Old Escondido Mothers Day Home Tour 2007

2^nd Committee Meeting

November 16, 2006   7:00PM – 8:30PM

Attendees: Carol Rea, Anna MacGowan, Maraya V. Schrokosch,  Brita Smith, Lynn Hall, Kevin Hall, Doug Eagleson, Carol Breitenfeld

Committee Reports

            Finance  Brita Smith Chairperson

Brita asked that each committee chairperson submit their budgetary needs list to her by the next meeting on 12/15/06. Lists can be sent to her at brita-smith@oldescondido.org

            Home Selection  Doug Eagleson Chairperson

Doug is in the process of selecting homes and speaking to the owners.  He expects to have a list of homes by the next meeting on 12/15/06.  The target area for homes is on 5^th, 6^th and 7^th. This will keep the tour within a reasonable, pleasant walking distance.

2 homes on one lot at 420 E 7^th Avenue will be on tour this year.

Other home tour possibilities are:

·        The Bandy house on the NE corner of Juniper & 7^th Ave

·        The Beach House on the SE corner of Juniper & 7^th Ave

·        The newly restored home on the NW corner of Hickory & 6^th Ave

·        The homes on the SW and NE corners of Ivy & 5^th Ave   

Doug mentioned that this is also the time to begin thinking about homes for the 2008 tour. He suggested that other areas within the Old Escondido Neighborhood be considered. Doug encouraged everyone to begin thinking about potential areas and homes for the next tour.

Home Liaison  Open position

Publicity Carol Rea Chairperson

Carol reported that the usual avenues for publicity will be used again this year.

She plans to increase the coverage in the North County Times.

Laura Tisdale has agreed to be the tour photographer again this year.

Brita Smith volunteered to help design the ticket and program formats and work with graphic artist on layout.

Solicitation of ads for the program will start in January 2007. Carol encouraged everyone on the committee to solicit ads from people and businesses that they know. Ad space can also be purchased for personal messages to mothers, such as Carol Rea placed last year for her mother.

Refreshments  Lynn Hall and Peggy Williams Co-Chairpersons

Lynn reported that Doug Eagleson’s backyard will serve as the hospitality site for refreshments.

Everyone agreed that Lynn and Peggy did an outstanding job with the refreshments last year.

Logistics    Kevin Hall and Doug Eagleson Chairpersons

There are no budget requirements for Logistics

The Refreshment committee is responsible for the acquisition of tables, chairs and flowers. Logistics is responsible for the set up and take down of these items.

Old Business

Review of what worked/didn’t work at last year’s home tour, other home tours

What worked well

• 800 to 900 people Attended the 2006 tour

• The home selection for 2006 was very good. The Beach House was a big hit.
• Pre-sale of tickets
  • Goal for 2007 is sell 50% of tickets through pre-sale
• The refreshments and hospitality area.
• Drawing using tickets
• Having home owners at their homes during the tour

What didn’t work or could be improved upon

• Not everyone understood that the refreshments were free.

• The Port-a-Potties were tucked away and not really visible to visitors.
• There were not enough docents on the first floor of the Owens’s house.
• Not all docents were knowledgeable about the homes  and were unable to answer visitors questions or point out interesting details
• Artwork display at one house interfered with actually viewing the house.

Good ideas from other home tours

• Coronado and La Mesa sell tickets and distribute pre-sale tickets from one location the day of the tour.

New Business

            Mission Statement  To be determined yet.

Budget No updates at this time. Committee chairs need to submit budget needs to Brita Smith

• Other What should the home tour profits be used for? The committee needs to make recommendations to the OENG board.

Round Table/for the good of order

Ticket Prices

The committee discussed raising ticket prices in 2007. Ticket prices have been $ 10.00 for many years. Carol Rea made the motion that the Home Tour Committee recommend to the OENG board that ticket prices be increased to &12.50 for PRE-SALES and $15.00 for tickets purchased the day of the tour. Kevin Hall seconded the motion. A vote of all in attendance was taken.

The vote was unanimous to make the recommendation to the board.

Carol will present the committee’s recommendation at the next board meeting.

Docents

Docents need to be better prepared for the tour. They should have more than just historical information about the house. There needs to be 3 to 4 interesting details

or high lights that can be pointed out in each room. In many cases, the home owner could provide this information

Water sales

The sale of water at each home site is not practical, efficient or very profitable.

Doug spent a lot of time running between each house replenishing ice and water at last year’s event. Net profit was approximately $50.00. Doug recommended that we have an organization such as the Boy Scouts take over the sale of water. Everyone present at the meeting agreed.

Additional participants/events at home tour

• Have  a blacksmith display set up at the Bandy house
• Have the local art association display local artists works
• Have music during the tour
• History Center and Pioneer Room participation ( ex: sell historical calendars )
• Block off 7^th Ave between Juniper & Hickory to provide area for ticket sales, refreshments, art display, etc,

Committee Blog   Brita Smith suggested that the committee use a blog to stay in touch with each between meetings. She volunteered to act as the moderator and send out invitations to all committee members to join.

Next Meeting   December 15, 2006 

                               7:00 PM – 8:30PM

                              City Hall Training Room 1

All meetings will be held in the same location of the 3^rd Thursday of the month.