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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_CVB_09.08.2017Minutes of Meeting of the Convention & Visitors Bureau Board City of Georgetown, Texas September 8, 2017 The Convention & Visitors Bureau Board met on Friday, September 8 at 8:30 am at Convention and Visitors Bureau Office, located at 103 W. 7th Street, Georgetown, Texas. Regular Session — To begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Convention & Visitors Bureau Board may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene an Executive Session at the request of the Georgene Richaud for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551.) MEMBERS PRESENT: Georgene Richaud, Rita Healy, Karen Soeffker, Tauyna Vessels, Al Shankkle, Christy Fisher MEMBERS ABSENT: Stephanie Blanck STAFF PRESENT: Cari Miller, Marie Woodard Regular Session 1. Chair Richaud called the meeting to order at 8:37 a.m. Legislative Regular Session 2. Discussion and possible action regarding approval of the August 11, 2017 minutes Motion by Fisher, second by Vessels to approve the August 11, 2017 minutes. Approved 6-0 3. Discussion and possible action to approve a Hotel Occupancy Tax Reimbursement Grant for the Georgetown Cyclocross Festival — Cari Miller, Tourism Manager Rolando Roman presented the grant application for the Georgetown Cyclocross Festival. This is the 6th year of the Festival which will be held on October 14 & 15. Roman is partnering with the local bike shop, Georgetown Cyclewerx, to add a bike swap meet to the event. All Georgetown hotels are listed on the Cyclewerx website. Motion by Healy, second by Soeffker to approve the HOT Grant request in the amount of $2,500. Approved 6-0 4. Discussion and possible action regarding the Transportation Grant Program — Marie Woodard, Group Sales & Servicing Coordinator Woodard reviewed changes requested at the August meeting. A lengthy discussion was held and additional changes were requested. Woodard will make the suggested changes and will bring the application to the November meeting. No action was taken. 1 5. Presentation on the 2017-18 CVB Group/Meeting Advertising Plan — Marie Woodard, Group Sales & Servicing Coordinator Woodard provided detailed insight to the various elements of the 2017-18 CVB Group/Meeting Advertising Plan (attached). A discussion of the Plan followed. No action was taken. 6. Discussion and possible action regarding 2018 Red Poppy Festival — Cari Miller, Tourism Manager No action was taken. Will be discussed at the November meeting. 7. Discussion and possible action regarding advertising and media exposure and dates of upcoming events— Cari Miller Review of the current status of the CVB's advertising and media activities. The CVB August Monthly Review is attached. No action was taken. Adjournment Motion by Healy, second by Fisher to adjourn the meeting at 9:59 a.m. Approved 6-0 G rgene Richaud, Chair idk-17)(1k ephanie Blanck, Secretary et Cari Miller, Tourism Manager /!/d 11 Date 2 Downtown & Community Services Convention & Visitors Bureau Monthly Review - August 2017 Georgetown Tourism by Numbers $108,233 Total amount of HOT collected in July (2016 = $68,494) 2,803 Visitors to the Visitors Center for the month of August (2016 = 2,488 ) 35,567 VisitGeorgetown.com webpage views (2016 = 40,441) 2.71 Pages per session * / *Average is 2 Pages per session 6,553 Mobile App Downloads (2016 = 5,748) 8,129 Facebook Fans (2016 = 6,120) 42,753 Post Impressions 3,813 Twitter Followers (2016 = 2,876) 39,000 Tweet Impressions 5EAuTIFUL TO��S Rf 4 .it GEORGEIOWN 2,915 Emma Newsletter Emails (2016 = 2,028) 8.6% Mail Score* (out of 1O%) / Emma Average is 7% (*Mail Score =Overall Email Quality) 35% Open Rate / Emma Average Open Rate is 20% 1,599 Instagram Followers 22,563 Post Impressions Website/Social Media/Advertising • August digital ads TourTexas.com Sponsored Page (Total Content Engagement = 24,271) Texas Society of Association Executives (new premium position / 4,500 open rate) • August print ads Association Leadership magazine's July/August issue (circulation 1,213+) Christian Meetings & Conference Assoc. Newsletter, full page ad (1,200 member