Explore Two Rivers Meeting of the Board of Directors

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Illustration for Explore Two Rivers Meeting of the Board of Directors
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Explore Two Rivers’ board set a funding plan for the 2027 Visitor Guide and formally introduced Beth Kowalski as the new board secretary. The rest of the meeting was mostly marketing updates and early-stage grant talk, with no public comment.

Key Decisions

Board approved a plan to cover $7,500 of the 2027 Visitor Guide cost with ad revenue and pay the rest through Explore Two Rivers, while also asking the Room Tax Commission to help cover the remaining expense—an important signal that the guide may need outside support to pencil out.

Beth Kowalski was introduced as the new Explore Two Rivers board secretary, filling a key governance role after recent board turnover noted in prior meeting records.

Tourism director reported a Lighthouse Inn social media video reached about 39,000 combined views across Facebook and TikTok, with most views coming from non-followers—useful reach, but still a “views vs. bookings” question residents should keep an eye on.

Public Input

No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.

Agenda Items

VISITOR GUIDE UPDATE
Passed
The board discussed Visitor Guide costs versus ad sponsorships and approved a funding approach: $7,500 covered by ad revenue, with the remainder paid by Explore Two Rivers while also requesting support from the Room Tax Commission. That’s a practical decision, but it also hints at a recurring issue: core marketing products may be getting harder to fund through ads alone, pushing more pressure onto room-tax-backed dollars. Staff also said the guide is on track for 2027 publication.
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tourism promotion spending Full history →
INTRODUCTION OF NEW BOARD SECRETARY
The board welcomed Beth Kowalski (Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum executive director) as the new board secretary. This matters because the secretary role is part of the board’s basic accountability—keeping records straight and ensuring continuity—especially after recent board changes noted in meeting records.
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DIRECTOR’S UPDATE
Staff shared routine marketing and operations updates: I LOVE TR signs still for sale, new flags/banners hoped to be up by July 4, kiosk maps updated for summer, and social media performance metrics including a viral Lighthouse Inn reel. Explore Two Rivers was also nominated for a regional innovation award, with results expected later in the month. Useful context, but mostly informational unless the board later ties these efforts to measurable overnight-stay goals.
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GRANT DISCUSSION – MIKE MATHIS
Mike Mathis gave a status update on a grant application related to concession stands, including what the process and timeline could look like if funding is awarded. The board also discussed a possible future grant application for a community welcome center, potentially in partnership with NOAA, framed around Lake Michigan shipwreck/coast and weather themes. This is still early-stage, but it’s the kind of project that can quietly grow into a bigger funding and maintenance commitment—worth watching for specifics and costs if it moves forward.
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