Tour of Homes Committee Meeting

September 19, 2007

Notes

 

  1. September/October Tasks:
    1. Letters have been sent out to Reservation, Tour Guide, Host/Hostess, and Gathering area volunteers. For those volunteers who did not receive a letter, they can contact the Red Cross office at 252-4081 or the committee chair.
    2. Solicit and Collect Auction/Raffle Items, Form Raffle Baskets We need volunteers to help arrange baskets for the raffle and silent auction on Wednesday Oct 10th at 9:30 a.m. Photos of these items need to be taken and posted  online by Oct 22nd when tickets go on sale. A volunteer is needed for this project.
    3. Prepare Tour Booklet and Brochure for Print- Mercy Medical Center has graciously donated printing for the tour booklet. One of our volunteers, Cathy Krommenhoek will again be doing the graphic design and layout for the booklet and brochure.
  2. Committee Reports See Below
  3. Tour Marketing Strategies – Flyers will be available to take to workplaces. Also will have a separate flyer detailing our raffle items. This year we have a couple of raffle items that are different then previous years. ( 10 yds of concrete and a guided hunting package ).
  4. Times and Dates to remember (all will be at the Red Cross, Siouxland Chapter):
    1. Oct 10th 9:30 a.m. Raffle Basket Assembly
    2. Oct 15th 3:30 Reservation Volunteer Training
    3. Oct 22nd Tour of Home Tickets on Sale
    4. Nov 12th 12:00-1:00 Tour Guide Training, Nov 12th 6:30-7:30  p.m. Tour Guide Training

 

Committees:

Home Selection/Decorators

Interior photos for Delgado, Carters, and Jasman are being completed. All exterior shots are done.

The homeowner/decorator agreement has been completed for all homes.

Complementary tickets for homeowners, dinner tickets and additional gift baskets will be formed.

Christmas Creations will be doing the exterior lighting for Aldrich’s home. Please note that the address, decorators and homeowners are listed below.

 

Tour Guides

Tour guide training will be similar to last year. It will be held November 12 at 12:00 and 6:30 p.m. and will include a PowerPoint walk-through of the homes to familiarize guides. The training will last approximately 1 hour. Individuals interested to be a tour guide should contact Julie Towler at (605) 232-5905 or (605)232-0600 or email at jatowler@midamerican.com

 

Host/Hostesses

Recruitment letters for volunteers have been sent and those interested are encouraged to sign up for a time to volunteer. We will have 3 host/hostess per home. Volunteers will work 3-4 hour shifts throughout the day. For scheduling contact Donna Brandvold (253-2602) dbrandvold@aol.com or Ken Brandvold (251-1875) norsk101@aol.com

  

 

Reservation Assistance/Phones

Espi Gibbs and Virgina Wightman have met to begin work on arrangements for reservations.  Postcards have gone out. Can contact Virginia or Espi directly. Reservations for the general public will begin on October 22. Tickets will be $30.

 

Reception Area Volunteers

Gathering area volunteers will again be scheduled along with the tour guides. Contact Julie Towler at at (605) 232-5905 or (605)232-0600 or email at jatowler@midamerican.com

 

 

Raffle/Auction/Vendors/Handcrafted Items

Confirmed Vendors

Perkins-Yes

United Rentals- Maybe

Pampered Chef- Yes

Siouxland Home and Living-Table for magazines (last yr had cocktail table)

Hatch Furniture-Yes

Mary Kay- Prob Yes

Close to Home- Yes

Johnathan Blake- Yes

Beverly’s- Yes

 

Print/Media

Mercy Medical Center will donate printing of key print pieces including the invitational brochure and the participant booklet

Denise Branch will be writing the home descriptions again this year. Tour brochures have been printed and many were handed out during Women’s Night Out. Thanks to volunteers to helped with this event.

 

Publicity

We are scheduled to be on KTIV’s  “Around Siouxland” show on Tues November 6th; KTIV will again be the television sponsor for the Tour. Cable One will run in-kind spots. We will also be doing an article in Siouxland Home and Living.

 

Food/Refreshments

Lunch will again be available to tourgoers at the 11:00 – 1:00 tours.  HyVee, Pickerman’s, Tastee’s and Gardner Cafe have committed to providing lunch one day each.  Perkins and Panera have committed to donate breakfast and snacks. Volunteers are needed to contact businesses for additional donations.

 

Transportation

The transportation schedule has been set for 5 buses with a 2 ½ hour tour time. Parking will be in the Tyson lot or nearby.

 

Sponsorship

To date $14,700 cash has been committed for sponsorship support.  This is up from 2005 ($13,000) and 2006 ($12,650).  Inkind sponsorship support remains strong.

 

Featured Homes and Decorators

Rod and Deb Carter, 715 Monterey Trail, Petal Pusher/Too

Troy and Emily Jasman, 849 Sawgrass Trl, Close to Home

Kris and Angela Aldrich, 400 W Tower Rd, Beverly’s

Kent and Terry McClun, 972 Pebble Beach, Johnathan Blake

Rich and Liz Delgado, 377 W. Pinehurst Trail, Hatch Furniture