distribution, quarterly) • Daytripper Sponsorship Television and Website (#2 non -City web referral/9 referrals/1.56 pages per session ) • Posted to Visit Georgetown, Texas Facebook, Twitter.com/visitgeorgetown and Instagram/visitgeorgetowntx • Sent mobile app push notifications for First Friday on the Square and Summer Music on the Square Concerts Group Sales & Servicing • Groups Requesting Services: 6 Groups • Requests for Proposals Received: 1 RFP received and responded to • Requests for Sales Leads for Room Availability: 0 • Services Provided: 1,020 goodie bags / Year to Date: 6,612 • Conferences / Tradeshows: 2 / On -Site Bids: 1, Abilene for Kiwanis Media/PR (August Newton O'Neill Report Attached) • Pieces of Coverage: 11 • Online Readership: 670M • Estimated Coverage Views: 120K dd SUMMARY MONTHLY REPORT - SEPT 2017 4 PIECES OF COVERAGE: 11 SOCIAL SHARES: 388K 2.45K ONLINE READERSHIP: ESTIMATED COVERAGE VIEWS: 42 AVERAGE DOMAIN AUTHORITY: O'Neill COMMUNICATIONS CITIES _ P culturemap A UST I RESTAURANTS +BARS ENTERTAINMENT ARTS SOCIETY CITY GWOE EVENTS SUBSCRIBE f CITY LIFE FASHION . BEAUTY REAL ESTATE HOME • DESIGN INNOVATION TRAVEL VIDEO CM EVENTS Home .Travel EXPLORING TEXAS 5 incredible caves to explore just outside of Austin By Cindy Brzostowski 9.5 971 1 B.59 am © El Cave Without a Name. in Elaorne. Photo b/Tom Summers xer • Austin and its surrounding areas are known for beautiful Hill Country landscapes and plenty of outdoor recreation options — but don't forget to explore the awesome sights underground, too. You can up the adventure by making a day trip to one of these showstopping caves near the city. Longhorn Cavern State Park If the walls could talk at Longhorn Cavern, boy would they have some great stories to tell. Comanche Indians once used the cavern, a detail that's been honored in the naming of one of the rooms the Indian Council Room. During the Civil War, Confederates manufactured gunpowder inside with the help of the plentiful supply bat guano (aka bat poop). In the 192os Prohibition Era, it became a speakeasy and dance hall, and in the 193os, the Civilian Conservation Corps got to work clearing passages. And while there's no evidence to prove it, legend has it that Old West outlaw Sam Bass hid his stolen millions somewhere inside. You can learn all about these stories and more — and of course, see the cavern's truly unique formations — by hopping onto their guided walking tour, which is offered 364 days out of the year. Those looking for something off -the -beaten path can get down and dirty on the Wild Cave Tour, crawling through the cave's undeveloped lower level. If LATEST NEWS 5 ▪ incredible caves to explore just outside of Austin ' Talk of social climbing hits home on Real Housewives of Dallas ▪ I Do... Until I Don't is mostly a big don't ▪ These are the to best things to do in Austin this month ▪ This is how much hotter Austin could get by 2100 SEE ALL LATEST NEWS > Reliant Bright Ideas Austin 8/25 Weather Hurricane Harvey with these storm safety tips KICKAPOO e3LUCKY EAGLE CAS INO•HOTEL 6/9 Blaze a winning streak this summer at South Texas' hottest casino 5/4 See all the big ways this South Texas casino is welcoming spring 3/28 Win big while escaping to South Texas' premier casino MUTE PROPERTY O0P5R SOTH!Br5 1141TERHATIONA1. MALTY Q/1 Caring for others helps propel this Austin Realtor to success 8130 This roomy Austin condo puts you right in the heart of everything 8/25 The options are endless for this awe-inspiring Hill Country acreage WHERE TO E A- 8/22 Where to eat in Austin right no.,.: 7 buzzworthy restaurants for August 7191t 1nmsw m nut in Al icennnht now. CultureMap Austin SEP 5 2017 (IMAGE 1 OF 2) (EST.) MONTHLY VISITS: (EST.) COVERAGE VIEWS: DOMAIN AUTHORITY: 10 1 NEWTON O'Neill COMMUNICATIONS 387K 2.11 K 61 8 best restaurants for soMetruno new you're an avid photographer, you might go for their Photography Tour that lets you shoot the cave's most scenic spots at your leisure. 