National Tourism Education Design Team Established
In November, the first meeting of the National Tourism Education Design Team was held in Washington, DC. The team was established to assist with tourism extension activities at the national level. Two team members from each of the four Rural Development Center Regions in the U.S. were selected to participate. Norm Bender from the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension and Diane Kuehn from NY Sea Grant participated from the northeast region, with travel assistance provided by the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development. The Chair of the team is Dave Sharpe from the Montana State University Extension Service.
The two-day meeting resulted in a plan of work for the team. Proposed objectives include:
1. Conducting a national inventory of Extension resource people involved in tourism research and programming. This will be used to identify any tourism research and/or programming needs.
2. Collaborating at the national level with USDA agencies and other appropriate federal departments.
3. Conducting national or regional training workshops. NOTE: The first of these is being held as a post conference workshop at the National Tourism Extension Conference (see page 4).
4. Developing a national extension tourism home page and/or newsletter.
The Design Team will be holding its next meeting at the National Extension Tourism Conference in May.
CONTACT: Diane Kuehn, Coastal Tourism Specialist, NY Sea Grant, at dmk16@cornell.edu or (315) 341-3042.
Cooperative Extension Welcomes New Statewide Community and Economic Vitality Program Leader
Rod Howe started as Community and Economic Vitality Program Leader for the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) system in early October. Previously, Rod had been the Executive Director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County.
Rod is Vice-Chair of the CCE's Economic Vitality Statewide Program Committee. The primary mission of this program is to improve the economic vitality and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Program emphases include: business development, management, and entrepreneurship; work force quality; leadership, local capacity building, and governance; and technology transfer and application.
Opportunities that Rod will be involved with range from organizing FastTrac, a small business development curriculum, to discussion regarding Cornell's role in establishing a growers' market council to tap into New York City markets. Rod sees part of his role as making connections and "packaging" the resources in more holistic ways. Rod is looking forward to working with existing mechanisms for aiding these connections such as the NY Rural Development Council which encourages partnerships and linkages. He is also interested in finding the common ground between seemingly separate efforts for community and economic vitality.
Rod looks forward to working with Extension Educators and faculty to facilitate community building and empowering communities to undertake their own visioning and strategic planning processes.
CONTACT: Rod Howe, Community & Economic Vitality Program Leader, Cornell Cooperative Extension, at rlh13@cce.cornell.edu or 607-255-2231.
By all accounts, the Sea Grant MarinaNet Collegium, held on March 5, 6, and 7, 1997 in Dallas, Texas, marked a milestone of sorts. Eighty-three participants representing diverse segments of the nation's marina industry, people who might otherwise never have the opportunity to meet collectively, gathered to engage in open dialogue and identify and discuss industry related research needs for the future, part of what Collegium Chair Chuck Pistis termed a "hallmark event."
The Collegium (a meeting of equals) was conducted as part of the multi-state Sea Grant MarinaNet project, in cooperation with key trade groups and organizations such as the National Marine Manufacturers Association, International Marina Institute and Marina Operators Association of America. The contingency of marina industry leaders, private consultants, academics, government officials, nongovernmental organization leaders, marine business owners and operators, and Sea Grant staff who convened for three days were selected through an extensive process. Their mission was to participate in designated focus groups to address a specific topic or issue and, according to Chuck Pistis, "collectively help generate a blueprint of sorts, of future research and educational needs of the marine industry."
The ideas and thoughts which came out of that two-day effort have been presented in two publications recently released as a result of the MarinaNet Research Collegium:
1. Proceedings of the MarinaNet Research Collegium, March 6 - 7, 1997, a detailed proceedings of the two days of deliberations; and
2. The Future of the Marina Industry, an executive summary of the Collegium focus group deliberations, which is richly illustrated with boating photographs.
Copies of the Proceedings and The Future of the Marina Industry are available from NY Sea Grant.
CONTACT: Dave White, Program Coordinator, NY Sea Grant, at dwhite@cce.cornell.edu or (315) 341-3042.
