News
2008
January 10, 2008 -
Register For The 2008 National Main Streets Conference
Registration is now open for the 2008 Main Streets Conference, March 30-April 2, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 2008 National Main Streets Conference will explore the ways entrepreneurship and diversity enrich commercial districts. These qualities add to the local flavor, create a true reflection of a community, contribute to an authentic identity and exciting business mix - all essential motivations that bring customers, tourists, new residents, and cool businesses to your district.
January 14, 2008 -
Role Models
The other day my sweet, innocent baby girl [She’s eight, Michelle, not a baby anymore. — Ed.] told me she wants to be like Britney Spears when she grows up. The conversation went something like this:
January 15, 2008 -
Register For "Power Workshops I: Strength Training For Byways"
The America’s Byways Resource Center will offer Power Workshops I: Strength Training for Byways, February 21-22, 2008, at the BLM National Training Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Participants will learn to assess their byway’s sustainability indicators for managing resources, organizations and financial health.
January 23, 2008 -
Family Ties
During the 2007 National Scenic Byways Conference, I hosted a special luncheon to introduce Scott Sufficool, Tribal Liaison, to a small group of Tribal members and individuals who helped the Resource Center establish the position. This was Scott’s first day on the job - literally.
"Power Workshops I" Hotel Reservation Deadline Approaching
Make your hotel reservations now to attend Power Workshops I: Strength Training for Byways. The hotel group rate of $156/night plus tax will expire on Friday, January 25, 2008. For complete lodging and workshop details and to register, click here.
January 29, 2008 -
Apply Now For National Trust's Preservation Leadership Training
The National Trust for Historic Preservation will offer Preservation Leadership Training (PLT) June 21-28, 2008, in Portland, Maine. PLT is aimed at staff and volunteer leaders of private, nonprofit preservation organizations, staff of State and local government agencies, members or staff of commissions, and others who are in a position to influence preservation activities in their communities.
February 19, 2008 -
Kathie Knapp Joins Resource Center Staff as Byways Specialist
The America’s Byways Resource Center is pleased to announce that Kathie Knapp has accepted the position of Byways Specialist at the Resource Center in Duluth, Minnesota.
February 21, 2008 -
Call For Presenations: National Trails Symposium
American Trails 19th National Trails Symposium will take place November 15-18, 2008 in Little Rock, Arkansas. To help develop an exciting and motivating program for the Symposium, you are invited to submit ideas for presentations in support of the Symposium’s theme, Innovative Trails: Transforming the American Way of Life. It is expected that 40 concurrent sessions will be offered, each lasting 75 minutes.
February 22, 2008 -
Little Red Dot, Part 2
Remember Robin Gyorgyfalvy’s quest for a little red dot at the 2007 National Scenic Byways Conference in Baltimore? She was asked to travel to China to make a presentation about byways at the International Forum on Geoparks: Interpretation and Sustainable Development. Below, read the report that was published in a US Forest Service newsletter.
February 25, 2008 -
"Where The Wild Things Live" Takes Top "Science And Nature" Honors At NETA 2008
WUFT Television’s production, Where the Wild Things Live, was named 2007’s finest science and nature program (small market) when the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) honored twenty-four public broadcasters with awards Friday on stage at The Columbus Hotel.
March 10, 2008 -
Call for Presentations: 2008 NAI National Workshop
The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) has announced a Call for Presentations for the 2008 NAI National Workshop, November 11-15, in Portland, Oregon. NAI 2008 will feature approximately 100 sessions in 13 tracks. The deadline for proposals is March 31, 2008. To submit a proposal, click here.
March 26, 2008 -
Connect Grants For Culturally Diverse Communities
March 25, 2008 (Boulder, CO) - The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is
currently accepting applications for its Connect Grants program for Culturally Diverse Communities. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide.
