program Reports
Executive Director
Robert Phelps elaborated on his electronically submitted report, as follows:
· Keep America Beautiful has extended a contract to a new President/CEO and, if accepting, will begin work in January.
· Tim Gardner, KAB Board Chairman, and Becky Lyons, KAB COO, support strengthening of the KAB State Leaders group.
· ARC Conference held in conjunction with our September meeting was a great success.
· Attended, along with Commissioners Shaw and Hammond, “Rooting Wealth” Conference, October 30, in Little Rock; event sponsored by Delta Regional Authority and USDA to support economic development and growth in rural areas.
· KAB Affiliates certified recently:
1) Keep Bryant Beautiful – September 28;
2) Keep West Memphis Beautiful – October 3;
3) Keep El Dorado Beautiful – November 2.
· America Recycles Day, November 15, was very successful. Kudos to John Pope for his diligent efforts in promoting a partnership between KAB and Lions Club International to include recycling of eyeglasses during that event.
· 2013 Great Arkansas Cleanup: Thanks to Ms. Philpott and Ms. Dierich for a good campaign. Wrap-up reports have been received, and preliminary results will be shared.
· The “Report Littering” campaign continues to serve our state and citizens well with nearly 50,000 calls recorded since December 2004. Time has proved that behaviors have changed with all categories of litter declining by 50% with the exception of tobacco products, also plastic bottles that have remained static though consumption has tripled.
· Our Annual Report has been filed and shared electronically; having met all KAB State Affiliate requirements, we should receive our 9th KAB President’s Circle of Excellence Award and 4th at the Diamond Level at the 2014 conference.
· KAB Foundation:
1) Bill Smith has left as Executive Director;
2) Partners’ Program is expected to continue, and Commissioners are encouraged to involve their community citizens and business leaders;
3) Due to extra funding and support needed for programs and activities that are not supported by the 1/8 cent Conservation Tax, the Foundation is very important to us;
4) 25th Anniversary is still on tap for June 2014 with MHP working on promotion.
KAB Commission Minutes
November 20, 2013 – page 3
· 2012 State Volunteer Study was shared, reflecting a contribution value to the state of more than $3,000,000 or $5.70/$1.00 value contributed individually by program volunteers, concluding that “volunteers aren’t paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless”.
· 2014 KAB Officers will be elected later in the meeting.
· KAB Annual Conference will be held February 3-5, 2014, in Charlotte, NC; our official representatives will need to be selected today.
· January 2014 meeting action items:
1) Proposed 2014 KAB Commission Meeting Schedule included for current review with approval in January;
2) Per diem, currently $70, will also be voted on.
· KAB’s PSA/Ad Council campaign, “I Want to be Recycled” is designed to motivate more Americans to recycle. Commissioners and Affiliate Directors were asked to encourage local broadcasters to run non-paid placements which can be downloaded and locally customized.
Mr. Phelps concluded by thanking Mangan Holcomb Partners for their holiday hospitality and luncheon following today’s meeting.
Mr. Pope raised the advantage of KAB Affiliates in Arkansas organizing and meeting during the year, stating Ms. Hammond also supports the idea. Hopefully, this can happen in 2014.
Mr. Pope thanked Mr. Phelps for his direction and encouragement in helping make the KAB/Lions Partnership a reality.
Volunteer Services Coordinator
Liz Philpott elaborated on her electronically submitted report, as follows:
· AR River Cleanup on October 5 engaged 250 volunteers in six counties collecting 6,000 pounds of litter, including a hot tub.
· Ms. Philpott and Ms. Halbert represented KAB, along with Yolanda Stewart and Kevin Carr of Parks Administration, at the Spirit of 110 reception at the Governor’s Mansion. KAB was recognized for 46,000 volunteers in 2012 with ADPT ranking third overall among state agencies.
· 2013 GAC has logged 110 events with 79 wrapup reports received thus far.
· KAB’s Facebook site has 15,000 followers; after two months, Twitter has 334 participants and Instagram has 547.