6211 Park Road 4 S, Burnet Inner Space Cavern Located around 3o minutes north of Austin just off the highway in Georgetown is Inner Space Cavern. The fact that it's literally right off the highway makes complete sense seeing as it was discovered when the Texas Highway Department was constructing I-35. Spelunkers started exploring the cavern in 1963, and it officially opened to the public in 1966. Activity in the cave dates back much further than the'6os though. During the Ice Age, plenty of prehistoric animals met their demise after getting trapped in the cavern. They've found fossils of at least 44 different species within the cave, J.J. of which are now extinct, including the saber-toothed cat and ground sloth. Inner Space Cavern offers visitors their choice from three different tours. The Adventure Tour is the standard route following the lit pathway. The Hidden Passages Tour gets a bit more rugged and has you going on an undeveloped trail with a flashlight. The Wild Cave Tour is perfect for thrill -seekers who want to go completely off trail, navigating the cave's undeveloped sections. 4200 S. T-35 Frontage Rd., Georgetown Natural Bridge Caverns Discovered back in 1960 by a group of spelunking St. Marys University students, Natural Bridge Caverns are probably the most well-known and most -visited caverns in the area — and they're definitely the largest. The name comes from the 60-foot slab of limestone that was left after a sinkhole collapsed and now stretches above the entrance. There are a few different ways to explore Natural Bridge Caverns. Whether you choose the Discovery Tour, Hidden Passages Tour, or Lantern Tour, you're sure to be wowed by the awe-inspiring formations in these extensive caverns. Before or after your tour, check out the additional activities onsite that make this attraction feel like a mini theme park. You can tackle new heights on the canopy obstacle course, soar through the air on the zip lines, navigate the maze, or go gem and fossil mining. When you need a little break, pop into Big Daddy's Sweets, Treats, and Brew for some refreshments or grab a meal in Cavern Cafe inside the Visitor Center. It isn't hard to have a fun -filled family outing at this spot. 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd., San Antonio Cave Without a Name It's true — this cave actually is called Cave Without a Name, and a name like that deserves some explaining. After the property owner decided to open it to the public in 1939, there was a statewide contest to name it, prompting a young boy to say that the cave was too beautiful to have a name. He earned the prize and despite short-lived efforts to change it, this is the name that stuck. Before all of that, people discovered the cave when they went after a goat that fell in through an opening, and eventually, others used it as a moonshine distillery during Prohibition. But it wasn't until three intrepid, local kids found the sinkhole in 1935 and explored the cave's inner chambers that people really began to take an interest. A tour takes about an hour and includes going through six stunning formation rooms. A notable draw ofCave Without a Name is how it hosts musical events throughout the year in its Cave Throne Room, which offers fantastic natural acoustics and makes for an unforgettable experience. 6/19 Where to eat in Austin right now: 6 hot new food trucks for summer CultureMap Austin SEP52017 (IMAGE 2 OF 2) (EST.) MONTHLY VISITS: (EST.) COVERAGE VIEWS: DOMAIN AUTHORITY: 10 1 NEWTON O'Neill 387K 2.11 K 61 vm� ICrentzhvrn Rd Rnvrne COMMUNICATIONS miles Destinations Food Lodging Cruises About Join FB Group f Q MilesGeek E ESTI,0 1 J FEN?EIFEL IA/eel/Gm Getaways austm rezas Georgetown Texas: Gorgeous Town Square, Blue and Black Holes, and Monumental Food BY SCOTT KENDALL POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 20. 