The Village of Wellington will partner with the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to produce the Winter Equestrian Capital of the World 2013 brochure promoting the community’s seasonal equestrian events.
Council members voted Tuesday, Oct. 23 to pay about $5,100 to fund the brochures, but council members specified that they preferred to use a local printer.
Victor Connor, representing the chamber’s equestrian committee, said that the brochure will be distributed in residents’ water bills and at local hotels and other venues.
“If anyone comes to visit and wants to know what is happening in Wellington, they give out our brochures,” he said. “Since we have started doing this, we have received a lot of comments that it’s appreciated. A lot of people didn’t know about these activities. It’s used over and over throughout the year.”
Councilman John Greene said he felt the brochure is a great idea. “I think it’s important that we, as a community, come together and promote our most recognized industry,” he said.
But he was concerned that in the past, the printing has come from a company in Texas. “It looks like there are a number of chamber members who are able to produce this piece,” he said.
Connor said that he’d rather see the brochure printed locally, but noted that there would be an added cost.
Greene asked for clarification as to whether Wellington would be funding the entire cost of the brochure, and Connor said it had in the past.
“It covers the printing and distribution,” Connor said. “We put it together, we collect all the information. There’s a lot of in-kind work by the chamber that goes into this.”
Greene said that if Wellington is covering the cost, he believes that the village should have more control of the content of the brochure. “I haven’t seen a proof yet,” he said.
He also suggested reaching out to equestrian entities outside Wellington to see if anyone would cover part of the cost, similar to a sponsorship.
But Connor said that the bulk of participation in nearby equestrian entities is from Wellington residents. “The reason we include them is because it’s part of the equestrian industry in Wellington,” he said.
Connor also worried about commercializing the brochure with ads or logos, but said he would be amenable to the council’s input.
“I want it to be very straightforward,” Connor said. “I want it to say that we’re the equestrian capital of the world and these are some of the things you can do and see. As for input, I don’t have an issue with that. I’m more concerned with getting it done than with who has the last say.”
Connor said that the chamber wants to have the brochures printed and distributed before Thanksgiving, giving ample time for residents and visitors to learn about the events. “It’s out, circulating and gets people talking,” he said.
Greene said he’d like to get specifics from the chamber and try to get prices from local companies. “I will support this,” he said. “I’d like to see the final proof and work on pricing it locally.”
Willhite agreed, noting that Wellington should be supporting local businesses, even if it costs a bit more.
“I think the fundamental point of your chamber is not to send business to Texas,” he said. “I think it’s inappropriate for us to entertain that idea without looking locally.”
He also said he believed the brochure could be scaled down, losing some items like photos of Village Hall, in favor of more content.
But Connor warned against making the brochure too word-heavy.
Willhite also suggested distributing the brochure to equestrian venues around the country and world. “Are we sending this to other equestrian venues to try to entice people to come here?” he asked. “I don’t need one sent to my house. I know what’s going on here. Let’s send it to other people and bring them to Wellington.”
Connor said that he could try to connect with other areas, but worried it would not be well received.
“We make sure that this is going around in the county,” he said. “But I’d be reluctant to send a large amount out of the county, because I can’t see places like Lexington, Kentucky telling people to go to Wellington.”
Councilwoman Anne Gerwig said that she didn’t favor spending more taxpayer dollars, but was in favor of seeing if a local business would match the price. “I think we should look for the best price,” she said. “If a local printer will match it, then that’s fine.”
Gerwig was confident in the chamber and Wellington’s staff abilities to craft the brochure. “I don’t need to see it,” she said. “I trust staff and I am confident in what they do.”
Greene made a motion to approve the measure, setting a maximum budget of $5,092.50 and finding a local printer to produce the brochure. The motion passed unanimously.
