CAMDEN — The Camden Advertising and Promotion Commission met Tuesday to hear several first requests, and the group voted to approve one request for an October event.
The first presentation made was by Robyn Yarbro from the Camden News. She made a request for Christmas advertising. This year, the newspaper wants to place "Moments" booklets in both the Camden News and the Bargain Leader. This would bring the number of people who receive the booklet of recipes, ideas, and other Christmas-related items from around 3,300 people to around 15,000 people. The funds being requested for this booklet - which will be in full color and glossy - would total $3,300.
Commission Chairman Clara Freeland said that the Camden News was budgeted for $1,600, so if the full amount is approved, the difference would have to come from the A&P's contingency fund. The reading for the request was only the first, so Yarbro was asked to return to the A&P's October meeting for an answer.
Latisha Landers from The Shopper’s Guide also made a presentation regarding Christmas advertising. Last year, the publication placed advertising the corners of its pages in order to grab the attention of readers. Landers stated that there will be eight Wednesdays during this campaign, and the circulation of the guide is 10,000.
Freeland said: “The request falls within the parameters of the budget, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”
This was, however, only a first reading, so Landers will have to return next month for an official response.
The third request was from the African American Historical Commission of Camden - represented by Patric Flannigan, Bradley Copeland, and Stephone Avery on behalf of Terry Calahan who could not attend the meeting. The group usually holds an MLK Day event and it is requesting that the budget for that event be increased from $3,000 to $4,000 to allow for advertising in a larger area to bring more people to Camden for the event. Flannigan also mentioned attempting to book more well-known artists for the event to draw a bigger crowd. The event is not until January, but since the commission does not meet in December, a vote will have to take place on or before the November meeting.
Freeland asked Flannigan to return to next month’s meeting.
Bill Hawkins, representing the Ouachita County Historical Commission, presented the A&P commissioners with a proposal to create a map of historical sites in Camden and Ouachita County. It was stated by commissioners that the project is not in the budget, and will have to be added to the 2017 budget if the commission grants the funds. This would be done as a project with other historical organizations, such as the African American Historical Society, the Ouachita County Historical Society, and others. The map will include physical addresses and pinpoint the locations of historical markers, cemeteries, museums, and other locations of importance to the history of Camden and Ouachita County. The project is still in the beginning stages, but the OCHC wanted to make the A&P commissioners aware of the project.
Kathy Boyette of the Ouachita County Historical Society was present to talk about the annual Cemetery Walk that takes place in October. The request should have been voted on during the August meeting, but because there was not a quorum to vote during that time, no business took place at the August meeting.
Because the event is next month, the A&P commissioners needed to vote at this meeting to grant the funds.
Boyette said the walk is regarding the history surrounding the cemeteries, and that people from other states come to Camden just to take part in the Cemetery Walk. Boyette - who says that the OCHS takes on the responsibility of the upkeep of the cemetery - told commissioners that the annual walk is historical group's biggest fundraiser.
Freeland referred to her notes and said that they were requesting $2,000 and they were budgeted for $2,000. The commission voted to approve the request and grant the funds for the walk.