SOUTHEAST COMPASS
Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association                            April 2010
IN THIS ISSUE
NEW Southeast Marketing Partnership
Literature Swap & 2010 Tourism Kickoff
Email Marketing
Member Spotlight
Web Coop's
Board Meetings
Digital Revolution
Link-Up with SSDTA
New
Southeast Marketing Partnership
 A  partnership of SSDTA member communities is being formed to develop a cooperative marketing strategy to bring visitors to the region.
The dollar commitment from each community will stay in the community in the form of lodging nights.
The next meeting will be held:
 May 6th - 2pm
Corn Palace, Mitchell
(following the Lit Swap)

JOIN TODAY!
Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association exists to increase the economic impact of the visitor industry in Southeast South Dakota.
Membership Info

Membership benefits
Southeast Tourism
Board of Directors
Mark Schilling
Mark Schilling President
Corn Palace, Mitchell
Lisa Scheve
Lisa Scheve Vice President
Yankton CVB
Cathy Buchheim Sec/Tres
Sioux Falls CVB
Dawn Glover
City Manager, Elk Point
Chrissy Spoo
Empire Mall, Sioux Falls
Judy Mace
Tyndall Chamber
Julie Gross
Madison Chamber
Callie Wockenfuss
The Lakes Lodge, Wentworth
Hannah Walters
Mitchell CVB
Jacquelynn Skotvold
Centerville Development Corp
Emily McNamara
Wild Water West, Sioux Falls
Ryan Friez
Thunder Road, Sioux Falls
Jeff VanMeeteren
Lewis & Clark Rec Area, Yankton
Steve Howe
Vermillion Chamber
OTHER LINKS
Southeast SD Tourism
southeastsouthdakota.com

Great Lakes Region
www.sdgreatlakes.org

Glacial Lakes Region
www.sdglaciallakes.com

Black Hills Region
www.blackhillsbadlands.com

South Dakota Tourism
www.sdvisit.com
www.travelsd.com

Oyate Trail
www.oyatetrail.com

Missouri National
Recreational River
www.nps.gov/mnrr
BROCHURES &
VISITOR GUIDES
      Need a new brochure or your old brochure need a face lift? Let SSDTA design your new brochure or community magazine.
    Design costs just $50 per hour for SSDTA members. Call Cindy at 605-665-2435 or email cindy.sesd@iw.net.
    Printing prices are remaining low so now is the time to get your new brochure printed.
    Remember all brochures need to be pre-approved before they go into the interstate info centers. Contact Natasha at 605-773-3301.
wildflowers
Ready, set, swap. 
    Get ready for visitors by sending spring and summer vacation packages to us right away. Packages are listed free on the web and also advertised in our email newsletter to 5,000 visitors.
    Get set with "Achieve Great Service"workshop with guest speaker Dee Dee Raap on May 6th at the Mitchell Corn Palace.
    Swap your brochures with other tourism businesses and get them into the 10 information centers across South Dakota at the 11th Annual East-River Literature Swap  on May 6th at the Mitchell Corn Palace.
                                                      See you at the Swap - Jacquie, Executive Director
East River Literature Swap - 2010 Tourism Season Kick-Off
     11th Annual East River Literature Swap and 2010 Tourism Kickoff, May 6th at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. Get ALL the details here. Please note time change to 11:30am.
   Visit with 50+ Information Center Travel Counselors and tell them about your business over lunch.
    Each business gets a table as home base to display your brochures and showcase your business. You can decorate your table, provide giveaways or simply use it to set your brochures down. Got Give-Away itemssuch as a hotel stay, T-shirt, or event tickets? Just present them at the door and we will hand them out during lunch. Make sure your brochure is attached to your giveaway. Yes, this is a great time for blatant self-promotion. Wear your logo shirt, dress in your event costume, whatever... shorts, T's and flip-flops are appropriate attire for this event.
    Rubberband your brochures in 2 inch bundles, bring enough to provide each of the 10 information centers several bundles. Info centers will each have a table where you can go and visit and give them your brochures. SSDTA members, be sure to give us extra supplies of your brochures so we can continue to supply the info centers throughout the summer.
     IMPORTANT: Be sure to have your brochure or visitor guide approved by SD Tourism by the end of April or they will not be allowed at the info centers. Bring your approval letter to the swap.

Dee Dee Raap    ACHIEVE GREAT SERVICE- workshop
    Also sign up for the morning workshop "Achieve Great Service" with guest speaker Dee Dee Raap. You'll enjoy her engaging style and learn some new
tactics in hospitality. 9:30am. Just $20 (or $10 for SSDTA members).