March 28, 2008 -
Green Infrastructure Workshop, May 5-9, 2008
A Green Infrastructure Workshop will take place May 5-9, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This unique course will provide a strategic approach for prioritizing conservation opportunities and a planning framework for integrating green and built infrastructure alike.
April 17, 2008 -
Count Down
Sixteen days. My son Wyatt knows what happens in sixteen days. It’s the big fishing opener in Wisconsin. He has asked me every day for the last two months, “When can we go fishing Mom?” Soon, Wyatt. Soon.
April 23, 2008 -
Historic Trails Preservation Workshop, May 6-8, 2008
Join the Partnership for the National Trails System as it holds a Workshop on Historic Trail Preservation May 6 - 8th in Phoenix, Arizona. The Workshop will take place at the Bureau of Land Management National Training Center, 9828 N. 31st Ave.
May 12, 2008 -
Our Native Pathways: Byway Opportunities For Indian Tribes, June 17-18, 2008
The America’s Byways Resource Center will sponsor Our Native Pathways: Byway Opportunities for Indian Tribes, June 17-18, 2008, in Portland, Oregon. The purpose of this meeting, funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is to introduce Tribes to the basics of the National Scenic Byways Program, byway program development, byway designation and successful approaches to sustaining a byway.
May 20, 2008 -
Register For "Preserving the Historic Road 2008"
Registration is now open for Preserving the Historic Road 2008 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 11-14. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the only conference dedicated to the identification, preservation and management of historic roads. For the conference schedule, tours, hotel and registration information and more, visit www.historicroads.org.
June 3, 2008 -
Certified Grassroots Byway Hospitality Trainers Announced
In April of 2008, twenty-two byway practitioners met in Denver, Colorado to become certified trainers for the 2007 Scenic Byway Award-winning Grassroots Byway Hospitality Training Program.
This program was developed specifically to teach byway representatives how to train locals, including visitor center staff and volunteers; front line hotel, restaurant and retail employees; and other members of the community who regularly interact with travelers. They are trained about all aspects of the local byway, from the byway’s interpretive message to current resource protection strategies. The training program’s strategic principle is that locals should teach locals, building on the foundation of existing knowledge.
June 20, 2008 -
Resource Center To Host "Authenticity Book Club"
This fall, the America’s Byways Resource Center will host a national book club to discuss the subject of authenticity. Participants will discuss the principles and concepts in the book Authenticity, by James H. Gilmore and B. Joseph Pine II (Harvard Business School Press, 2007).
June 30, 2008 -
Summer Time!
My husband owns a big Lake Superior fishing boat and we took it out for a ride this past weekend. It was a beautiful day; the lake was smooth and the sky was bright. We putted for a bit in the harbor and up the North Shore and then headed for Wisconsin waters to see if the lakers were biting. We all had a great time. It’s so fun to be out on the water. And it’s especially fun when you are out on the lake that has such a huge impact on our daily lives. It is a big part of our culture, our industries and our landscape. It impacts the quality of the watershed and it directs our weather (it’s cooler by the lake!).
July 2, 2008 -
Two Upcoming Courses Available From The National Center On Accessibility
The National Center on Accessibility has two open-registration training courses scheduled for the second half of 2008.
“Retrofitting for Accessibility” will be offered September 8-11 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The course provides education on Federal legislation and accessibility requirements as applied to park and recreation facilities and programs. Educational sessions will provide an understanding of the characteristics and needs of people with disabilities. The primary field work will be done within the boundaries of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
July 10, 2008 -
Our Native Pathways: Byway Opportunities For Indian Tribes - August 12-13, 2008, Nashville, TN
The America’s Byways Resource Center will sponsor Our Native Pathways: Byway Opportunities for Indian Tribes, August 12-13, 2008, at the Wyndham Union Station Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The purpose of Our Native Pathways, funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is to introduce Tribes to the basics of the National Scenic Byways Program, byway program development, byway designation and successful approaches to sustaining a byway.
