MICHIGAN STATE FAIR & EXPOSITION CENTER

AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

July 11, 2007

Pursuant to notice duly given, a meeting of the Michigan State Fair Authority was brought to order by Mr. Mark T. Gaffney, Chairman, on this date, beginning at 1:25 PM, in the Administration Building, Conference Room, at the Michigan State Fairgrounds, 1120 W. State Fair Avenue, in Detroit. 

PRESENT:   Mark T. Gaffney, President Michigan AFL/CIO (via teleconference)

                        Kenneth J. DeCock, Partner of DeCock and Sons LLC/Boyka's Farm Market

                        Thomas G. Coon, Ph.D., Professor and Director of MSU Extension

                        Pat G. Albright, Owner of Albright Farms

                        Monique Field, Representing Lisa Webb Sharp, DMB Director

                        Jeff Haarer, Representing Mitch Irwin, Director of MDA

                        Steven R. Jenkins, MSF General Manager

ABSENT:       Edward Deeb,President & CEO of MFBA                                                                       

                        Elaine Driker, Former Director, Detroit Orientation Institute @ WSU

                        Robert G. Porter, Mayor of the City of Ferndale

Also Present  Byna Camden ICARE and surrounding Fair resident

                             Johnnie Bennett, MSF Secretary

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA and APPROVAL OF MINUTES

ON MOTION BY Mr. Coon, supported by Mr. DeCock, and carried, the agenda was accepted for today's Board meeting.  ON MOTION BY   Mr. Deeb, supported by Mayor Porter, and carried, the minutes of the meeting held on June 13, 2007 were reviewed and approved and passed unanimously.

CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS

Chairman Gaffney greeted and welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Board and then he turned the meeting over for the Fair Manager's update.

GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT

Mr. Jenkins gave an update on the following:

Staffing 

Rosemary Peralta, MSF Special Projects Coordinator, is still out on a medical leave and it is uncertain at this time whether or not she will return before the 2007 Fair.   Rosemary is the coordinator for the Governor's Day luncheon and reception each year.  She also puts together the State Fair Souvenir Program Book, the Giant Stove and Brick program, the annual foldout Fair brochure, the State Fair Newsletter and a host of other special projects and programs. 

Mr. Jenkins distributed the 2007 State Fair brochures, which Rosemary completed before her leave of absence.   The brochures are distributed throughout the State of Michigan.  These colorful brochures serve as a great advertising and promotional piece and they also include one free child Fair admission coupon valid with the purchase of an adult admission. 

Mr. Jenkins stated that with special thanks to Monique Field who once again was instrumental in helping us get approval for a hiring exception request, Maureen Kaiser and Laurie Kandow were hired last week to assist us with gaining more sponsorship dollars for the upcoming Fair.  

Ms. Kandow is a lover of the Fair and she volunteered her time last year during the Fair to serve as a tour guide and host type, inviting and bringing groups of mothers and families from various suburbs that normally would not attend the Fair.   Ms. Kandow's father, Tarik Daoud of Al Long Ford, and family are big supporters of the Fair and they are also buyers at our annual livestock auction. Jeff Haarer and Byna Camden both complimented the Daoud & Kandow family for their generosity and support to the Fair.

Preview Night

It was reported that Maureen Kaiser has already secured sponsorship monies to help with the State Fair "Preview Night" which will take place on Tuesday, August 21, 2007, taking place from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. , in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Building (the Joe Dumar's Fieldhouse or Agriculture Bldg).   The Preview Night will include interactive exhibits, food, drinks and live entertainment.  General admission tickets will be sold for $50.00 per person and children 12 years of age and under are free with a paid adult ticket.  Mr. Jenkins invited Chairman Gaffney and his wife to serve on the "All Star Host" committee for the Preview Fair celebration.  Chairman Gaffney accepted this invitation. 

