At the last annual meeting we set as a goal membership growth.  In an effort to reach out, we sent approximately 30 letters or emails to inns across the state that appeared to be actual bed and breakfast inns.  We had NOT ONE response!  That was disheartening, but informative.  Clearly a more direct approach is necessary.  We will have to focus more on personal contact.  I would like to mention Pat and Bob Meakim as examples of inns that have been very good at stopping to visit neighboring inns as they travel around the Black Hills.  They have recruited several new ones that way.  It is the personal contact that makes the difference.  (Attached to this report is a copy of the letter that we sent out for you to have available to pass on to individuals you might meet or know of in your area).  We are counting on each member inn to reach out to their areas for new members. 
 
During the last April Retreat the board worked over the old S.W.O.T analysis that had been done about 7 years ago.  It was interesting to look back and see just how far we have come.  In that time we have had, then dismissed, a part-time executive director/treasurer.  We have overcome regional issues that are no-longer a part of our organizational thinking.   We started the Retreat format meeting in order to have time to bear down on issues that require more than a brief discussion with a quick vote.  Out of the retreats we have grown to be a much more cohesive unit and friendships abound.
 
An issue that will come up this April for discussion and possibly a by-laws change is the question that some of our inns are not preparing breakfasts for their guests.  This could be a violation of our existing bylaws, or maybe just an interpretation of them.  Inns that do a continental breakfast with an extra charge option for a full breakfast, inns that do only a continental breakfast, inns that offer coupons for breakfast at a restaurant, inns that leave a wrapped muffin and a pot of coffee in the room will have to be discussed at length during that meeting. 
 
Another item for consideration at our retreat is our new member inspections.   It is sometimes difficult to get a new member inspection done prior to putting out their information into the brochure. I recently read where the Florida Bed and Breakfast Association dropped their inspection requirement.  The reason is that the traveling public is much more consumer-wise and that non performing inns are readily identified by online evaluations such as Google or Yahoo, and that the inspections are really superfluous.  This is a subject we can be thinking about also.  We only inspect inns one time, but many states do an annual inspection. 
 
During a phone call conversation with the secretary of the Minnesota B and B association I got some very interesting information.  They charge their member inns a membership fee of $375 per year.  This money is automatically withdrawn from their bank accounts and put into the association account.  They have a $30,000 a year Executive Director who does their inspections, manages their books, sets up their brochures and other advertising, plans their conferences totally, does the minutes for each meeting, and takes care of the myriad of other duties.  We do our rates based on the number of rooms an inn has.  MN apparently does not use a sliding scale but charges all the inns the same price.
 
It was interesting to me to see what real value our volunteer board members provide to our constituents:  about $30,000  a year! 
 
There is no question in my mind that the traveling public has become much savvier in recent years.  Inns that have kept up are getting the business, those that haven’t, aren’t.  Website presence is what it is all about.   Some of the inns in MN even have web cams at their location.  It is interesting to think about how that might enhance your/our program.  All members should routinely check their Yahoo and Google sites to see if there are evaluations that are helping you or hurting you.  There is a way to respond if you feel someone has given your inn a bad rap without cause.  Also, it is good to gently remind your guests who are clearly pleased with your product that they can be of help by writing a review.
 
As we roll into the next decade it is a good time for BBISD to become introspective.  This organization is pushing along toward 20 years old.  Are we doing everything we can to attract guests for our members?  Is there anything else we can do or should do as a member based organization to enhance our effectiveness?   Are we ready for any major changes in our operation or are we content to proceed as we have been doing? 

For the last two to three years we have concentrated some of our out-reach efforts on the Tourism Community.  Our presence at the Tourism Conference has solidified BBISD as a viable working organization.   Are there any other areas where we could be working to expand our quality-based image in the state, or out of the state?
 
Thank you to our Board of Directors -
I would like to take this opportunity to gratefully and sincerely thank the many members of the board of directors who put zillions of hours being the oil that keeps this association running smoothly.  It takes many hours to set up and get the brochures printed, pick them up, bag them and get them out to where they need to be.  Did you know that our brochure is taken or mailed to AAA’s, Chambers of Commerce, Tourism boards, throughout the Midwest and farther on demand, and taken to trade shows around the country.  Did you know there is a phone that rings in a member’s inn that is answered literally 24 hours a day to respond to requests for information, to mail out brochures, or sell cookbooks?   There is a member who stands ready to contact potential new members at a drop of the hat.  Another member puts in hours and hours to create an interesting and valuable newsletter each quarter.  Many of you have been driving half-way across the state three or more times a year for this organization.  There are members across the state that may be the only representatives in their area of BBISD but still manage to put a strong positive image out to others of our association.  You all deserve recognition and praise for the time you have dedicated to this group.