In partnership with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and New York Sea Grant, the Empire State Marine Trades Association (ESMTA) has completed a statewide inventory of the marinas in the coastal zone (the Great Lakes, connected waters, Hudson River, Long Island Sound, Atlantic Ocean, Lake Champlain, and Lake George). This is the first "ground checked" inventory of the entire coastal zone completed at one time. Along with now having the ability to be able to fully describe the state's marina industry, several publications will also result from the information.
Three directories will be produced following the same format as the state's "Boat Launching Sites" brochure. These will be for general distribution to boaters seeking information on where marinas are, and what basic services they provide. A web page will also be developed for those who have access to the information via the web. The web page will also be linked to specific marina web pages.
The inventory and education program is funded from the final allocation of Clean Vessel Act funds which are part of the Sport Fish Restoration Program (Wallop-Breaux Fund).
CONTACT: Dave White, Program Coordinator, NY Sea Grant, at dwhite@cce.cornell.edu or (315) 341-3042.
Interpretive Planning Sessions Held
The Town of Sterling (Cayuga County) and NY Sea Grant organized two interpretive planning sessions this past fall for three conservation easements acquired in the past several years by the town. The town plans on turning the conservation easements into the Sterling Nature Center, a natural area complete with interpretive center and trail system. Residents of the Town of Sterling and members of the Friends of the Sterling Nature Center attended the sessions. The main result of the workshops was the development of an interpretive plan for the area. Recommendations of the plan include installing directory kiosks, developing a membership brochure, and producing interpretive trail brochures. The Friends of the Sterling Nature Center have established their headquarters in an existing house on the site and are quickly moving ahead with trail and brochure development.
CONTACT: Diane Kuehn, NY Sea Grant, at dmk16@cornell.edu or 315-341-3042.
"Thank You," were the two words heard most often by the Gettys and the volunteers who worked at the September 6th Family Farm Tour held at the Main Drag Farm in Kingsbury and sponsored by the Washington County Agricultural Impact Tour Committee. "We couldn't believe how appreciative people were to have this opportunity to visit a working farm," said Betty Getty, whose family has operated the farm since 1951.
Over 700, including 100 volunteers, turned out for the Washington County Agricultural Impact Tour Committee's 1997 Family Farm Tour. This was the fourth tour organized by the group, whose members include representives from several ag organizations including Cornell Cooperative Extension and Farm Bureau. The success of the '97 family farm tour has convinced the committee to make this an annual event and the '98 tour is planned for September 12th.
Families touring the facilities began with an introduction by Sheldon Brown of Woody Hill Farm. Other stops on the tour included an opportunity to experience what a cow feels when being milked by machine thanks to Matt Littrell from Universal Dairy Equipment. Dr. Julie Sdrojewski demonstrated how farmers can prevent and treat sick cows by using vaccinations and various other treatments. Russell Saville from Nutrena Feeds described the many ingredients that make up cows' rations at the farm. Scott Fitscher and Tom Lacko from the Natural Resources Conservation Service were on hand to help participants understand the diversity of soils and the conservation methods farmers use. JoAnne Booth, a farmer and kindergarten teacher from Greenwich, involved families in a discovery activity identifying small equipment used on the farm. Sue Greth, Dairy Specialist from Cornell Cooperative Extension, used a microscope to show the many organisms that live inside the cow and help the cow turn food into milk. Leading a calf was the most popular activity of the day with children receiving a ribbon in recognition of their participation. Small as well as older children, even the adults, enjoyed the many animals in the FFA petting zoo.
Refreshments were provided by the Dairy Princess Team, Agri-Mark, Maple Producer, the 4-H Teen Council, Perry's Yorkmont Farm, and Borden's and Perry's Orchards.
CONTACT: Madeline Pennington, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Washington County, at (518)746-2560 or 1-800-548-0881.
The Small Business Support Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Essex County is joining with Lake Champlain Bikeways of the Lake Champlain Basin Program to introduce the concept of marketing the services and resources of Essex County to cyclists. The project is targeted at small business owners and economic development groups in Essex County.
A workshop titled "Biking the Adirondack Coast: Successful Grassroots Marketing of Bicycle-Friendly Businesses" was held on November 13, 1997. Participants learned about the economic benefits of bicycle tourism and why the "Adirondack Coast" of Essex County is well suited to cycling. They then identified 25 projects that would benefit businesses and communities in Essex County.
