The Porter County Convention Recreation and Visitor Commission is looking to apply a little bit of spit and polish around the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center.

PCCRVC Executive Director Weimer discussed the possibility of making improvements to the overall landscape to the visitor center with the PCCRVC board on Wednesday. She said they have received comments from visitors saying the landscape around the building looks “unkempt.”

Weimer said the work will be done in three phrases starting in the spring with improvements to the front of the building and around the entryway.

Phase II is recommended to start next year to spruce up the outer islands and areas further away from the building. A third phase will look to improve the area around the drainage ditch which will be reseeded possibly starting in 2012. Weimer said the visitor center is experiencing problems with the soils surrounding the building which have made the area difficult for seeding.

Weimer said bids received for the project have come in at around $30,000. PCCRVC Board President Jeff Good said the amount may be too high to start out with. The board recommended the fund for the landscape be approved for $10,000 to start with.

“It’s a dollar thing,” said Good.

The board agreed to table the decision to approve funds for the landscape adjustments until their next meeting. Weimer said she will meet with local landscaper Jim Perkins and the Yardbird landscaping firm sometime during the next month on what work would done and pricing amounts.

Weimer called the visitor center an important marketing tool that has received nearly 70,000 visitors.

In another matter, Weimer said she is looking to change the PCCRVC’s doing business as name. The legal name Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission will remain as it will appear on all legal documents, but the visitor commission has been looking to shorten its name since they developed a master plan several years ago said Weimer.

The visitor commission has been working with Destination Marketing Association International (DDI) on coming up with a name. The agency said people have little knowledge of what a Convention and Visitor Bureau is. Weimer said DDI believes Porter County is only known to people in Northern and Northwest Indiana and does not communicate what the visitor commission is about.

DDI is recommending the visitor commission include Indiana Dunes in the title instead of Porter County. One of the possible names considered is Indiana Dunes Tourism. Members of the PCCRVC board said they liked the idea of having the word “tourism” being included in the title.

The new name will be used with the new brand logo that is being developed, Weimer said. She said she hopes to use the new brand starting this year as soon as it is approved by the board.

“The goal is to have a DBA name that really resonates with visitors,” Weimer said.

The board held a session during Tuesday’s meeting to elect board officers. Elections were tabled at the previous PCCRVC meeting on Jan. 19 to await the Porter County Council’s appointment. The council appointed board newcomer Mitch Peters of Chesterton earlier this week.

The 2010 PCCRVC Board President is Jeff Good replacing 2009 president Michael Scott. Vice President for this year will be Judy Chaplin. Chaplin served as treasurer last year.

Gloria Reed was elected as board secretary and Matt Murphy will serve as treasurer.

Dave Hollenbeck will continue to serve as board attorney.

This will be Good’s first time as board president. He was appointed to the board in 2008 by Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas and again this year by the Porter County Commissioners.

Good said as president he encourages the board to engage in an open dialogue and to discuss topics thoroughly without rushing through them. He said the tourism industry in Porter County is taking some big steps and feels it would be best if the board carefully evaluates new initiatives.

Posted 2/25/2010