St. Joseph Today members got a snapshot of the power of collaboration when the organization conducted its Annual Membership Meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn of Benton Harbor tonight. While Executive Director Amy Zapal shared a recap of the past year, Treasurer Rick Dyer delved a little deeper to exhibit the collaborative power that has accrued since the organization strengthened its partnership with the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council a couple of years ago.
In presenting the financial report for St. Joe Today, Dyer, who is President & CEO of Edgewater Bank in downtown St. Joseph, reflected briefly on the past six years noting that in 2012, 2013 and 2014, St. Joe Today ended each year with an average loss of some $43,000 a year. However, since establishing their new relationship with the Tourist Council and helping market that organization’s lodging facility partners across the region, the agency has averaged a $23,000 a year, year-end profit.
It was just part of the solid footing St. Joseph Today staff is anchoring for the community’s central business district and beyond. Even the expanding boundaries of the organization’s reach and membership were in sharp focus with testimonials from as far away as Sister Lakes.
A brief video of composite testimonials shared the feelings of The Out Center in the Benton Harbor Arts District who cited “community building across the bridge” as a solid benefit to their membership…Third Coast Surf Shop of downtown St. Joseph’s appreciation for the “substantive increased visibility” for their business as a result of the myriad events managed by the team at St. Joseph Today…and Sister Lakes Brewing Company’s applause for the “dissemination of information on our own establishment’s events through publicity channels and inclusion in several of the festivals” showcased by St. Joe Today.
About 75 members, supporters, staff, board members and others were on hand for the annual meeting which gave thanks to outgoing, term-limited board members Jerry Sirk from Chartreuse Art Co-Op and Gayle Olson from Mid-West Family Broadcasting and the election of new board members Cindy King from the Hilton Garden Inn, Ryan Ogle from the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, and Kevin Hanley from Vail Rubber.
Board Chair Nicole Heugel voiced appreciation for merchant involvement in the organization and encouraged regular, ongoing guidance into the future.
Executive Director Amy Zapal reported on several metrics achieved over the past year including:
- 67 Separate events hosted and managed by St. Joe Today staff…
- 22 New Members added to the membership rolls…
- 20,514 visitors to the SJT Welcome Center downtown…
- 74 individual information packets assembled by request…
- 729 Group information packets assembled for larger parties…
- 168,992 sessions on the organization’s website (up 10-percent from 2016)
- 105, 033 pageviews on the web (up 9-percent from 2016)
- Total reach on Facebook of 2,256,176 (up 24-percent from 2016)
- 13-percent increase in Facebook “likes”
- 51-percent increase in Twitter followers
- 42-percent increase in Instagram followers
- Creation of a Snapchat presence
- Marketing through mutliple channels in print, radio, TV, and beyond
Zapal profoundly thanked her hard working and dedicated staff, the Board of Directors, merchant and other members, sponsors, donors, underwriters, and the thousands of residents, visitors and others who attended events, visited the Welcome Center and otherwise participated with the organization over the past year and continue to show their support through time, talent and treasure.
