Tourism Bureau commits to Tropics sign restoration and aid National Railsplitting Contest
 

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[July 29, 2015]  LINCOLN - The Logan County Tourism Bureau held its July meeting on the 20th at the Best Western in Lincoln. Those present included chair Jean Bruner-Jachino, Ron Keller, and newly inducted member Renee Martin of Mount Pulaski.

With no quorum, the group was unable to vote on any of the items on the agenda. However, the directors did discuss agenda items, and as they progressed, Jachino instructed tourism director Maggie McMurtrey to conduct email voting on some issues so they would not have to be delayed until the August meeting.

The email voting was conducted that same week, and on Thursday, July 23rd, McMurtrey notified the press of the items voted upon and the final result.

Bureau approves moving forward with Tropics sign restoration

At the monthly meeting, Jachino said she didn’t want to delay a decision on this issue for another month. McMurtrey was to conduct a vote via email.

The bureau directors present reviewed recent changes and amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Lincoln, the Johnson/Goodrich Family, and the Bureau.

It was noted that the Bureau will take the lead on the restoration project, but will do so with a separate committee that will report back to the Bureau as they make progress on the project. It was also noted that once the sign is restored, the Bureau will have to find a home for it. Among the items discussed, the parties involved don’t want to put the sign “up in the air.” They want the new location to be tourist accessible, and for the sign to be mounted low-to-the-ground so folks can stand in front of it for photos.

On Thursday, McMurtrey sent out the following message: “Chairman Jean Bruner-Jachino voiced her support for the approval of the Memorandum and stated that we should "move ahead with the process." Ron Keller motioned to approve the Memorandum and Kristi Powell seconded the motion.”

The email vote resulted in a unanimous approval.

Bureau awards $1,000 to Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival

Darlene Begolka was on hand to make a request for $1,000 to advertise for the Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival to be held in September. The dates for the festival this year are September 18, 19 and 20. Begolka said the money if granted, would be divided into two groups. The Logan County Railsplitter Association, which puts on the festival each year, plans to spend approximately $200 on flyers to be sent out to various locations. The balance of the request will be spent on advertising outside of Logan County.

Begolka shared that the Association is working to come up with new ideas to draw in younger audiences. This year, she said the Civil War Ball would be held on Friday the 18th as the kick-off to the festival. There is a change of venue for the ball, as Begolka said this year it would be held at the American Legion in Lincoln.

After the ball at the Legion, a new activity will be added, Cosmic Bowling, right next door at Logan Lanes. Begolka said that event would be held from 10 p.m. to midnight.

On Saturday, the festival will offer the traditional Pioneer Village and other activities throughout the day. New to the Saturday line-up will be a live concert in the evening featuring EmiSunshine.

Her stage name is EmiSunshine with no spaces. In the real world, she is Emilie Sunshine Hamilton, a 10-year old, born and growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. She is a vocalist as well as an instrumentalist and songwriter. According to her website “she sings 'old-time music,' but it’s her own unique blend of roots music that is equal parts Americana, bluegrass, gospel, and country, with a little bit of blues thrown in for good measure.”

EmiSunshine has appeared on national television on the Today Show and has been a guest at the Grand Ole Opry as well as Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.

Begolka said another change to the festival this year is that the Association is partnering with the Oasis Senior Center in Lincoln for the craft show. The Oasis will coordinate that event, and Begolka is optimistic that the offerings this year will meet and exceed past years.

Finally, she said the Association has a new website. Those who wish to learn more about the Festival might want to visit http://www.rails plitting.com/

Begolka was asked if she felt that the festival fulfills the requirements of heads in beds, and she said she did. She noted that the festival doesn’t bring in as many people as some of the other summertime events in Lincoln, but contestants for the National Competition on Sunday do travel quite a distance to participate.

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She also noted that EmiSunshine has a following of her own, and festival planners are hopeful that she will bring new visitors to the Festival. Regarding EmiSunshine, Begolka added that the day ticket to the festival would include admission to the concert, so it will still be a very affordable family event in Lincoln.

McMurtrey was instructed to do an email vote on this item.

On Thursday, McMurtrey offered the following information regarding the request for funding for the festival: “Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival was awarded a $1,000 promotional grant. Kristi Powell motioned to grant the group the funds requested, and Ron Keller seconded the motion that carried.”

No 1800’s Craft Fair this year

In connection with the Railsplitter Festival, McMurtrey advised the council that there will be no 1800’s Craft Fair at the Postville Courthouse this year. With the expansion of the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival to different weekends, the Craft Fair was slated to go on at the same time as the Railsplitting Festival. However, McMurtrey said she had talked with Stu Churchill, the site manager at Postville, and he had said it would not happen this year.

McMurtrey said there was not enough money nor enough volunteers for the event to take place.

The Mill withdraws request for funding

McMurtrey reported that she had talked with Bob Wilmert regarding the request for funding for the Mill on Route 66. Wilmert had requested dollars for advertising for the Mill at the June meeting. After he had left the meeting the council discussed the request and decided they wanted McMurtrey to talk to Wilmert and get a marketing plan for the funds requested.

McMurtrey said when she returned to Wilmert with the request for more information from the Mill, he withdrew his request for funding and said they would not be re-applying.

Other News

In other news, Jachino spoke about a group that stops annually at the Hampton Inn in Lincoln. She said the Ride for Relay takes place on Labor Day weekend. It starts at Navy Pier in Chicago and the motorcyclists ride Route 66 to California. They typically stop for the night in Lincoln. Jachino said she’d like people from Lincoln and the Bureau to come on Saturday, September 5th between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to welcome the group to town.
 


McMurtrey shared that the Bureau has been invited by the Looking for Lincoln Association to represent Logan County at the State Fair this year. She said the Association had said that she could come as a volunteer and also bring information about tourism in Logan County. She plans to attend personally, and will work the two Friday’s of the State Fair.

McMurtrey said she had also just recently learned that the kiosk on the Logan County Courthouse lawn is the responsibility of the Tourism Bureau. She said she had visited the Kiosk and noted some items were out of date. She plans to put together new information for the kiosk soon.

McMurtrey had also attended the first Advisory Committee on Tourism hosted by Representative Tim Butler. She noted that Butler is on the Illinois Tourism Committee and is very interested in promoting all tourism in the state.

Finally, the Bureau will have a booth at the Logan County Fair as well as the Balloon Festival in late August. Sign-up sheets were passed around for Bureau directors to commit to volunteering in the booth at both events.

The next meeting of the Logan County Tourism Bureau will be held on Monday, August 17th.

[Nila Smith]

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