WCOW General Membership Meeting Minutes

DATE:   February 15, 2026 at Township 23 Distillery, hosted by Zach & Sam Hetrick

Quorum:   11 needed for quorum (28 voting members/40%) Quorum met with 4 proxy votes

Call to Order. Steve M called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm

Secretary’s Report. The minutes of the November 4, 2025 Membership Meeting were presented for approval.  Steve M made a motion to approve the minutes dated November 4, 2025, and Kim K seconded the motion. Vote called; all in favor. Motion carried.

Financial Report. The WCOW bank account has been moved from the Bank of Alma to the Wells Fargo branch in Red Wing for greater efficiency in accounting. The Pepin Tourism Commission has granted $5,000 toward the marketing budget and is exploring additional ways to support WCOW’s budget. The budget for 2026 includes $9,000 for Marketing & Events and $2,500 for Operations. Sue made a motion to approve the financial reports from January 31, and Zach seconded the motion. A vote was called, and all members were in favor; the motion carried.

Bylaws Committee. The Bylaws are likely to change soon as membership categories evolve. The Bylaws will eventually be added to the members' page on the new website.

Operations Report

Membership Committee

·       The membership committee, consisting of Mike G, Aaron G, and Steve M, operates under Operations. This committee will work with each village to establish town leads who will promote membership within their communities. The committee is now expanding its list of potential members.

·       WCOW is transitioning from 5 levels of membership to 2 levels

·       The village of Alma is our first Area Partners participant

Marketing & Events Committee Report

·       The organization is exploring new advertising opportunities across various platforms. This initiative includes a range of services, such as website development, social media marketing, videography, photography, and email marketing. The goal is to integrate a comprehensive marketing agency into WCOW, enabling us to better support our members' needs. It is hoped that this will eventually allow us to offer these services on a fee-for-service basis.

·       Mike encouraged members to visit the website to explore the services being offered. He reported on the soft launch of the new site, mentioning that the initial focus has been on finalizing features and functionality in preparation for adding interactivity. The team has received positive user feedback, and overall, the response has been encouraging.

·       There is a page for WCOW members (go to bottom of website page: WCOW members–Submit an Event) where people can submit an event for the event calendar.

·       The website has a Press page featuring articles from across the country that highlight the West Coast.

·       Amy B reported that anyone who notices changes or edits needed on the website should notify her or an officer via email or send an email to info@thewestcoastofwisconsin.com

·       A member inquired whether the website could incorporate text messaging; Amy will investigate it.

·       The new website also features an interactive business map (access at bottom of webpage) that can be filtered down to business type. The map will continue to evolve with the website.

·       The final deadline for Traveler ads is March 6 to allow adequate time for layout and publishing before the season begins.

Wisconsin’s Great River Road Committee (Wiersma-Pepin Co. Commissioner for WiGRR).

·       Carol reported that there is continuing work being done on the WIGRR website.

·       The WIGRR Travel Planner is scheduled to come out in April.

·       The Washington Post published an article in its January 21 Travel Section about the Driftless Region as a travel destination titled "Where to Go in 2026, Without Crowds."

·       Downriver, the Lansing bridge between Iowa and WI is being removed for the rebuilding of a new bridge scheduled to open in Spring 2027. Meanwhile, ferries will be used to transport cars across the river.

·       Upgraded power lines will be installed across the Mississippi River at Kellogg. The new larger and taller poles will have an impact on visuals.

Other business.

·       Tom H announced that Rustic Road Gallery has undergone a rebranding to its new name, Cooper-Hansen. This year, the gallery has planned a series of events aimed at attracting visitors to the area, encouraging them to extend their stay overnight and explore the local offerings. The events include:

o   The Trillium Festival will take place this year on May 9 and 10 at the American Legion. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Stanley Temple, who collaborates with the Aldo Leopold organization based in Baraboo.

o   The Polinator Celebration will be August 8 & 9; the keynote speaker will be Heather Holm, a pollinator conservationist and award-winning author.

o   Tiffany Bottoms train rides to be held on September 19 & 26. Anyone wishing to participate by donating gift bag door prizes or coupons for the riders may do so.

·       Village captains will serve as the main contacts in each community, reporting to the Operations Committee. Their responsibilities include adding events to the event calendar, submitting village content, and managing the membership drive in their community. We are currently looking for captains in Pepin, Nelson, and Bay City. Anyone interested should reach out to Steve M for more information.

·       On March 18, Woods & Co in Pepin will host the PBS premiere of the episode of “Main Street with John McGivern,” which was filmed along the West Coast last summer. Free tickets are available on Eventbrite. Additionally, WCOW's marketing committee will meet on February 23 to discuss arrangements for the event.

Village Updates

·       Bay City. Nothing new to report

·       Maiden Rock. Nothing new to report

·       Stockholm. Great River Press owned by Emily Gray Koehler is moving into the former Hugga Bugga building. The Speckled Alder, a gallery and wellness space, is situated in the former Sandy’s building. Additionally, this new business includes an Airbnb space on the second floor.

·       Pepin. The Garden Pub & Grille will reopen this spring under new ownership. The Pepin Tourism Commission continues to support short-term rental properties as the village of Pepin discusses ordinances regarding these rentals.

·       Nelson. Beth’s Café is for sale; it is currently closed. Belly Up Hub & Grub in the former Nelson Hotel Restaurant is up and running. The former Handy Mart is now called Refuel Pantry.

Adjourn. Zach made a motion to adjourn, and Erin seconded the motion. Vote called; all in favor. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:32 pm

Submitted by Sue Fedie, Secretary