Three projects were selected for implementation in the coming months:
1. developing a 1998 map/guidebook of the Adirondack Coast Bicycle Theme Loops;
2. bringing the annual "Century Ride" sponsored by High Peaks Cyclery in Lake Placid to the Adirondack Coast bicycle loops; and
3. finding ways to provide for needs of cyclists (e.g., bike racks, picnic tables, repair services, and rentals).
The steering committee coordinating the three projects will meet in January to continue implementation plans.
CONTACT: Carolyn Virtuoso, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County, at cvirtuos@cce.cornell.edu or 518-962-4810.
National Clean Boating Committee Announced
The Marine Environmental Education Foundation Inc. (MEEF) announced the formation of the National Clean Boating Campaign Committee to organize and manage a national educational program, which will include a week long celebration in every state from July 11 to 19, 1998.
Under the leadership of MEEF, thirty-seven prominent marine trade associations, key environmental groups, marinas, major corporations, universities, and government agencies outlined a national program to enhance water quality through an outreach education program.
For National Clean Boating Campaign details contact: Marine Environmental Education Foundation, P.O. Box 37, Kingston, RI 02881-0037, goMEEF@aol.com.
Upcoming conferences...
Agritourism Conference
March 24, 1998
Holiday Inn, Auburn, NY
Farmers interested in supplementing their income by opening their farms to tourists will have the opportunity to learn the basics of starting an ag-related tourist attraction, attracting motor coaches, developing festivals and events, and food service operations. Speakers and panelists will be presenting tips of the trade based their first hand experiences.
There will be a small registration fee for materials which will also include lunch. Sponsors of this program are the Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Cayuga and Tompkins Counties, Seaway Trail, and Cayuga County Tourism Office.
CONTACT: Judy Wright, Extension Educator, CCE Cayuga County at jlw24@cce.cornell.edu or (315) 255-1183.
National Extension Tourism Conference
Tourism Innovations: Development, Policy, and Markets
Holiday Inn, Hershey, PA
May 17-20, 1998
Held every 2 to 3 years, this conference offers the opportunities of learning about tourism extension programs from across the country and networking with other tourism extension educators. Concurrent sessions be focus on heritage tourism, agritourism, ecotourism, rural tourism efforts, festival training, customer service training, and assessing rural tourism programs. Three optional tours are also available for those interested. A half-day post conference workshop on "Assessing the economic impacts of tourism at the community level" will be held on May 20. This session will explain how to assess the economic impacts of tourism through surveys and other techniques.
The early registration fee for the conference is $140. After May 1, the registration is $165. The post conference workshop and tours are both an additional $25. Participants in the post conference workshop need to register by April 21. The single/double occupancy room charge at the Holiday Inn is $76. Conference registration materials are available on the conference web site (http://www.cas.psu.edu/docs/casconf/nercrd/NTC/ntc.html).
CONTACT: Diane Kuehn at dmk16@cornell.edu or (315) 341-3042.
March 28, 1998
McCrobie Bldg., Oswego, NY
The Oswego Maritime Foundation, City of Oswego, and NY Sea Grant will be sponsoring this conference which includes speakers on the leading edge of Great Lakes exploration and scuba diving. This year Dr. Art Cohn, the discoverer of Benedict Arnold's last warship, will be one of the featured presenters. This event is designed for divers, historians, and the general public.
CONTACT: NY Sea Grant at (315) 341-3042.
Sea Grant Publishes Two New Guides for Boaters and Marina Owners
The Bibliography of Sea Grant Marina and Boating Publications, created in cooperation with the National Sea Grant Depository, highlights publications on topics ranging from environmental issues and marina construction and design to economics and maritime law.
The Sea Grant Guide to Marina Projects highlights recent and ongoing Sea Grant education, outreach, and research projects related to marinas and recreational boating. The guide is designed to summarize efforts by Sea Grant programs to work with marinas and recreational boaters. It provides a centralized location where the contributions Sea Grant is making to the marine industry can be found.
The cost of each publications is $5. They may be ordered by sending a check to Rhode Island Sea Grant Communications, URI Bay Campus, Narragansett, RI 02882.
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