The Santa Fe International Conference on Creative Tourism will take place September 28-October 2, 2008, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The first global gathering of its kind, the conference is a forum for identifying economic opportunities, improving skills and developing best practices for creative tourism programs. Participants will gain the skills and knowledge necessary for developing creative tourism programs by experiencing practical applications and through sessions with some of the world’s foremost leaders in the field.
July 17, 2008 -
Cultural and Heritage Tourism Research Now Available
At the Travel & Tourism Research Association (TTRA) meeting held in June in Philadelphia, PA, Scott Hanson, CEO, Longwoods International, participated on a panel with National Scenic Byways Program Marketing Communications Director Patricia McNally.
July 22, 2008 -
Call For Papers: Civic Tourism II Conference - Creating And Marketing Your Somewhere
Papers are being accepted for the second Civic Tourism Conference, to be held October 15-18, 2008, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The conference will foster a dialogue among important stakeholders and practitioners of Civic Tourism - an emerging, whole place approach to tourism.
July 24, 2008 -
Register To Attend The American Indian Tourism Conference, September 29-October 1, 2008
The American Indian Tourism Conference (AITC), presented by the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), will take place September 29-October 1, 2008, in Worley, Idaho.
July 25, 2008 -
Resource Center Accepting Applications For "Authenticity" Book Club
The America’s Byways Resource Center will host a national book club to discuss the subject of authenticity. Participants will discuss the principles and concepts in the book Authenticity, by James H. Gilmore and B. Joseph Pine II (Harvard Business School Press, 2007).
August 13, 2008 -
ARDC Hires Pat Henderson as Executive Director
The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC), parent organization of the America’s Byways Resource Center, welcomes Pat Henderson as its Executive Director. Effective August 4, 2008, Ms. Henderson will be leading ARDC in its mission to serve the people of the Arrowhead Region by providing local units of government and citizens groups a means to work cooperatively in identifying needs, solving problems and fostering local leadership. Ms. Henderson has a background in economic and community development and was most recently the Exective Director of the Ely Area Development Association.
August 15, 2008 -
This Little Piggy
Do you remember the little piggy nursery rhyme?
Register For The Civic Tourism II Conference, October 15-18, 2008
The Civic Tourism II Conference: Creating and Marketing Your Somewhere, will take place October 15-18, 2008 in Blackstone Valley, Rhode Island. The conference will foster a dialogue among important stakeholders and practitioners of Civic Tourism - an emerging, whole place approach to tourism.
August 20, 2008 -
Our Native Pathways: Byway Opportunities For Indian Tribes - September 24-25, 2008, San Diego, CA
The America’s Byways Resource Center will sponsor Our Native Pathways: Byway Opportunities for Indian Tribes, September 24-25, 2008, at the Kona Kai Resort, Shelter Island in San Diego, California. The purpose of Our Native Pathways, funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is to introduce Tribes to the basics of the National Scenic Byways Program, byway program development, byway designation and successful approaches to sustaining a byway.
September 2, 2008 -
Baseball and Byways
I was listening to the Milwaukee Brewers pre-game show on the radio yesterday while driving home from a fun-filled day at my in-laws’ cabin. The announcer welcomed everyone to the sold-out game and he said everyone traveled on “highways and byways” to get to Miller Park. I wondered how many Major League Baseball stadiums are on or near one of America’s Byways®. What a great connection: baseball and byways. It doesn’t get any more American than that.
September 16, 2008 -
Announcing The 2009 Scenic Byway Awards Competition
The America’s Byways Resource Center and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), are pleased to announce a call for applications for the biennial 2009 Scenic Byway Awards.
October 15, 2008 -
Resource Center Podcasts Available In One Convenient Location
The byway community can now locate podcasts and transcripts from America’s Byways Resource Center trainings in one convenient location on the website: http://www.bywaysresourcecenter.org/resources/podcasts/. Previously, podcasts were available in the “Topics” section or by searching the site for a specific podcast title.
