By Tom McClimon
February 11, 2008

Under the leadership of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee, discussed how to better position tourism and arts issues before the presidential candidates. The mayors strategize on ways to get these issues before the candidates and on the agenda of the new President.

Hannemann began the discussions by reviewing the actions and activities the Committee has taken since its last meeting at the Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in June 2007. We have made some real progress, stated Hannemann. It's time to get the presidential candidates to be more supportive of arts and tourism. Successes include the inclusion of tourism and arts in the Mayors 10-Point Plan, participation in the New Hampshire Arts Presidential Forum, and the inclusion of travel and tourism as a plenary session at the 2008 Winter Meeting. Future activities will include sponsorship of a Presidential Forum on Travel and Tourism in Spring 2008 and a plenary session on tourism at the 76th Annual Conference in June in Miami.

Chuck Merin, President of the Travel Business Roundtable, shared his perspectives on the congressional outlook for passage of the Travel Promotion Act, which would establish a federal program to market the United States overseas. Mayors will be encouraged in contact their Congressional representatives to ask for their support of this bill.

Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Chief Counsel for Americans for the Arts, brought the mayors up-to-date on federal support of the arts which this year saw a 16 percent increase <0x2014> the largest in the past 24 years. She also shared with the mayors an article that appeared recently in Newsweek that stated that support of the arts was included more in the speeches of the presidential candidates. She called upon the mayors to participate in the annual Arts Advocacy Day on April 1.

Scott Hallenbeck, Executive Director of USA Football, spoke on ways his organization can assist cities in developing and supporting local youth football programs. USA Football is the governing body for youth and amateur football and is a partnership between the National Football League and the NFL Players Association. Examples of ways USA Football can assist cities is by grants for equipment, safety education programs and assisting in background checks of coaching personnel. The program also assists in the development of character and responsibility among young people. Additional information about USA Football and the programs they offer can be found at: usafootball.com

Latino Art Beat, a Chicago based not-for profit arts organization that awards scholarships to high school students through its art competitions, unveiled its Latino Art Beat 2008 National Commemorative art poster calendar during the meeting. All first place regional and national winners artwork are featured on the 2008 calendar. In addition, all award winning artwork is displayed at various gallery shows during the following year to profile the young aspiring artist's talents. The 2007 National winner is Cuca la Curandera, by high school senior artist Cathryn Garcia-Menocal from the New World School of the Arts in Miami (FL). The national Latino Art Beat Hispanic Heritage art competition is run in collaboration with the mayor's office and departments of education in participating cities.