About halfway through the meeting with the Tourism Commission of the New Mexico Tourism Department, Chairman Ted Garcia turned the meeting over to audience members to give the commission input.

Julie Minicucci, Silver City Arts and Cultural District executive director, asked if advertising dollars could be used for damage control.

Cissy McAndrew, Southwest New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce executive director, noted that the Whitewater-Baldy fire was a "real challenge for us. Every press release was datelined Sliver City. It was the same in Ruidoso with the Little Bear Fire. We still get calls asking if it is still smoky."

"We have to carry water to the media," Garcia said. "Be consistent and loud. Go to the owners, all of them at CNN, NBC and all the others. They are under economic duress. You have to frame the issue. Do it now with 'we have a fire season every year. Let me educate you.'"

Cynthia Bettison, Silver City mayor pro tem and director of the Western New Mexico University Museum, said social media works. "People want to hear about us on Twitter and Facebook."

Tourism Department Secretary Monique Jacobson said to use Facebook. "Take a photo and post it saying Silver City is not burning."

Mary Alice Murphy of the Grant County Beat pointed out that during fire season her website gets more hits than at any other time of year, but "at the same time, I post the articles asking people to come to Silver City, where it is not burning."

Andrew Loescher of the Forest Service Gila National Forest said the agency took a lot of effort to combat the negatives of the fire. "We try to put out information on the fire."

Kelly Russell, Gila National Forest supervisor, said news releases gave the status of the fire and what attractions were open.

McAndrew said she had been informed that the Catwalk was partially open. "We would like to be informed."

Pat Morrison, Glenwood District Ranger of the Gila National Forest, said between the danger to Glenwood from flooding and for public safety, the Catwalk was partially dismantled. "We have it partially open to the trail. We have moved the toilets to higher ground, and it will be 60-90 days before they are complete. We are working on getting the first bridge re-installed, so visitors can go up the old Civilian Conservation Corps trail and come back by way of the bridge.

"We are also doing a redesign, so it is more flood resistant," Morrison continued. "We anticipate for the next three to five years that flooding will be higher. About three times a year, we will have to close the Catwalk—if there is a rain on snow event; during the monsoon season, if there is high run-off in Whitewater Creek; and the highest risk is in the fall with the rain from a hurricane sitting on top of us, but for that we usually have adequate warning."

She said the Forest Service is working on a contract to put the Catwalk back up to the hexagon turn-around, "hopefully by spring."

The ADA-compliant trail should be completed soon.

"We are also working on news releases for tourism on the Gila," Morrison said. "My entire portion of the Gila Wilderness burned and the trails are in bad shape."

The good news she reported is that work has begun on the development of the Dark Skies Campground road and loop. "The astronomy community is really excited and will pour the telescope pads. The campground is near Alma and is reservation only, so that astronomy groups can ensure dark skies for their purposes. The road should be complete by next week."

McAndrew reported that tourism in the area is flat and maybe down 1 percent. "We feel the fire has impacted our tourism. A lot of people from Europe were disappointed. When they planned their trip, everything was fine, but with the fire, we could not meet their expectations."

She said the forest is a great asset to the area. The Pickamania! event had bad weather last year, so that kept attendance down.

To a question from the commission, Faye McCalmont, Mimbres Region Arts Council executive director, explained Pickamania! is a musical event comprised predominantly of blue grass and other picked music.

She said the alcohol laws are a problem for event organizers, who have to "jump through so many hoops. At the weekend art event, the galleries used to have wine and cheese. Not any more, and the hours for alcohol are limited during any event."

Commissioner Al Lucero said the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Festival had new hurdles this year because of the changes in law. "You probably know you can use picnic licenses and go that route. The galleries in Santa Fe screwed up when people began walking around with wine glasses in their hands. It hurt them." He gave McCalmont some suggestions of whom to call to work around the hurdles.

"We are also limited by the number of licenses in the county and city," McCalmont said.

Grant County Commission Chairman Brett Kasten said he totally agreed with McCalmont. "The alcohol license rules are not just restrictive; they are regressive. Arizona and Colorado are liberal with alcohol licenses. New Mexico is not."

Nick Seibel, Silver City MainStreet Project manager, said the group's No. 1 priority is pursuing liquor reform in the state. "The value of a license is so much more in a larger town than a smaller town, so the urban areas buy up the licenses in small towns, thereby limiting the number available in a rural area."

Lucero said four pieces of legislation have been proposed. One is to allow wine bars without requiring they serve food, and another is that a hotel can get a dispenser's license for room service and a convenience bar in the room. Another is to take away the restriction on Election Day. Siebel said the fourth on is to have a rural license, which costs less and cannot be transferred to an urban area. Lucero encouraged people to talk to their legislators and ask them to act.

Becky O'Connor, owner of Casitas de Gila said a Bed and Breakfast license at a reduced prices would be useful just for guests of the lodging.

Garcia said the state needs laws in place to support rural areas and pledged to work together with the area.

Lucero said much of the information needed was available on the New Mexico Restaurant Association's website, or, if not, it listed a number to call.

Commissioner Randy Randall cautioned that when dealing with alcohol issues, "the DUI folks will oppose anything making it more liberal, and they are very strong."

Morrison changed the subject and said there is excitement about seeing how the burned high country recovers. "Glenwood did an incredible job of preparing for floods. If the worst happens, they are as prepared as they can be."

Bettison invited the commissioners to visit the university museum to see the NAN Ranch Collection. "We are changing exhibits to showcase it. The collection makes us now, not just a museum, but a research center."

Cecilia Bell, Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society president, said: "I will take off my Fort Bayard hat. The Oregon-California Trail will soon also be in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana, along the Butterfield Trail. We need to capitalize on it. It's a brand new portion for our part."

O'Connor asked all of those present with events email lists to put lodging providers on them, "so we can tell people what's going on."

Jacobson suggested events be put on the New Mexico Tourism site. O'Connor said that she likes to put the information in the rooms, so visitors know what's going on.

Tracy Spikes, Silver City Museum director, said: "I think southwest New Mexico is the front door to New Mexico."

State Rep. Rodolpho "Rudy" Martinez asked Lucero whether chile was spelled with an e or an i. Lucero replied: "e."

Martinez recounted a recent trip to Casas Grandes, where they encountered a tour bus. "The director asked me what there was to see in Grant County. We need to promote every culture."

Minicucci said the area is on board with the Tourism campaign. "We're beginning to see results. You've set the bar, and we're inching up."

"You've been an incredible example of New Mexico True," Jacobson replied.

McAndrew said the area would be losing Minicucci to California.

"We appreciate you," McAndrew said, as a wrap up, to Jacobson. "Our community is genuine. We will continue to work on communication and collaboration. We want to continue to work with the state. We'd love to give you a personal tour of the area."