Civic Center services available locally

Now that business is back to normal, Civic Center/ Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Pam Fosse is focusing more on marketing what she and her staff offer the community.

Fosse has been speaking to local service groups about what the Civic Center does and what it can do. She said she discovered the services the Civic Center provides are virtually unknown to the community.

“We assume everyone’s aware of the services available,” she said. “The truth is they have no idea.”

Fosse emphasizes the complimentary services are available to groups at no charge, whether the event is held at the Civic Center or elsewhere. Although they’re automatically a part of what’s offered to out-of-town conventions, conferences and events, they’re also available to local groups.

These comprehensive services are generally most useful for overnight events, she said, such as class and large family reunions, conferences, meetings, trade shows and conventions. They’re also most helpful for larger gatherings rather than a small group.

“The CVB aspect is available to the entire community,” she said. “Some of our services are available even at daylong meetings. We can find speakers and entertainment; provide banners, badges, packets and novelty items.”

The CVB staff can be used to coordinate all the details, whether it’s held at the Civic Center or not, Fosse said.

The services provided include support in pre-event planning, which can include a presentation to the site selection committee on what can be offered by the CVB. The staff can provide publicity and promotion. Services offered include arranging free-time activities for the group, such as sightseeing, entertainment and tours. The CVB also can provide convention-style bags with promotional and novelty items. Assistance is available in such areas as finding a caterer, a meeting site, registration and transportation. In fact, Fosse said, whatever’s needed her staff can help arrange.

“We work with the hotels, restaurants, tourism — any hospitality entity,” she said. “And everything we do is coordinated with tourism as well.”

It’s not just out-of-town groups and convention organizers who can benefit, so, too, can local organizers.

“People just need to contact us at the Civic Center,” she said. “We’ll help in any way we can.”

Sun reporter Toni Pirkl can be reached at (701) 952-8453 or by e-mail at tonip@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, civic center, news, services, cvb