2017 11:00AM Once a sleepy small town an hour north of Austin, Georgetown, Texas has experienced immense growth as the suburbs continue their sprawl away from Austin. Somehow, despite the growth, Georgetown has managed to maintain that charm and friendliness small-town Texas is known for. A good part of the reason Georgetown has retained its character and homey environs is because of its gorgeous town square. In fact, many locals and visitors have declared that downtown Georgetown is "The Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas." After spending several days in this wonderful town, it would be hard to argue against that declaration. Add in the refreshing Blue Hole, the intriguing black holes of the Inner Space Caverns, great shops, wineries and tantalizing food. With ail it has going for it, Georgetown, Texas is worthy of its reputation as a great getaway destination. FREE COURSE Free Travel Hacking Course Coming Soon y Sign up now to get access to thiscourse! SEP 20 2017 (EST.) MONTHLY VISITS: (EST.) COVERAGE VIEWS: DOMAIN AUTHORITY: NEWTON O'Neill COMMUNICATIONS 1.48K 332 23 Town Square In addition to the neoclassical Williamson County Courthouse as its centerpiece, there are many other architectural beauties around town square. The onion domed spiral of the old limestone Masonic Lodge is a signature feature of the Square. Once a drugstore, a post office, and a furniture store, the building now houses Gumbo's, a favorite local bar and eatery. The gingerbread detailing of the 1891 Mileham Building is striking at 708 Austin Avenue. The stone work and Corinthian columns on the Farmers State Bank are also an incredible sight. For those interested in history, the Williamson County Museum and more than 20 historical markers surround the Square. Tour the courthouse and browse through this 1911 gem. See the statue and plaque that commemorate District Attorney Dan Moodys fight against the Ku Klux Klan in the famous 1923 trials. And don't miss the statue of 3-Legged Willie outside the museum. The Blue Hole and Lake Georgetown No small town in Texas is complete without some place to cool down during the sweltering summer months. Georgetown's answers are The Blue Hole and Georgetown Lake. The Blue Hole is convenient to downtown, located just five blocks north of the Square west of Austin Avenue. People of all ages flock to this urban oasis, where there are safe areas for younger children and non -swimmers, as well as deeper areas for swimming, kayaking or canoeing. This area of the San Gabriel River offers a great view of the limestone bluffs that border the lagoon on its north side. Just a few minutes from downtown, Lake Georgetown is a 1,200-acre lake that offers boating, skiing, fishine. camoine and hikine trails. MilesGeek SEP 20 2017 (EST.) MONTHLY VISITS: (EST.) COVERAGE VIEWS: DOMAIN AUTHORITY: NEWTON O'Neill COMMUNICATIONS 1.48K 332 23 Inner Space Caverns When the Texas Highway Department was drilling core samples in the spring of 1963 in preparation for the construction of a section of Interstate 35, the drill bit suddenly hit nothing but empty space. After drilling forty feet down through solid limestone, drillers had entered one of the caverns that had lain forever hidden beneath the surface. Opened to the public in 1966, Inner Space Caverns has welcomed hundreds of thousands of wide eyed visitors to its deep black holes_ The Adventure Tour is the most popular tour at the caverns, with a trained guide taking visitors through a well -lit pathway through this underground marvel. Tours start every 20 - 30 minutes, and no reservations are required. Tickets are $12.95 for children and $20.95 for adults. More adventurous visitors can tackle the Hidden Passages Tour or the more physically demanding 3 Yz -4-hour Wild Cave Tour. Inner Space Caverns are conveniently located at 4200 Frontage Road I-35 South. MilesGeek SEP 20 2017 (EST.) MONTHLY VISITS: (EST.) COVERAGE VIEWS: DOMAIN AUTHORITY: NEWTON O'Neill COMMUNICATIONS 1.48K 332 23 MilesGeek Georgetown Texas Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center The Sheraton Georgetown Hotel and Conference Center is a gorgeous new facility that opened in the summer of 2016. Set on the banks of the San Gabriel River, this 222-room hotel is the perfect place to base your visit to Georgetown. join friends and colleagues in the modern and stylish lobby at Jack's Lounge. Or have a bite to eat in the restaurant. Then head out to the pool to soak in the sun and splash in the refreshing pool. Not in the mood for a swim? Visit any of the many nearby attractions. In addition to servicing individual travelers, couples, and families, the Sheraton is the ideal hill country venue to host business meetings, reunions, conventions and other events. With several