· America Recycles Day was a great success with many Taking the Pledge. Governor Beebe signed a proclamation on October 30 declaring November 15 as America Recycles Day in Arkansas; President Obama’s impressive ARD Proclamation also shared.
· Chad Pregracke, the “River Rescuer” who has retrieved 7 million pounds of trash from 22 rivers over the last 17 years, has been named the CNN Hero of the Year and will receive $250,000. He will be sharing the reward, $10,000 each, to nine other nominees.
· www.IDriveArkansas.com link has been added to the AHTD website with option to report litterers online; information collected will include the type of item/s littered and who littered, i.e., driver, passenger or litter from truck bed. The offender letter has also been customized.
KAB Commission Minutes
November 20, 2013 – page 4
Ms. Philpott conducted a drawing for the 2013 GAC giveaways of Troy-Bilt products, resulting in the following:
· Ricky Banks – Individual;
· Clear Spring School – Organization;
· Keep West Memphis Beautiful – KAB Affiliate.
Marketing: Mangan Holcomb Partners
Julie Robbins welcomed everyone, expressing appreciation for working with the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission this year.
A printed report was previously submitted outlining recent marketing and support opportunities relevant to the 2013 Great Arkansas Cleanup campaign, newly certified KAB Affiliates in Bryant, West Memphis and El Dorado, ABA’s NCSA program radio/TV spots, and America Recycles Day, including a Facebook campaign launched November 1 to raise awareness and engage millennials.
Chip Culpepper and Erica Dierich reviewed the new ad campaign specifically designed for a primary target audience of 18-34 year olds. The focus being “Arkansas Is Our Home” will launch in late November and will be promoted utilizing new outdoor boards as well as video and audio placements. Billboard mockups were reviewed, and radio spots were played. Three TV spots were viewed: “Babysitting”, “Games” and “Meet the Parents”.
Dianne Hammond made a motion, seconded by Betty Shaw, approving
the new ad campaign/presentation of Mangan Holcomb Partners. The
motion passed.
Break at 10:17 a.m…………………………………..
Guest Remarks
Richard Davies reported on the following:
· “Bridging the Blues”, a partnership opportunity between Arkansas, Mississippi and the City of Memphis, to promote all major blues festivals in the area is still a possibility. The Delta Regional Commission is working on matching funding in the neighborhood of $150,000 to promote the events during a 2 to 3 week time frame.
· Opened a beautiful new Welcome Center in Helena yesterday.
· Opened new Welcome Center in West Memphis this year; working on improved signage because of the short highway stretch where I-40 and I-55 come together.
· Tourism has been good this year with an outstanding show of fall color.
· Queen Wilhelmina renovation delayed due to contractor issue.
Mr. Davies reported the October 26 birth of a new “grandgirl” in Texas.
Ann Owen, second year graduate student at the Clinton School for Government, spoke about her field service based, master thesis called a Capstone, working with the City of DeWitt to develop an EcoTourism Plan for the White River Refuge with the largest living state organism, the
KAB Commission Minutes
November 20, 2013 – page 5
cypress tree, in that region. This includes the study of sports and nature based tourism as well as continued research and growing of Camelina as a fuel source.
Partner Reports
KAB Affiliates
Keep Sherwood Beautiful
Betty Barnhardt added to her printed report, as follows:
· She represented KSB at memorial for Chairman Don Hughes who passed away in September.
· June Fitzgerald, Secretary-Treasurer, is in the hospital after breaking her hip.
· Roundup station: Despite cleanup/renovation, the building has irreparable issues.
Keep Van Buren Beautiful
John Pope reported on the following:
· Great Arkansas Cleanup:
1) Dumpsters provided for collections;
2) Three church cleanups; one church “gave back to community” for an entire month;
· Worked on river cleanup in the Fort Smith and Van Buren areas involving the Sebastian County and Crawford County Sheriffs’Departments, delayed somewhat by the weather. The Coast Guard had offered their help, but that changed with shutdown of the government. There was great enthusiasm, and it is hoped this will be a more successful effort in the future.
