On, Wednesday, January 9th, the officers and board members of the Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau held their first meeting of 2013 at Orange Rush Cafe, (formerly Mr. Good Lunch), in the William L. Morris Car Dealership showroom. The meeting was also the first presided over by newly elected president, Kevin Keehl, who welcomed the opportunity to lead the board in 2013. Keehl is the owner/operator of Piru MX and a member of the Piru Neighborhood Council. Another new face on the board of directors was Rick Neal, newly appointed liaison from the City of Fillmore and newly elected City Councilman and Mayor. Other board members present were Cindy Jackson, Immediate Past President representing Sespe Creek Stables and CJ Financial; Talia Wunder, Board Director representing The Best of VC Marketplace, also the liaison and Tourism chair of the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce; Ron Lewis, Board Director and Parliamentarian and President of the Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society and Fillmore member-at-large; Rosa Martel, Board Secretary and liaison from the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce; Maria Christopher, Rancho Camulos Museum; Jim Mendrala, Board Director representing Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society; Donna Stewart, Board Director and owner/operator of the Santa Paula Inn; Kathleen McCreary, Board Director representing Fillmore & Western Railway and office staff for the HVTB; Kathy Long, Board Director and Ventura County Supervisor, District 3, representing the unincorporated areas of the Heritage Valley. Board Secretary, Jeanne Orcutt representative for the California Oil Museum was unable to attend.

Business discussed was forming a committee to review the 2013 budget and based on findings, bringing it back to the board for revision, also clarification of the by-laws as they pertain to term limits for directors and officers. In addition, several board members will meet to review and suggest revisions to create a more inclusive and larger HVTB brochure that would include more of the growing membership businesses and organizations. There were committee and member reports and a discussion regarding the bureau's outreach to both Chambers of Commerce in the valley in cooperation with Supervisor Long to spearhead a workshop with the Ventura County Environmental Health Department and event/festival planners.

The HVTB holds board meetings, with a no-host lunch, every other month, and locations were decided for the remainder of 2013. The meetings rotate between the communities of Piru, Fillmore and Santa Paula. Membership is open to individuals and/or businesses, non-profits, for profits, anyone who is interested in helping the bureau to attract more tourists to the Heritage Valley. The tourism office is located at the east end of Fillmore's downtown Central Park, at 364 Main Street. We welcome locals and visitors to stop in, browse the brochure racks for information on local and regional attractions, museums, restaurants, festivals and many other interesting venues. Office hours are Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm, occasionally closed for tourism meetings offsite and lunch. Be a tourist in your own backyard, visit the bureau, explore the valley.