Governor Granholm and First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern, Detroit City Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and First Lady Carlita Kilpatrick have agreed to serve as Honorary Co-Chairs for our special Preview Night celebration.   Mr. Jenkins stated invitations to the Preview Night event would soon be mailed to all of the Board members and encouraged all to attend.   Mr. Jenkins stated that he would be speaking shortly with Paul Karr, President of the Friends of the Fair to further discuss details regarding running this event and possibly furnishing alcoholic beverages for the evening.

Thanks to Maureen husband, Joe Kaiser, a new roof will be added to the Volunteer Headquarters building and Mr. Kaiser has also agreed to donate new signage for the Fair.  Four mobile signs will be placed at three entranceways (State Fair or B-Lot, Woodward Avenue and Softball City)and one sign will be positioned in the middle of the Fairgrounds.  These special signs will show fairgoers where they are and where they want to go for special events and restroom areas.  Mr. Jenkins reported that another company that works with Habitat for Humanity during the Fair has agreed to donate new faucets for all of our restrooms and this same company will be donating the materials needed for the new Volunteer Headquarters roof, so Mr. Kaiser's company may only have to provide the labor and manpower for the new roof. 

Fair Promotions

The Detroit News has agreed to promote the Fair again this year and Nolan Finley, Editor for the News, will be working with us to gather great stories from past and present fairgoers to help create a special "Fair Memories" section in the paper.   It has been suggested that this may be introduced in the paper as a special contest for "Our State Fair, Where Memories Are Made", encouraging writers to send in their favorite Fair stories and memories to the Detroit News and/or Fair offices.

Mr. Jenkins distributed a copy of the recent "Farmers Exchange" magazine, which includes highlights of the State Fair on the last page.   Rosemary Peralta has always worked with this magazine and would provide great Fair details and information to enhance our promotional coverage but due to her leave, she was unable to work with them this season.  Mr. Jenkins explained how the article on the Fair was not as full or as in-depth with Fair information as it had been in the past.  Also we were not able to offer the Farmers Exchange a full entertainment line-up at the time of their printing.

Press Conference

The 2007 State Fair Press Conference will be held next Monday, July 16, at 10:00 a.m. in Dumar's Fieldhouse.   The Berline advertising group produced and mailed out invitations to various media and news relations.  Mr. Jenkins passed out extra copies of the invitation and apologized that these were not mailed to the Board members prior to today's meeting.  Mr. Jenkins extended a warm welcome and invitation to the Board members and encouraged them all to attend 2007 State Fair Press Conference. 

Mr. Jenkins offered details as to how the Press Conference would be set up this year.   Farm animals will be placed at the entrance of the building.  We are hoping to have a famous baseball player character dressed up in an old baseball uniform to greet the guest as they arrive for the Press Conference.  We have also made arrangements to have the Dumar's Fieldhouse building set up in a fashion to give the media a taste of what to expect when they visit the new Michigan Sports Hall of Fame sports clinic during the Fair.  The children's cartoon character "Dora-the-Explorer" or her brother, " Go-Diego-Go" may join the Press Conference to introduce our Fair Manager and we are also hoping to have "Sponge-Bob-Square-Pants" participate during the upcoming Fair.  

Mr. Jenkins reported that we are having sponsors pay for three "Kids Free Days" at the Fair.   This promotional will offer free admission to children ages 12 and under.  Krogers has agreed to pay for the two Wednesdays of the Fair and Comcast has agreed to pay for a special kids free day also.  Frank Zaitshik, President of Wade shows has agreed to reduce the ride all day wristbands from $22.00 to $15.00 on these special kid's free days.   On other days, the ride all day wristbands will remain at $22.00.   Mr. Jenkins stated he would like to have all eight weekends of the Fair free for children 12 years of age and under.  Additional sponsorship agreements will be pursued.

Entertainment

Mr. Jenkins gave an update on the entertainment line-up for the 2007 State Fair and stated that since we would be holding our Press Conference next Monday, he urged everyone present to keep this information confidential until the media first had a chance after the Press Conference to release our concert line-up to the public.  

