Sculpture Unveiling at Downtown Branson Merchants Association Headquarters (Video)

Downtown Branson Plumb Nellie Days Success

 

 

 

 

Downtown Branson's Plumb Nellie Days attracted hundreds of tourists to Branson's Historic District this weekend. In a sense, the festival is a celebration of the Hillbilly arts - homespun - handmade entertainment arts and crafts.
Photos by Darin Codon - Rico J - Sally Kaucher and Chuck Pennel

Branson Downtown Merchants Association Reorganizes With New Board and New Director

 

The Branson Downtown Merchants Association met last week with a new board and new rules of governance.
The Board made a transition earlier this year from a membership to a self perpetuating board, as a result - elections are no longer needed to sustain the psuedo-government entities board appointments.
The move from a membership to a self=perpetuating body came in the wake of controversy incited by Downtown Branson merchants who felt a division between the organization and economic needs of the historic district.
No members of the media, except for the Branson Edge were presend at last Tuesday's meeting where finances and an appointment announced today was discussed.
In a press release, the DBMA board announced Dawn Erickson will fill the DBMA's top paid position starting Monday in a press release an hour ago.

(The photo posted above is of the current DBMA board. In typical fashion, no members of the press were present - Except for the Branson Edge.

Historic Downtown Branson

 

Merchants in Downtown Branson formed an organization last year to combat a sluggish economy and to return the thriving economy Downtown merchants once experienced.

In a sense, Downtown Branson is the anchor tenant of Branson. Times change and with it the Branson landscape changes. New additions to Branson sway the focus of marketing groups and organizations towards the new to bring in new customers.

This summer, the Downtown Branson Merchants are bringing new outdoor events including a farmer's market. To help with the launch, a new site for Downtown Branson is in development. Later this week, a press release will be generated to launch the developing Downtown Branson website. The site is being designed to let visitors know what the Historic District in Downtown Branson has to offer.

Downtown Branson Main Street Association Members vote to Discontinue Membership model

Historic Downtown Branson is much like many downtown districts in Missouri and throughout the United States. However, unlike many downtown districts, Downtown Branson has a heart that still beats. Though numbers overall are down...today is different - downtown is alive with seniors with little to no appetite for the latest brassiere innovations peddled down the street at Victoria Secret.

New TIF funded developments have taken a piece of the tourist pie, yet if you walked outside today you wouldn't know the depth of suffering the merchants have endured. It's bustling today.

The Downtown Branson Main Street Association met in a small room near Business 65. The board of directors has been whittled down from seven to three members. The two full time employees are leaving for jobs with the state and the membership model that exists today looks like it's on the way out.

The tally wasn't read but a representative of the board said votes were in favor of the organization moving away from a membership model.

Though I'm not sure what exactly the remaining members of the board are hoping to evolve too - one thing is for certain - a planned coup by some of the downtown merchants seems to be impossible.

AS I walk into the small room I'm met with something foreign to me as I show interest in the organization - kindness. It's refreshing because the intensity of interactions with the "keepers of the record" hasn't been pleasant lately. It's a welcomed change.

The board goes into closed session - since I'm the only one present that isn't on the board - I'm the only one that leaves. Before I go, I remind the board of the merchants - they've been innovating - they are the largest stakeholders - they care about the fate of our historic downtown as the fate of the district determines what bread they'll have on their table.

I run into Jeff Justus on the street after the closed session is over. Justus, uncle of Missouri Senator Jolie Justus, tells me of his connection with the land we stand on. He recalls his great grandfather who spent his life working just two blocks from our sidewalk debate. Sidenote - he worked two years short of a pension.

His name means something, one of the few families whose name is inscribed on the original documents that changed Lucia to Branson.

Four new members of the board must be chosen and if wisely selected an opportunity exists to mend a divided sub-culture in Branson.

Downtown Branson Main Street Association Fate Discussed Tue 11:30

The Downtown Branson Main Street Association (DBMA) issued a voting form to members last week in hopes of privatizing the organization. Business owners accusing the DBMA of ignoring the voices of downtown merchants caused tension resulting in the creation of a break-away organization earlier this year.

The current state of the DBMA is unknown as they are the second worst violators of the Sunshine Law in our area.

A sunshine request made Friday revealed several members of the Board of Directors jumped ship over the past few weeks.

Results from the vote to privatize the DBMA and discard the membership model will be read at the 11:30 meeting.

An announcement that the leadership team of the DBMA has accepted new positions with the state is foreshadowing that the attempt to take the DBMA out of the arms of members was a failure.

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Downtown Branson Main Street Association Resignations

Phyllis VanderNaald and Gayla Roten have reportedly left the Downtown Main Street Association turning in resignations today. Breaking....

Downtown Branson Parking Garage to begin charging after Oct. 1

Hilton's of Branson won the management contract for the Downtown Branson Parking Garage and will begin charging Oct. 1.

Cowboy walks through Downtown Branson

 

Just an interesting photo for you. A man dressed like an outlaw of past randomly walks down the street in Downtown Branson, Mo.

Historic Downtown Branson Business Owners

 

The Historic Downtown Branson Business Owner's association (HDBBO) established a booth at the Branson Convention Center which will host a grand opening event for the public at 4:30 today.
The booths were granted to area business's at a low cost - $100 a booth + $200 for electricity.
The HDBBO was founded by Historic Downtown Branson business owners who experienced a downswing in business over the last two years. The owners felt their interests weren't being fully represented by the Downtown Branson Main Street Association (DBMA).
Since they started just a few months ago they've launched an advertising campaign on cable television, started a bus greeting program and created a walking map of downtown Branson. The group is hopeful the convention center will help bring more traffic to the historic district. The groups efforts have been for the most part ignored by the mainstream media.

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The DBMA has promoted Downtown Branson for many years with a long list of successes. The HDBBO has a place as well. Their existence has motivated the the DBMA to become a better customer service organization.
When covering the story about the HDBBO for the Branson Daily Independent I was threatened by an employee of the competing organization who didn't want the history recorded.
The story was "mild" and encouraged inclusion and cooperation - a philosophy I believe could help both organizations today.
The threat reminded me of a reality - the importance of reporting truth and barriers journalists must face if they truly desire to serve the public.