The board shall develop a strategic visitors and conventioneers plan and recommend modifications to the plan as necessary.  Provide input to the Harlingen Convention and Visitors Bureau Department regarding tourism strategies and visitors and conventioneers activities in the city.  The Board members

Membership:

The Board of Directors will be created and will be composed of thirteen members (13) members.  Five members shall be appointed one by each City Commissioner, seven members shall be appointed by the organization they represent and one ex-officio Board Member.  Each member of the City Commission except the Mayor, shall one (1) appointee to the Board and the Board members shall serve a term concurrent with the Commissioner who made the appointment.  All members of the Board shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age.  Members appointed to the Board must reside within the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District jurisdictional boundary or work at or operate a business within the corporate city limits of the City of Harlingen, Texas.

Membership on the Board shall be comprised of the following.   Each City Commissioner, except for the Mayor, shall have one appointment to the Board of Directors and the Board members shall be made from the following sectors:  Two (2) individuals who are owners of a Hotel or Motel in Harlingen or who work in a local Hotel or Motel; One (1) individual who is the owner of a restaurant in Harlingen or works in a local restaurant in a managerial capacity; One (1) individual who serves on the Board of Directors of any local sports organization that utilizes the City Parks; and one (1) individual who is employed by a local car rental agency in Harlingen.  The City Commission will draw lots to determine which Commissioner will make an appointment from the particular sector.

In addition to the appointments made by the City Commission, the following organizations will also have a member serve on the Board of Directors.  The Harlingen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce themselves shall appoint one (1) member who serves on the Harlingen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors or who is employed by the Chamber; the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce themselves shall appoint one (1) member who serves on the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors or who is employed by the Chamber, the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival themselves shall appoint one (1) person from their organization to serve on the Board of Directors; the Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre themselves shall appoint one (1) member who serves on their Board of Directors or who is employed by the Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre; the Downtown Improvement District themselves shall appoint one (1) member who serves on the Board of Directors or is an employee of the Downtown Improvement District; the Recreational Vehicle Association shall appoint one (1) member from their association who is a Harlingen resident; and the Marine Military Academy themselves shall appoint one (1) who is employed at the Marine Military Academy.  The Assistant City Manager shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Board.  The Board members not appointed by the City Commission shall serve two (2) year staggered terms.  The members shall draw lots and four of the members shall serve a two-year term and three members shall initially serve one-year terms.  Thereafter the initial term, all Board members shall serve two-year terms. 

A quorum for the Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of six (6) Board Members for official action.  Any Board member who fails to attend four (4) consecutive monthly meetings shall forfeit such position. 

The Board members shall choose from among its membership a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for a one-year term.  The Chairman shall preside over the Board meetings.  The Vice-Chairman shall act in the capacity of the Chairman in the Chairman’s absence.