America's Byways® Resource Center

"Building On Big Ideas" Conference Is A Huge Success

September 2011

Roadside Reflections

"Building On Big Ideas" Conference Is A Huge Success

Congratulations To The 2011 Scenic Byway Award Winners

News From The National Scenic Byway Foundation

Byway Assessment Tool In Development

Peer Assistance For Your Byway Organization

Field Notes

Upcoming Webinars

Calendar

Roadside Reflections

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

Wow! What a great conference! We are still buzzing from all the positive energy. Thanks to all of you who participated in the conference. It is always an uplifting experience to meet face to face with you. Here are some of my favorite moments:

• Meeting the exhibitors (thank you!) and the sponsors (thank you!).
• Learning about branding from the Minnesota Twins (Go Twins! Go Byways!).
• Announcing our national partners. Special thanks to Rand McNally, Goodyear and American Road Magazine for the books, tires and promotional ads!
• Introducing John Horsley from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It was an honor to have him at our conference.
• Listening to the 2011 Scenic Byway Award winners give their acceptance speeches. I was humbled to share the stage with such great people.

The BIG highlight was meeting all of you. We appreciate all the work you do to manage and promote your byway. We enjoy working with you and developing tools to help you in your efforts. Let's keep the excitement from the conference going!

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"Building On Big Ideas" Conference Is A Huge Success

The 2011 National Scenic Byways Conference, with the theme "Building On Big Ideas," successfully brought the byway community together for four days of learning and networking. Many of the discussions in and out of the classrooms related to building partnerships, leveraging the America's Byways® brand, tapping online opportunities and participating in ongoing peer-to-peer exchanges.

Conference highlights included:

• An inspiring keynote address by Gerard Baker, Former Assistant Director, American Indian Relations, National Park Service
• A fascinating branding presentation by Patrick Klinger, Vice President – Marketing for the Minnesota Twins Baseball Club, and Charlie Callahan, Vice President – Executive Creative Director at Periscope Advertising Agency
• An informative general session with FHWA-Team Leader Gary Jensen on Livable Communities And The Future Of The National Scenic Byways Program
• A surprise visit from byway-friend and best-selling author Peter Jenkins
• The Exhibitors MarketPlace Welcome Reception with meet-and-greet time and delicious appetizers; we appreciate the generous support from our conference sponsors, byway sponsors and all exhibitors.

During the conference, the Resource Center showcased the successful public awareness partnership with Goodyear and announced two new partners: American Road Magazine and Rand McNally. The Resource Center also introduced its newest publication, An Introduction To Online Strategies For Leveraging Your National Scenic Byway Designation, which is available for download at www.bywaysresourcecenter.org/resources/publications/.

In addition, the "Face To Face To Facebook" networking activity drew people into conversations about their byways and the brand. Participants also won prizes for offering "big ideas," and they received buttons for "liking" America's Byways Resource Center on Facebook—an online venue for continuing the conference dialog.

Another highlight for many conference attendees was the National Scenic Byway Foundation's special event, "Milling Around in Minneapolis." Although not officially part of the conference, it was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the Foundation and its plans for byways.

The conference concluded with the 2011 Scenic Byway Awards presentation dinner (see below).

Through technology, the momentum of the conference can continue to build. Keep checking Facebook and sharing your news!

For more 2011 National Scenic Byways Conference information and photographs, visit http://www.bywaysresourcecenter.org/events/conferences/.

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Congratulations To The 2011 Scenic Byway Award Winners

The 2011 Scenic Byway Awards winners were announced at a presentation dinner on Wednesday, August 24, at the conclusion of the 2011 National Scenic Byways Conference held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Sponsored by the America's Byways Resource Center, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the prestigious Scenic Byway Awards recognize eight projects of excellence and one outstanding byway leader from byway nominations across the country.

A panel of byway-community experts selected projects based on four criteria, including community involvement and public outreach; partnerships; advancing the goals of the byway's corridor management plan; and, innovation. The winning projects must also serve as successful models for other byway organizations and corridors. Criteria for selecting the Byway Leader Award recipient included the candidate's accomplishments, dedication and vision.

"We hope that recognizing exceptional projects and leaders will help to inspire new efforts to preserve, protect, interpret and promote the intrinsic qualities along all of America's scenic drives and especially the 150 distinctive routes designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation as part of the America's Byways® collection," said Michelle Johnson, Director of America's Byways Resource Center. The 2011 Scenic Byway Awards recipients follow here:

2011 Scenic Byway Awards Honorable Mentions

Project: Creole Nature Trail Handheld "Tour Guide"
Byway: Creole Nature Trail All-American Road
State: Louisiana

Project: Cultural Resources Study Of The Loess Hills
Byway: Loess Hills National Scenic Byway
State: Iowa

Project: White Pass Scenic Byway Extension Corridor Management Plan
Byway: White Pass National Scenic Byway
State: Washington

2011 Scenic Byway Award Winners

For more information and photographs from the 2011 Scenic Byway Awards, click here.

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News From The National Scenic Byway Foundation

Thank You For The Superb National Scenic Byway Foundation Event!