meeting rooms and the large San Gabriel Ballroom, the Sheraton can accommodate large groups with full services. Even though The Sheraton is tucked away in its own little corner of the hill country, it is conveniently located just off 1-35 with lots of places for shopping and eating nearby. Where to Eat in Georgetown Monument Cafe Georgetown is home to numerous dining options, from burgers and pizza to fine dining. The Monument Cafe is a Georgetown institution, feeding locals and visitors since 1995, when Rusty Winkstern, a New York farmboy, opened the doors that spring. The cafe has been joined by EI Monumento and the Monument Market over the years, ensuring that the Monument family of eateries can satisfy hungry diners any time of day or night. SEP 20 2017 (EST.) MONTHLY VISITS: (EST.) COVERAGE VIEWS: DOMAIN AUTHORITY: NEWTON O'Neill COMMUNICATIONS 1.48K 332 23 The original Monument Cafe, located at 500 South Austin Avenue, serves only the freshest meats, seafood, and produce. They use mostly organic ingredients from the local area. The cafe serves hundreds of meals each day, taking pride in the quality of each and every meal. The cafe is open daily from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. We arrived to the bustling restaurant for a Saturday morning breakfast. Although very busy, we were seated immediately. The waitress brought water and hot coffee right away, while we perused the tempting menu items and took in the tantalizing aromas. My wife ordered the delicious Avocado Toast, scrambled eggs atop sourdough toast, with hand -mashed avocado, grilled tomato, caramelized onions, and sriracha sauce. 1 ordered the hearty Housemade Corned Beef Hash and Eggs, a tasty meal with two fried eggs over the corned beef with crispy potatoes, caramelized onions, and poblano peppers. For our "breakfast dessert` we shared a delicious cinnamon raisin pancake, which was a great ending to our meal. in addition to the extensive breakfast menu, the Monument Cafe serves lunch. Their lunch menu offers a good selection of sandwiches, burgers, chicken dishes, seafood and salads available until 3:00 pm. MilesGeek SEP 20 2017 (EST.) MONTHLY VISITS: (EST.) COVERAGE VIEWS: DOMAIN AUTHORITY: NEWTON O'Neill COMMUNICATIONS 1.48K 332 23 The Monument Market and El Monumento MilesGeek After breakfast, we browsed through the intriguing Monument Market, located adjacent to the Monument Cafe. The market has a nice selection of fresh, locally produced products. They are only available when in season, are organic, natural, and unprocessed. Included in the wide variety of products are beef, chicken, seafood and eggs. [n addition, they carry local produce and a variety of teas, coffees, Texas wines, artisanal beers and other local products. They also serve light breakfast or lunch. Fueled by breakfast, we spent the morning at the inner Space Caverns, working up our lunch appetite. After our wonderful experience at Monument Cafe, we were excited about trying their sister restaurant, El Monumento, for lunch_ The restaurant overlooks The Blue Hoie to the northwest, with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. On weekends, El Monumento has a brunch available from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm. They reopen for late lunch and dinner at 3:00 pm. Hours are Sun -Thu: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm, and Fri -Sat: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm. We went Saturday around 1:00 for the brunch buffet, and started with traditional breakfast items like pancakes and maple chipotle bacon. We followed with two types of green salads, grilled chicken with onions and peppers, seasoned ground beef, rice, charro and black beans, and housemade tortillas. A perfect finish was a selection of tres leches cake, strawberries with fresh whipped cream, brownies, and delicious cinnamon crisps. SEP 20 2017 (EST.) MONTHLY VISITS: (EST.) COVERAGE VIEWS: DOMAIN AUTHORITY: NEWTON O'Neill COMMUNICATIONS 1.48K 332 23 Wildfire Restaurant For fine dining in Georgetown, look no further than Wildfire Restaurant on Austin Avenue, next door to The Palace Theater. My wife had one of the specials for the night, a tender white filet of seabass, served on a bed of greens and risotto. I had the delicious Macadamia Encrusted Jumbo Shrimp. The shrimp came with wild mushroom Arborio rice, sweet pepper snow peas, pineapple pico de gallo, and a tasty mango cocktail sauce. With both of us craving chocolate, dessert was a delicious chocolate cake with a sinfully sweet mousse and chunks of cheesecake. 