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The meeting was called to order by Chairman Gene Pedrotti at 6:15 PM. The Agenda was circulated and amended to allow the Publicity Committee’s Power Point presentation to be given first.

Copies of today’s Benicia Herald with an article and file photo on the bridge were passed around for viewing.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bart Ney of Caltrans is "suffering" in Hawaii, thus unable to give the Caltrans update.
Gene circulated subcommittee lists to the subcommittee chairs to review and revise. Help is needed in the Pyrotechnics and Funding subcommittees.

Mark Mazzafero distributed brochures and copies of the slides in the new Power Point Presentation, then gave the presentation with discussion following. Suggestions included: a photograph of the banner painted by the children of Japan and the responding banner painted by the Glen Cove School; additional credit be given to other contributors including the CBCAC and the community advisory committee; emphasize the planned colors and lighting of the new bridge as well as the walkway and landscaping of the vista points on both sides; highlight the logo; and the final slide should be the URL of the Web site for updates. Sponsors will be added at a later date. It was also suggested to show the hats and t-shirts for sale and add a package of products to travel with the presentation. A discussion followed about how the marketing of the products is to be done.

Gail Allison gave the children’s version (K-5th grade) of the presentation. Discussion followed including the suggestion of a demonstration of the size of the cable (using spaghetti strands was an idea); and providing pictures for coloring by younger children and a puzzle using bridge construction terminology for the older children.

It was suggested that the presentation be transferred to video to make it available to a wider audience and funding for a commercially produced video was discussed.

It was suggested that we will need projectors donated for use in the presentations, at least one for Vallejo and one for Crockett.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

PRODUCTS
Gene showed the new hats, now on sale for $13. The new t-shirts are in and there are still some long-sleeved polos and mock turtlenecks available. The next step for products will be funding for purchases. We will have a booth at the Crockett Town-Wide Garage Sale on May 10 for sales, those interested in helping should see Bobbie Sanford of the Crockett Chamber. A banner is needed for sales booths.

WEB SITE
There is a new introduction on the home page by Gene Pedrotti and some new pictures on the Bio page. Cory reported that we had 850 hits in March with 36% of visitors typing in the URL, 31% linking from Vallejo government page; 18% from Caltrans and 4% from the Vallejo news.
Gene suggested a sign showing the Web site URL on the "Detour Crockett" sign on Eastbound I-80 and on the Solano County Fairgrounds board in Vallejo.
The San Diego Union Tribune requested a copy of one of the photographs from the Web site for use in Sunday’s paper.

EVENTS
The Events chairperson distributed voting ballots to rate importance of events planned leading up to and the day of the opening. Additional suggestions were: make the Strait Swim be a fundraiser, but because of a question of liability, this will have to be separate from the Committee’s activities; Gene suggested a toll booth money give-away leading up to the opening with $1,000 given out per hour to commuters.
The day of the opening was discussed, we will try for a Sunday opening but it greatly depends on Caltrans and the Governor’s schedule. The extent of CMA’s participation will be delayed until after school is out.
The Parade Float was discussed with questions of cost and liability. Gene requested that the Vallejo Artists Guild write up a budget, Bobbie Sanford will look into liability costs. A new subcommittee was created to handle the float.
It was suggested to get the area Yacht Clubs involved in some way, Gene asked that a representative be invited to the meetings.
Possible 76th Anniversary events on May 21 were discussed, perhaps the tour of the bridge for the committee will be possible.

FUNDING
Bank of the West has donated $3,000 and has plans of displaying the shirts and hats.
Categories of donations was discussed with possible levels at:

"Aerial" - $250,000 - This would be for national companies with high profile ads
"Tower" - $25,000 - This level would put the sponsor’s logo on the product of their choice
"Deck" - $10,000
The funding committee is working on possible sponsors and letters to send them. Gene asked for suggestions of companies to approach, if anyone has contacts.

Gene congratulated the committee members on our first "trimester" of activity! The next priorities will be funding and products for fund raising.

Gene announced that while he is recovering from back surgery, Jack Bettencourt will take over as acting Chairperson. We all wish Gene a speedy recovery!

The next meeting will be on May 14, at CMA, 6:00 PM.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Patty Scott, Acting Secretary