America's Byways® Resource Center

Six Reasons To Attend
The 2011 National Scenic
Byways Conference

JULY 2011

Roadside Reflections

Six Reasons To Attend The 2011 National Scenic Byways Conference

National Scenic Byway Foundation: Show Off Your Byway At The Silent Auction

Field Notes

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Welcome

Calendar

Roadside Reflections

by Michelle Johnson, Director, America's Byways Resource Center

Notes Of Encouragement

Last year, my boys asked me if they could take piano lessons. They had a couple of friends who played, and they wanted to play too. Of course, I said yes and signed them up with a friend of mine who teaches piano. I decided to take lessons too, since I had always wanted to play the piano. I borrowed an electronic keyboard for practicing, and we got started.

My boys have since lost interest, but I haven't. A couple of months ago, I graduated from the keyboard to a beautiful honey colored spinet piano. I play every chance I get, which isn't very often!

While I enjoy learning the piano, it isn't easy. Sometimes I sneak a look ahead in my book, and I think, "I can't play that! Look at all those notes!" Or I practice the wrong notes and my teacher has to gently point out my errors. Some pieces take days and many attempts to get them right. My teacher gives me sound advice and encouragement. She tells me that sometimes when faced with a challenge, I have to break it down and focus on one measure at a time (or even one hand at a time). As I figure out a measure, I can add another one, and then another one and so on, until I can play the entire piece. It's a slow process with lots of repetition and patience, but I think the results sound beautiful!

Some days, things are as complicated as a Franz Liszt symphony. But with patience and perseverance, I can achieve my goal.

I'm looking forward to a future of good notes!

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2011 National Scenic Byways Conference

Six Reasons To Attend The 2011 National Scenic Byways Conference

The countdown to the conference is on! Here are 6 BIG reasons to attend.

1. Over 75 workshops from which to choose!
   11 sessions with six workshops, plus several off-site workshops
2. Firsthand exploration of Minnesota byways through pre-conference tours
   Hosted by the friendly folks in the Minnesota Scenic Byways Program
3. Networking, networking, networking!
   Special breakfasts, byway tables, orientation sessions and more
4. Interaction with exhibitors and sponsors
   If you want to exhibit or sponsor, see below!
5. Exciting general sessions packed with inspiration and timely information
   Conference Keynote Speaker Gerard Baker kicks off the conference and FHWA explains Livable Communities and the Future of the National Scenic Byways Program
6. Learn the inspiring stories of the 2011 Scenic Byway Award winners
   Meet them at the awards presentation and dinner

Did You Buy Your Ticket For The Scenic Byways Awards Dinner?
A separate ticket is required for the Scenic Byway Awards dinner. Plus you can order an Awards Dinner ticket for a guest who is not registered for the conference. Simply add the dinner ticket on your registration form.

New Opportunity For Byways!
Do you want the opportunity to share your byway with conference participants? We have a special sponsorship category for you to exhibit, and there are still tables available! Click here to download the sponsorship and exhibitor brochure or contact Michelle Johnson directly.

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National Scenic Byway Foundation

Show Off Your Byway At The Silent Auction

The National Scenic Byway Foundation will be holding a reception and silent auction on August 23 at the Mill City Museum during the 2011 National Scenic Byways Conference. Contact the National Scenic Byway Foundation at (303) 355-4460 before August 4 for opportunities to showcase your byway at the silent auction. Auction items as suggested by the Foundation include artwork, handcrafted items, nonperishable food produced along the byway and travel packages. Visit the website at www.nsbfoundation.com or contact Co-Executive Director Debbie Divine at (785) 823-3447 for more details.

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Field Notes

Program Assessment Results In Universal Questions Along With A Future Plan

By Wayne Gannaway, Byways Specialist

Byway leaders from across Florida gathered in St. Augustine in June to assess the current status of the Florida Scenic Highway Program (FSHP) and to determine its future direction. They also learned about tools and strategies that they can employ today to improve their byways.

A summarization of findings from a sustainability assessment on Florida's six designated America's Byways and seventeen state byways was presented by Wanda Maloney of Corridor Solutions, whose firm conducted the assessment.

The assessment was part of an effort by the state program to pause, in terms of bringing on new scenic highways, to assess its program and to develop new strategic directions.

The weaknesses of the byway organizations identified by Wanda may be familiar to byway leaders across the country:

• Weak governance and administrative capacity,
• Undiversified funding sources,
• Volunteer burnout and
• Tepid community participation, among others.

Here at the Resource Center we have written frequently about ensuring your byway's corridor management plan is not collecting dust on your bookshelf. Based on her assessment, Wanda and her team came to a more specific and pointed conclusion: There is a persistent belief among byway organizations that they are "not ultimately responsible for funding [the] implementation of the corridor management plan" (emphasis mine). That observation, perhaps as much as any other, speaks to the core question of byway sustainability: If your byway organization is not responsible, then who is? How do you convince potential supporters that your organization is the best steward of the byway?

Still, Wanda pointed out that the FSHP has many experienced byway leaders and shining stars, the A1A being a good example. Having taken stock, the leaders devised a plan for the future they would like to see. From my viewpoint, this group seems to be headed in the right direction.

Self-Assessment And Planning At Louisiana State Scenic Byway Workshops

By Rob Balmes, Byways Specialist

In June, I had the privilege of co-facilitating two scenic byway workshops held in Baton Rouge and Natchitoches, Louisiana. The main objectives of the workshops were two-fold:

• To reinvigorate byway leaders by engaging them in a self-assessment of their scenic byways; and
• To obtain feedback regarding the most crucial needs to ensure continued success of the state scenic byways program.