72 Hours in Georgetown Georgetown Texas is furl of unique shops, including antiques, clothing, toys, and specialty items. There are also several wineries with storefronts in the Square, including Georgetown Winery and Grape Creek Vineyards. Both wineries have fun tastings and good wines, and often feature live entertainment. Beer lovers can check out Red Poppy Red or one of the other brews at the local family owned Rentsch Brewery. MilesGeek SEP 20 2017 (EST.) MONTHLY VISITS: (EST.) COVERAGE VIEWS: DOMAIN AUTHORITY: NEWTON O'Neill COMMUNICATIONS 1.48K 332 23 We felt relaxed and re -energized after our stay in Georgetown. Less than an hour north of Austin, this friendly town with the most beautiful square in Texas is calling your name. So head on over to Georgetown. Take a dip in the Blue Hole and explore the black holes of the caverns. Shop and browse, and learn about the fascinating local history. Enjoy some good casual home cooking or fine dining catch a show at The Palace Theatre, and at night rest your head in the comfort of the Sheraton Resort. You may not want to leave! Read about the Mesquite Creek Oufitters in Georgetown on MilesGeek. Scott Kendall ¥ f Share with Friends y Tweet Me Recently Published Stories LEST 11�4TI0� A,INCLP W._ 4M1[ILIILTI1PC With History Comes Hauntings — The New York State Capitol Has Its Fair Share The exact moment I lay my eyes on The New York State Capitol Building, set regally Mop State Street hill CGniT Tp Cp.iT Shasta Cascades — A Nature Louer's Nirvana MilesGeek SEP 20 2017 (EST.) MONTHLY VISITS: (EST.) COVERAGE VIEWS: DOMAIN AUTHORITY: NEWTON O'Neill 1.48K 332 23 When renowned American naturalistJohn Muir first caught site of Mount Shasta Dyer COMMUNICATIONS the braided folds of the Sacramento Valley Scott Kendall • September L:: _'_ Lk. it -71 I. 41,..CLINF The Art of Play — Rochester's The Strong National Museum of Play, Takes it to Heart Rochester, New York. R's certainly avibrant, thriving colorful cityfilled with rich history, arts and culture. No matter what Scot[ Kendall - September !O, JOT! HOME DESTINATIONS FOOD LODGING CRUISES ABOUT JOIN FB GROUP Copyright 2017 By MilesOeek MilesGeek SEP 20 2017 (EST.) MONTHLY VISITS: (EST.) COVERAGE VIEWS: DOMAIN AUTHORITY: NEWTON O'Neill 1.48K 332 23 COMMUNICATIONS Marilyn Jones @Travell4atilvn Travel writer, editor, photographer, 0 Henderson, T t rav e l wit h m a ri l yr . c o m E Jamed July 2012 jMarilyn Jones arch Twltlnr EFollow Halloween Events in Georgetown, #Texas - Haunted House and Ghosts! bit.ly/2wSRVgn @visitgeorgetown @texastourism #Halloween 403 PM - 26 Sep 2017 1 Retweet 3 Likes iirp SO Q Have an account', Log in— �_.I. inin.i .I:aut Marilyn Jones' Twitter SEP 26 2017 I:G 23.8k followers NEWTON O'Neill COMMUNICATIONS 'RAVELTEXAS.COP' Texas Tourisme @die •:astoulism We're Texas Tourism, the state's oiti tourism marketing entity. Follow us for latest on diverse adventures and vacation experiences in Texas. #Texplorei t Te000 7 trnyeltexas.00Ill [] Joined June 2009 Texas Tourism — texastourlsm Search mvltlxr Q Have an account? Log in - Follow ) Prepare for a spooky time on a ghost tour in @visitgeorgetown during Oct. Promise we won't tell if you scream. Ghosts of the Georgetown Square Friday, October 13 Join us as we tell the stories of the ghosts who have haunted local places for more than a hundred years. The costumed docent -led tours leave the museum at 7:30. williamsonmuseum.org 2:00 PM - 25 Sep 2017 4 Retweets 9 Likes a •4, 1,•••: 9 o L-1 4 c) 9 Visit Georgetown, TX @visitgeorgetown - Sep 25 Replying to @texastourism Thanks for the great shout out' 9 27 0 V Iweabeek.com/TesesTourlsins pintert•l 2nn /TeiesOouriem inetearnm, a erN7 ... Tou riem y oul u b a. camN a vn r/ Trace l Tim i d oo a plus.google.cnm!-r TeaerTuurism pm. Twitter SEP 25 2017 NEWTON O'Neill COMMUNICATIONS