FINANCIAL REPORT

Mr. Jenkins stated that his financial report was included with the information he had shared today regarding the various sponsorship arrangements.   Mr. Jenkins stated that his goal this year was to get our sponsorship dollars up to ¾ of a million dollars and while we have not successfully reached that goal, he was happy to report that our sponsorship dollars are higher today than they were at this same time last year.  Mr. Jenkins stated that he met recently with the two new sponsorship staff members and he is very hopeful that more sponsorship agreements would be gained before the opening of the Fair.

A lengthy discussion was held regarding the details of the financial report distributed at last months Board meeting.   Mr. Albright and the Board asked for explanations on various line items and expressed some concerns as it relates to information in the financial reports not being easily accessible or clear to find due to line items not listing out in detail specific information included in that line.  Mr. Albright raised questions regarding the storm water discharge and where it included in the financial report.  Mr. Jenkins and Peggy Fletcher (MSF) offered information on each line item questioned.   Mr. Albright and the board thanked Peggy for her assistance and help in explaining various details on the financial report.  Mr. Jenkins again expressed his willing to always share openly with the Board members any information available.  The Board thanked Mr. Jenkins and Ms. Fletcher for their hard efforts and work in providing updated financial information to them at the monthly meetings.

OLD BUSINESS 

Mr. DeCock asked for a review of the Fair admission prices.   The Fair admission is as follows:  $10.00 for adults,  $5.00 for children (ages 3-12), and babies 2 years of age and under are free of charge, Senior Citizens are $5.00 everyday expect on Monday, August 27th, Senior's Free Day at the Fair.  Parking is $7.00 in all lots.

NEW BUSINESS

On August 19, 2007, the Woodward Avenue Action Association has put together a special " Hands Along Woodward" event to celebrate the 200th Birthday of Woodward Avenue.   The actual holding hands event is expected to take place at 2:00 p.m. and the State Fair has agreed to allow free parking for any one involved in this special event from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m.  The "Hands Along Woodward" event will begin downtown Detroit at the river and will cover 27 miles along Woodward to Pontiac, Michigan.  There will not be any streets are closed or blocked off as a result of this event, but additional traffic control personnel may be present to assist with the safety of all participating in this special hand holding celebration along Woodward.   A brief discussion was held regarding hiring an airplane to fly a banner along Woodward Avenue during this event to promote and advertise the 2007 State Fair dates.  Mr. Gaffney stated he might be able to offer a contact name or company for the fly over.

Tami Salsibury, Director of the Eight Mile Boulevard Associate, is in a maternal way and has decided to leave the associate. 

Bishop Timothy Williams who rented our Community Arts Auditorium to hold weekly church services has moved out, as a result of their successful fund-raising efforts which has made it possible for their church to purchase a building of their own.

There has not been any word or further communications from the puppet theatre group who came in earlier this year and presented a proposal to lease property at the Fairgrounds.

The new bus terminal is in its final stages of construction and will be completed in time before the Opening Day of the Fair.

The road construction at the corner of Eight Mile Road and Woodward Avenue is scheduled to be complete before the annual Dream Cruise event in mid-August.  

PUBLIC COMMENT

Byna Camden requested that we make arrangements to have special recognition or signage in our flower gardens to highlight the various companies and/or people who donated monies and time to the State Fair's beautification efforts this year.   Byna s tressed the importance of recognizing these wonderful contributors of the Fair.  Girl scouts, master gardeners and others came out and helped plant flowers, which were purchased with six hundred and fifty dollars donated by various companies and organizations.  Byna also agreed to seek help from a personal contact she has at the Coffee Beanery who may be willing to bring in coffee for our Preview Night event at the Fair on August 21st.  Byna thanked the Board for allowing her to attend and participate in today's meeting of the Board.

DATE for NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Michigan State Fair Authority Board was scheduled for Wednesday, August 8, 2007 beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Administration Building Conference Room, at the Michigan State Fairgrounds, in Detroit.  

ADJOURNMENT

On Motion by Mr. DeCock, supported by Mr. Coon, and carried, the meeting was adjourned at 2:39 p.m.