A great time was had at the Milling Around Silent Auction and Reception hosted by the National Scenic Byway Foundation. We would like to extend a big thank you to the event sponsors, as well as the over 60 byways that donated items auctioned that evening. Congratulations to past Foundation president, Teresa Mitchell (Seaway Trail), for winning the one-week stay in Sun River, Oregon!

If there's one thing we know about the biennial National Scenic Byway Conference, it is that GREAT IDEAS come out of the workshops, presentations and networking that take place throughout the conference. We at the Foundation appreciate the enthusiasm, support and ideas that were generated at the conference. We look forward to working with all of you to continue the legacy of America's Byways.

If you haven't yet connected with the National Scenic Byway Foundation, visit our website at www.nsbfoundation.com to obtain information about the continued success of the America's Byways program.

Anaise Berry
President - National Scenic Byway Foundation

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Byway Assessment Tool In Development

As part of efforts to enhance our technical service delivery, the Resource Center will be unveiling a new tool for byways in the upcoming months. This byway Assessment Tool will enable you to assess the level of your own and your organization's core knowledge, skills and abilities as they relate to implementing successful byway activities and projects.

By filling out the tool and working with your Byways Specialist, State/Tribal Coordinator and others, you will be able to plan a path that focuses on those areas that impact you and your organization most.

The Assessment Tool is divided into six categories. These categories represent core functions that byways must adapt to and plan for, including:

1. Organizational Development, Capacity, Adaptability
2. Finance, Fundraising and Sustainability
3. Outreach, Partnership and Advocacy
4. Byway Recognition, Image, Brand Identity, Marketing, Communications
5. The Visitor Experience
6. Documenting Impact

The Assessment Tool will also be integrated into and will play a key function in the Peer Advisor Network program (see article on Peer Advisor Network in this edition of Vistas). In the upcoming months, we will be looking for volunteer byways and byway organizations to work with us and our contractor, Arts Market, Inc. to field test the Assessment Tool and our assumptions for it. Look for updates on our website, E-News Updates and Vistas. Contact Curt Pianalto (cpianalto@byways.org) if you have any questions or want more information.

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Peer Assistance For Your Byway Organization

Could your byway organization use some help?

Could you use an experienced byway practitioner to provide guidance?

If you said YES to these questions, the America's Byways Peer Advisor Network (PAN) may be right for you.

The PAN is a consulting service where a byway organization is matched with a trained Peer Advisor. The Peer Advisor works with your byway organization on your specific need for a maximum of two days, providing focused, on- and/or off-site assistance. Peer Advisors are seasoned byway leaders selected through an application process by the America's Byways Resource Center. Peer Advisors have undergone 2.5 days of intensive training with an expert instructor from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Arts Extension Service (AES).

How to Utilize the PAN

1. Contact your Byways Specialist or Tribal Liaison to request an application.
2. Complete a Byway Organizational Assessment that your Byways Specialist or Tribal Liaison will provide to you.
3. Send in the completed application and assessment to the America's Byways Resource Center.
4. Your byway will then be matched by the America's Byways Resource Center with a designated Peer Advisor who has capabilities that best align with your specific need.

PAN Fees

Byway organizations can receive up to two days (16 hours) of on- and/or off-site direct consulting services in the form of individual meetings, group meetings, and/or training. Peer Advisor fees are set at $300 per day: the Resource Center subsidizes two thirds of the Advisor fee ($200/day) and the byway organization pays the remaining one third ($100/day).

Hurry! Limited Time Opportunity

The Cooperative Agreement between America's Byways Resource Center and the Federal Highway Administration allows this opportunity to be offered for a limited time only. Take advantage of it now.

For more information, contact your Byways Specialist, Tribal Liaison or Wayne Gannaway. Contact information can be found by clicking here.

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Field Notes

New Partners In Action Conference A Success

By Cheryl Cloud, Tribal Liaison

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Midwest Region hosted its inaugural "Partners in Action" conference in August in Hinckley, Minnesota. I attended as an exhibitor, providing resources and disseminating information on designating scenic byways and promoting tourism and travel in Indian Country. More than 300 representatives from over 30 tribes attended the learning event, which featured 13 different disciplines such as archaeology, realty and self-determination. While there, I learned how to further my collaboration efforts with tribes and Federal Land Management Agencies. It is my hope to be a liaison instrument for more effective partnering in this regard for the betterment of tribes and their local communities. This is the first year this event has been held, but the outstanding attendance demonstrates just how important these types of learning experiences are to tribes and one of their key partners, the BIA. Alas, everyone was so busy with the conference that I couldn't get my Bywayopoly game on!

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Upcoming Webinars

Community Involvement And Byways

Date: October 6, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CDT
Presenter: Robin Gyorgyfalvy, USDA Forest Service: Deschutes National Forest

Description: This webinar will highlight one byway's extensive work to involve the community in which it exists. The efforts, challenges and benefits associated with developing community involvement in specific byway projects will be outlined.

By attending, participants will:

• Learn about the community involvement in projects undertaken by the highlighted byway.
• Learn about the specific challenges experienced in the highlighted byway's community involvement efforts.
• Understand the benefits realized by the highlighted byway through effective community involvement.
• Understand how the practices discussed might relate to their own byway efforts.

Watch for registration details on this webinar and others in future communications.

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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.