Present

Committee Members: Skamania County Commissioner Paul Pearce, Lewis County Commissioner Lee Grose, Cowlitz County Commissioner Axel Swanson, Mark Plotkin, Tourism Director of Cowlitz County Tourism Bureau, Maree Lerchen, Executive Director, Destination Packwood, Mark Smith Owner/Operator, Eco Park Resort, Nancy Parkes, Professor, Evergreen State College, Jim Sedell, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Sherie Weisser, CATS Vice President, Jim Adams, Executive Director, Northwest Interpretive Association, Mary Kay Nelson, Executive Director, Visit Rainier.

Welcome and Introduction

Axel Swanson, Committee Co-Chair welcomed and introduced committee members, and a variety of representatives from the public.

Committee Business

It was decided that a workshop will be held in place of the June 26^th meeting. The committee will meet at the Cowlitz County Administration Building, 207 4^th Ave. N. Kelso, WA. The next scheduled meeting is July 24^th. Science and Conservation will be the topic.

Meeting Topic

Tourism

Public Comment

There were several people from the public that responded to the committee’s invitation to comment about tourism needs in the St. Helen’s Monument area.

Tourism Overview

Mark Plotkin of Cowlitz County Tourism presented an overview of tourism in the area with a slide show.

County Perspectives

Rick Winsman, Kelso Longview Chamber, and Edie Aydelott, Destination Packwood presented information from county perspectives of tourism.

State Parks

Rex Derr of Washington State Parks informed the committee of economic conditions of the State Park system.

The committee then took a 5 minute break.

Forest Service

Peter Frenzen gave a power point presentation that included statistics on numbers of visitors to the Monument past and present, information on an experimental plot used for comparisons in science.

Washington State Tourism

Michelle Campbell of Washington State Tourism gave a report that included “Tourism is Big Business in Washington State” that included marketing strategies, applying for grants, and infrastructure enhancement.

Other presentations to the committee were made by Jim Adams, Northwest Interpretive Association on Motor Coach Tours, Jeanne Bennett, Mount St. Helen’s Institute, Joe Whittington, Oregon Peak Adventures, Dick Ford, Weyerhauser on the Forest Learning Center and Jay Shepard on Hoffstadts Bluffs and Foodmasters.

The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.