· Facebook: How to do paid Facebook Likes for $10 - $50 a day, i.e., form of advertisement. He paid $50 for the KVBB Affiliate and increased their Likes by 140 within a week with all but 2 dropping out after 3 weeks. He concluded the money was well spent, encouraging other KAB Affiliates to promote in a similar manner.
· America Recycles Day activities, November 15, with 12 events in the River Valley area:
1) Four schools participated, city hall and the water department, 2 libraries, the Fort Smith Landfill, and an e-Waste event was held at the Fort Smith Mall;
2) ATU at Ozark and U of A at Fort Smith participated in his area;
3) Future hope is to solicit organizations to hold events all over the state, to educate and/or recycle, to continue recycling throughout the year and encourage individuals to Take the Pledge and recycle more.
Mr. Pope concluded that he would appreciate suggestions of how we can better communicate for increased ARD participation in all areas of the state, particularly with local colleges.
Mr. Phelps suggested that local colleges have numerous opportunities to recycle, for example:
· Partnering with Goodwill at the end of college semesters, donating unwanted items when they leave campus;
· Tailgate recycling on game days that can be done competitively.
KAB Commission Minutes
November 20, 2013 – page 6
Keep El Dorado Beautiful
Dianne Hammond reported that El Dorado will “Paint the Town Purple” in April with blooming purple flowers downtown. One elementary school is growing seeds of purple flowers in their greenhouse so that bedding plants can be taken home in the spring to plant in their yards.
Business Items
Unfinished Business
Debbie Hoofman, Chairwoman of the Nominating Committee, presented the Nominating Committee’s recommendations for 2014 officers, as follows:
Dianne Hammond………………………………………Chairwoman
Betty Shaw……………………………………………...Vice-Chairwoman
Thurston Lamb called for a motion on the recommendations.
Laurie Black made a motion to accept the recommendations of the
KAB Commission Nominating Committee. JeNelle Lipton seconded
the motion, and it passed.
John Pope stated, in keeping with parliamentary procedure, a call should be made for nominations from the floor. Chairman Lamb called for nominations from the floor; there being none, Chairman Lamb noted the previous motion stands, as approved.
Chairman Lamb offered his encouragement to the new 2014 officers. He expressed his appreciation and delight in serving as Chairman for the past two years, a once in a lifetime experience, thanking the Commissioners and staff for their support and hard work.
New Business
Mr. Phelps raised the question of representatives to attend the KAB Annual Conference and AR Governor’s Conference on Tourism, presenting a recap of FY 2014 budget for travel, YTD expenditures in 2013, estimated costs in 2014 and remaining budget for the conferences.
Ms. Hammond suggested taking a poll of those genuinely interested in attending each conference to get a better idea of potential cost.
Ms. Black stressed the importance of Keep Arkansas Beautiful, a division of AR Dept. of Parks & Tourism, to offer strong support of the Tourism Division by attendance and participation at the Governor’s Conference. It was noted that our March Commission meeting could be held the day after the conference to prevent cost of another meeting that month and possibly allow more to attend the conference.
Mr. Pope supported his attendance at the KAB National Conference in view of his involvement with the Lions Club/KAB recycling partnership and their attendance as a vendor; also, his project in securing an art piece from the California Artist Wyland for a KAB fundraising effort.
Ms. Hammond stated she would benefit from the education in her upcoming role as Chairwoman of our Commission. Ms. Shaw stated she would have served 2 years thus far on the Commission,
KAB Commission Minutes
November 20, 2013 – page 7
has never attended a national conference and feels that continuing education would be very beneficial. Lengthy discussion followed.
Self nominated to attend the KAB National Conference: John Pope; Dianne Hammond; Betty Shaw. John Pope withdrew his request when reminded that grant funds up to $500 are available to KAB Affiliate Directors from Keep Arkansas Beautiful to help defray costs of continuing education.