I engaged the byway leaders in a self-assessment by first providing them a "Checklist of Key Considerations" for scenic byways. The checklist served as the foundation for a byway self-assessment exercise focused on the four cornerstones of successful byways:

• Organization,
• Funding,
• Resources and
• Visitor Experience.

The self-assessment enabled byway leaders an opportunity to critique or grade both their organization and respective scenic byway. The leaders were also asked to develop the top three strategic directions or projects to focus on over the next year, based on the results of the self-assessment.

Doug Bourgeois, State Scenic Byway Manager, and Lynn Coxwell of the Louisiana Office of Tourism were my co-facilitators. James Hall of the Federal Highway Administration also participated in both workshops, providing insights from the national perspective.

The workshops were attended by over 30 byway leaders and Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development staff, representing eight state scenic byways (Bayou Teche, Boom or Bust, Cane River Heritage Trail, Myths and Legends, San Bernardo, Toledo Bend Forest, Wetlands Cultural Byway and Zydeco Cajun Prairie) and two national scenic byways (Creole Trail All-American Road and Great River Road).

It was a real pleasure working with Doug, Lynn and James. Louisiana has an enduring history of supporting scenic byways as an important component to tourism and economic development. The state program is well positioned for a bright future in years to come.

Big Plans Emerge From The Virginia And West Virginia Midland Trail Summit

By Rob Balmes, Byways Specialist

The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism hosted a summit in June to discuss potential extension of the Midland Trail National Scenic Byway in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Over 20 byway leaders, state and tourism officials, business representatives and other key stakeholders from both Virginia and West Virginia attended. I had the honor of attending and provided an overview of the National Scenic Byway Program along with key considerations in the process of becoming a potential multi-state byway.

"We are excited that communities are coming together to possibly seek byway designation of the Midland Trail in Virginia," stated Randy Rose, Development Specialist of Virginia Tourism. "The Summit confirmed that there is strong interest in an initiative by several communities and potential interest by many others. As a result, an action plan will be developed that includes key short-term strategies, including engaging interested communities, as well as long-term goals, such as Virginia byway designation, the completion of a corridor management plan and eventual nomination of the route as a National Scenic Byway."

"Timing is perfect as we approach 2015 as the 225th Anniversary of George Washington's Midland Trail being completed from the Atlantic Ocean to present-day Charleston, West Virginia," said Alice Hypes, Executive Director of the Midland Trail National Scenic Highway Association (MTSHA).

Summit highlights included presentations by Geoffrey Skaggs, President of the West Virginia MTSHA; Bob Anderson, Executive Director of the South Charleston Convention and Visitor's Bureau; Alice Hypes, Executive Director of the MTSHA; and Christy Bailey, Executive Director of the West Virginia Coal Heritage Trail. The summit also included an advisory panel discussion. Panelists were Erica Jeter, Virginia Scenic Byways Coordinator; Ryan Burns, West Virginia Scenic Byways Coordinator; and Lynn Crump, Virginia Environmental Program.

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Upcoming Training Opportunities

For registration and more information, visit the Resource Center website at www.BywaysResourceCenter.org.

Upcoming Webinars

Basic Marketing For Byways

Date: July 27, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CDT
Presenters:
Peggy Bendel, Bendel Communications International

Description:
In order be sustainable and tell the stories that need to be told, byways need visitors. To generate visits strong marketing strategies are necessary. This webinar will provide an overview of basic marketing concepts and techniques that can benefit byways by generating visits and increasing public awareness.

To register, visit BywaysResourceCenter.org

Strategies For Successful Transportation Projects On Tribal Lands

Date: July 28, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CDT
Presenters:
Giovanni Ciro Migliaccio, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Washington, College of Built Environments, Department of Construction Management

Description:
Develop skills, knowledge and tribal cultural awareness to be more effective in working with, and building relationships with, tribal governments for successful byway and transportation-related projects. Learn the definitions and distinctions of communication, consultation, cooperation and coordination when working with tribes. Understand how to create formal, working, effective intergovernmental networks and explore strategies to address tribal cultural situations and important practical steps and barriers in working with tribes. In particular, the discussion covers the 3-C model and Guidebook for Successful Communication, Cooperation and Coordination Strategies Between Transportation Agencies and Tribal Communities. In addition, learn how to expand your ability to strategically think through tribal cultural nuances and improve adaptability as an individual worker, thereby as an agency as a whole. Increase tribal involvement in planning, projects and implement the Guidebook with insights from this webinar.

Materials included:

• A short document that summarizes key points of research and how to implement them.
  
• Links to NCHRP Report 690 (Guidebook for Successful Communication, Cooperation and Coordination Strategies Between Transportation Agencies and Tribal Communities).
  
• NCHRP Web-Only Document 171 (Identification of Results Oriented Public Involvement Strategies Between Transportation Agencies and Native American Communities).
• Successful Communication, Cooperation, Coordination and Public-Involvement Strategies between Transportation Agencies & Tribal Communities.

To register, visit BywaysResourceCenter.org

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Welcome

Ryan Burns Began His Tenure As West Virginia State Coordinator In May 2011. Welcome, Ryan!

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Calendar

Send calendar entries by the fifth of each month to center@byways.org.

* indicates Resource Center workshops

America's Byways Resource Center
394 Lake Avenue South, Suite 600
Duluth, MN 55802
1-866-974-6403
www.bywaysresourcecenter.org

America's Byways Resource Center is a division of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

This material is based upon work supported by the Federal Highway Administration and Arrowhead Regional Development Commission under cooperative agreement No. DTFH61-08-H-00007. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Federal Highway Administration and/or Arrowhead Regional Development Commission. The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission is an equal opportunity employer.