The annual meeting of the Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers of South Dakota, Inc. was held on Saturday January 24th at the Steever House Bed and Breakfast in Lennox, South Dakota. The Southeast Region hosted the two-day event with John and Sara Steever graciously providing lodging and serving a delicious evening and breakfast meal.
Call to Order: The meeting was held in the parlors of Steever House B&B and called to order by President Ron/Carla Kaaz at 1:30 pm. Ron/Carla welcomed two new members Andy/Jenny Todd of Prairie House Manor B&B and John /Joyce Metz of River Road B&B.
Board Members Present: Pres. Ron/Carla Kaaz - Foote Creek; VP Jim/Linda Steele - Eagles View; Sec. Dennis/Vixie Miller -Vixie’s Victorian Villa; Treas. Eileen Rossow/Warren Meyer - Peregrine Pointe; Newsletter Chairman John/Sara Steever- Steever House; and Legislative Chairman Art/Marilyn Oakes - Buffalo Rock Lodge. Regional Tourism Directors Present: Southeast -Ila Rumbolz, Der Rumbolz Platz; Great Lakes - Jim/Linda Steele, Eagles View; Glacial Lakes and Prairies - Harold/Darla Loewen, Possibility Farm. Other B & B/Innkeepers Present: John/Joyce Metz-River Road; Lelia Gilbert - Flavia’s Place; Bart/Marcy Ramsey - South Fork Ranch; Andy/Jenny Todd - Prairie House Manor; Clark Edward - Clark’s Prairie Gold.
Minutes: The January 18th and 19th, 2008 minutes were handed out on the 23rd so the members present could take time to read them prior to the business meeting on Saturday morning.
Treasurer’s Report: Eileen Rossow presented the Income and Expense Report for 2008 and the Proposed Budget for 2009. Lelia Guilbert made a motion to accept both the Secretary and Treasurer’s Reports. Marilyn Oakes second the motion. Carried.
Membership Report: Was given by Carla Kaaz in Nancy Roth’s absence. We have 4 new B&Bs: John/Joyce Metz - River Road, Mitchell; Mavis Madison - Historic Madison Ranch B&B, Rapid City; Eldon/Sherry Nygaard - Country Manor at Stone Faces, Hill City; and John/Linda Rittberger - Bear Gulch, Hermosa. Membership dues and members with more than one B& B tabled until Board Retreat.
Marketing Report: Marilyn made a motion to sponsor the booth again next year at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Clark second the motion. Motion carried.
Sara Steever gave the report for Judy Parker and presented a copy of the Ritz Hospitality Magazine. After discussion about this advertising it was decided to take no action as we can put our advertising dollars to better use. Carla Kaaz will send out an email to all B&Bs in our association stating we are not sanctioning ads in this magazine.
We spent $500 in a state-wide Great Get Away but after discussion agreed that the money could be better spent.. Marilyn Oakes made a motion to drop the Great Get Away ad and use the dedicated $500 towards website improvements in the future. Ila Rumbolz second. Motion carried. We placed an ad in a magazine through BH Bad Lands and Lakes that cost $1,150.00. Vixie Miller made a motion not to participate in this particular ad opportunity next year. Marilyn Oakes second. Discussion: the consensus was that improving the website is a priority. Motion carried.
Eileen Rossow reported that we are required within 60 days to fix a possible problem with our server Golden West at a cost of $375.00 Ron Kaaz suggested we investigate to see if we can delay the 60-day notice with Golden West and possibly use the time to rebuild our website and go with a different server. The Executive committee will check out other options.
Sara presented information concerning cost of Google Search Ads but it was decided to rebuild the website then pursue advertising next year. We should link to BBISD and do the free ads.
Darla Loewen discussed the Corps of Discovery Welcome Center in Gordon, NE She said it is
located on the Pan-American Highway so gets a lot of traffic and we can distribute our brochures. She volunteered to set it up this year and pay the $125.00 to handle it. Marilyn Oakes made a motion for Darla Loewen to distribute our BBISD brochures in Nebraska for the coming season. Ila Rumbolz second the motion. Motion carried.
Eileen showed the cookbooks and aprons that are available for sale.
Visitor Industry Alliance (VIA) Report: Given my Marilyn Oakes who is on their board. It has political influence lobbying for our B&B industry. They are doing image improvement by posting 15 second ads entitled “We are SD”. VIA has a paid lobbyist watching H1040 bill and talking with appropriations legislators.
Legislative Report given my Marilyn Oakes. Bill H1040 is currently on the floor of the legislature concerning changes for pools, spas and each hot tub. Dennis Miller made a motion to have Marilyn Oakes write a letter to the Dept of Health protesting excessive charges for each hot tub but not the general fee increase... Art Oakes second. Motion carried.
Regional Reports: BHBL&L - Lyndy Ireland offered to host the April Board Retreat at Triangle Ranch near Philip, SD. The Board accepted her invitation. Southeast - Ila Rumbolz reported one new member John/Joyce Metz of River Road in Mitchell. Great Lakes - Linda Steele -their region will be the host for next year’s annual conference. Glacial Lakes and Prairies -Darla Loewen wants to make sure people know the meetings are opened to everyone.
Old Business: The new By-Laws are posted on the website. Marilyn Oakes made a motion to approve the new By-Laws as corrected. Clark Edwards second the motion. Motion carried.
New Business: Marilyn Oakes reported that the cookbook sales was a success at the Governor‘s Conference on Tourism. Lelia Guilbert made a motion to sponsor the AAA Table and Banquet Table again next year. Clark Edwards second. Motion carried. The Scholarship recipient is already budgeted for next year.
We discussed the “Christmas Tree at the State Capitol” for the winter of 2009 - a unique way to advertise. Linda Steele provided information on the theme “Do you see what I see” and they provide the tree. Discussion tabled till the Board Retreat.
Board elections to fill the vacancy of the out going officers were held. Nominations were Clark Edward of Clark’s Prairie Gold and Andy/Jenny Todd of Prairie House Manor. Lelia Guilbert made a motion that nominations cease. Eileen Rossow second. Motion Carried.

Marilyn Oakes made a motion for adjournment

Vixie Miller
BBIDS Secretary