Re: Commission meeting, my feedback

It has been mentioned a number of times that advertising in Texas has paid off in the past. The problem is that with cable and the internet, people now have hundreds of choices for obtaining their content and getting ads out to all of them would be prohibitive. Facebook ads may be a cheaper way to spread the word and they can be targeted very specifically to geographic areas and demographics. Now that seniors are big face book users that makes more sense.

Getting information to places like Ghost ranch would seem well worthwhile. I think Dick Cowles mentioned once that about half of riders made their reservation within a day or two of riding, which means they were in the area. Draw a 4 hour drive circle around Chama and try and get info out to every hotel, restaurant dude ranch, hunting and fishing lodge etc. within the circle. I don't know how well literature racks work, but I browse through them when I stop at highway visitor centers.

Since Chama never will have the benefit of location, location and location, it's always going to be a struggle to get people to show up and ride. I doubt if we will ever be satisfied with the results, but a 7% increase isn't bad.

Michael Allen