October 20, 2008 -
Training Opportunities Catalog Now Available Online
The America’s Byways Resource Center offers an extensive lineup of Tele-Workshops, webinars, workshops, and other learning sessions for late fall 2008 and early winter 2009, which are detailed in the new comprehensive Training Opportunities catalog. The catalog describes each event, including its featured topic area and any required materials or prerequisites.
I received a great e-mail from an Our Native Pathways: Byway Opportunites for Indian Tribes workshop participant, and I wanted to share her insight with you:
October 28, 2008 -
"Our Native Pathways" Workshop Series A Success
The America’s Byways Resource Center recently completed Our Native Pathways: Byway Opportunities for Indian Tribes, a series of workshops developed to conduct effective and comprehensive outreach to Tribal governments throughout the nation.
November 5, 2008 -
Team Training for Neighbors of Public Lands
The Conservation Leadership Network is offering a 4-day training course, Balancing Nature and Commerce in Communities that Neighbor Public Lands.
November 7, 2008 -
Resource Center Seeks Qualified Trainers
The America’s Byways Resource Center seeks to add to the community of trainers that we use for our Tele-Workshops, webinars, workshops and other trainings.
November 10, 2008 -
Training Becomes More Interactive With Webinars
America’s Byways Resource Center is now offering an exciting new training opportunity in December. The workshop WEBINAR, Basics of Two-Dimensional Design, is a three-part series of interactive instruction and materials that you can easily access and participate in online.
November 13, 2008 -
National Networking Call: Grants, Awards and Funding Resources
America’s Byways Resource Center will host a National Networking Call on November 20, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. CST to discuss potential financial resources for byways. National Networking Calls are scheduled to allow individuals to informally participate in long-distance discussions on shared topics of interest.
November 14, 2008 -
Byways Experience Goes In A New Direction
Bonnie Hundrieser, former byways specialist with the Resource Center, has moved on to a new position as a regional planner with the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC), parent organization for the America’s Byways Resource Center, in Duluth, Minnesota. While she is departing from her work as a byways specialist, she looks forward to the opportunity to continue working with byways in northeastern Minnesota in her new position.
November 18, 2008 -
Scenic Byway Awards Application Deadline Approaching
The deadline for 2009 Scenic Byway Awards applications is December 19, 2008. All applications, except for Indian tribe applications, must be submitted to State byway coordinators by December 5.
December 3, 2008 -
Join National Networking Call: Preserve America Program
America’s Byways Resource Center will host a National Networking Call on December 9, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. CST to discuss the Preserve America Grant Programs for Historic Preservation. National Networking Calls are scheduled to allow individuals to informally participate in long-distance discussions on shared topics of interest.
December 15, 2008 -
National Park Service Honors Gary Robb for Achievements
The National Park Service (NPS) Deputy Director Dan Wink presented the NPS Accessibility Leadership Achievement Award to Gary Robb, founding director of Indiana University’s National Center on Accessibility. NPS Director, Mary Bomar, also commended Robb for his achievements. The NPS award was in recognition of Gary Robb’s 35 years of leadership and achievements in advocating for citizens with disabilities to have equivalent access to parks and recreational areas that is enjoyed by others.
December 23, 2008 -
Annual Recreation Resource Planner's Conference Coming Spring 2009
The National Association of Recreation Resources Planner’s 29th annual conference will be hosted by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at the Hilton Gateway Center in Pittsburgh. The “Get To The Point: Pittsburgh 2009 Conference” will run from April 27-May 1, 2009. Registration will start in early January.
December 29, 2008 -
Call For 2009 Conference Presentations: Submissions Due January 15
Share your knowledge and guide the byway community to new heights! You’re invited to submit a proposal to speak at the 2009 National Scenic Byways Conference, August 23-26, 2009 in Denver, Colorado.
