Staff Reports
Christmas is just around the corner and the Jefferson Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is getting into the spirt.
The city’s annual Christmas show will be filmed in early November according to Board VP Pam Thomas and if you want to participate contact her as soon as possible. The commercial will air the following week.
The board is also hosting the Meeting Planners International Board conference in November and is looking for donations to put in the group’s “swag bags.” The board hopes that this conference will draw additional opportunities for meetings and small conferences to Jefferson.
Tourism finished off the year slightly short of projections on revenue, coming in at $200,534.14. The board had budgeted for $210,000. Expenditure wise, however, the board was under budget, spending $191,311.58 for the 2021-22 fiscal year.
In other business, the board is looking for individuals interested in helping to start a city sponsored Paddlefish Festival in 2023.
The idea, brought to the board by Hugh Lewis, would be for a festival centered around the Paddlefish.
“Since the city and county have both proclaimed the paddlefish the official fish, and Marion County is the only place in Texas working to repopulate the paddlefish, it kind of makes sense that we have a festival,” said Lewis.
Lewis proposed the festival take place in conjunction with the Caddo Lake Institute and Texas Parks and Wildlife’s annual releases of paddlefish in Jefferson. “We could have educational information, let people see the fish, have arts and crafts vendors, etc.,” Lewis said. “This could be a big deal for Jefferson and something extra fun to do.”
Board members also tossed out ideas about a pageant, contests, and vendors.
Anyone interested in helping should contact Lewis or the board.