  Sign up today! www.southeastsouthdakota.com/members-literature.php
  Email Marketing to Visitors
      We are sending a bi-monthly newsletter to visitors who have opted-in to receive email from us. The newsletter includes vacation packages and features member businesses. Each newsletter features events and on-line vacation packages.
    If you want your business included in this email newsletter, consider creating a packaged vacation or weekend getaway. Each offering must include a lodging property with an attraction or event. Packages are listed free on our website and we choose from those packages what will be featured in the E-newsletter. There is also a link to all packages.
    We are giving visitors ideas for creating their own unique vacation. The email list continues to grow so we reach more visitors with each E-newsletter. Contact the SSDTA office to see how you can be part of this on-line marketing effort.
Member Spotlight
     The Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science             Washington Pavilion     
is the region's premier entertainment facility.  
This attractive, state-of-the-art performing arts
complex presents its own performance series and
is the home venue for the South Dakota Symphony
Orchestra and the Sioux Falls Concerts Association.
    The Great Hall seats approximately 1900 patrons' and has continental seating which aids in sound quality. The walls are lined with quartzite taken from a demolished college in Springfield, S.D. This quantize helps bounce sounds and ties in the nostalgic feeling of the building.
    The Wells Fargo CineDome Theater has 172 seats on 10 steeply rising tiers. The domed screen displays large format, Super 70mm films, giving viewers a startling realistic "in the movie" experience. The CineDome films change every few months. For information about our group ticket sales, please call (toll free) at 1-877-Wash Pav, or visit our Web site at www.washintonpavilion.org.
Coop Opportunities
     We have several affordable opportunities to help you reach visitors. Those listed below are easily tracked so you know if they are working for you. Great bargains from $0 - $300 annually.

Virtual Travel Show
     Make your brochure or community visitor guide available to visitors 24/7, exhibited in view and print format on-line at www.southeastsouthdakota.com. (There may be an additional fee for set-up of magazines). Your on-line brochure then links directly to your website. Click here to view on-line brochures.  Annual fee for Magazine - $300  Brochure - $150

Story Ads on the web
     Not just a "banner ad" but a photo and full length story about your business, including logo and important contact information. Web visitors want to read more about you. The Story Ad links directly to your website for even more information. Annual fee for Home page - $250 Other pages - $150

Web packages/specials/coupons - FREE
     Place your packaged vacation on www.southeastsouthdakota.com for free. Put together an attraction or event with an overnight stay, add other things if you like such as meals, gift coupons etc. One package price, one phone number. Did we mention this service is FREE!  And these packages are promoted on the website and in our email newsletter to visitors who have opted-in to receive information about the region. Click here to see other packages.

Coop costs and more...
Southeast Tourism Board Meetings
Board
    SSDTA Board Meeting Schedule
    April 28 - Elk Point City Hall 10am
   May 6 - East-River Literature Swap - Corn Palace
   July 28 - Lewis & Clark Rec Area, Yankton 10am
     Everyone is welcome to attend board meetings and  serve on a committee.
    Please join us for meeting and lunch.
    If your business would like to host an SSDTA board meeting call   
    888-353-7382  or email: jacquie.sesd@iw.net
Digital Revolution
Digital Revolution
     Digital Revolution is a new cooperative program that would extend the power of digital marketing to every South Dakota visitor industry partner.
    This program will dramatically improve the online visitor experience by providing all-inclusive links between attractions, hotels, restaurants, and other points of interest throughout the state. Powered by a statewide booking engine, Digital Revolution will allow visitors to make online reservations and purchase tickets to events and attractions from any partner site.
    Initial investment is just $250. Booking feature is additional. For more information go to http://www.sdvisit.com/programs/coop/digitalrev/index.asp
    When you sign up, you get a $150 coupon to use on new marketing with your regional tourism association. Want ideas how to spend your coupon? See Coop Opportunities above or call me and we can help you.
Link to www.southeastsouthdakota.com
Website Links Are An Important Step In Providing Visitor Information
      All SSDTA members are linked from our website to their own website. Now we would like you to link back to the SSDTA website. WHY? Often when visitors are searching for information, they may look at your website and then want more information about what else there is to see and do in the region. With a link to www.southeastsouthdakota.com visitors can easily find that information and maybe stay an extra day.
     If visitors find your website from another source, they can get more information from linksSSDTA Logo you have on your site. We hope that you value the information provided on the SSDTA website and will link up today. If you need assistance in linking, please call and we can help. Here's the link and logo: http://www.southeastsouthdakota.com/
SSDTA Logo        Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association exists to 
  increase the economic impact of the visitor industry in 
  southeastern South Dakota.
       A non-profit 501c6 membership based organization established in January 1987 by tourism businesses looking to pool resources to market the region.
                More...
 
Contact me at 1-888-353-7382 or email: jacquie.sesd@iw.net
Phone 605-665-2435  Fax 605-665-8776
Jacquie Fuks, Executive Director
Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association
www.southeastsouthdakota.com
Coming
Events!
 		Car

ON-GOING
First Friday - each month "First Fridays Downtown" - Sioux Falls, 605-338-4009 www.dtsf.com
May - October "Downtown Farmers Market" - Sioux Falls, 605-338-4009 www.dtsf.com
May 1 "Opening of 2010 Sculpture Walk" - Sioux Falls, 605-339-8359 www.sculpturewalksiouxfalls.com
May 31 - Sept 6 "Wells Fargo, Falls Park Sound & Light Show" - Falls Park, Sioux Falls, 605-338-4009 www.dtsf.com

APRIL 2010
Apr 1-16 " 'Nature' Exhibit" Bede Art Gallery, Mount Marty College, Yankton, 800-658-4552 www.mtmc.edu
Apr. 17 "The Clay Creek Deaf Cowboy Band" - Gayville Hall, Gayville, 605-267-2859 www.gayvillehall.com
Apr. 17 "Earth Day Party for the Planet" - Great Plains Zoo, Sioux Falls, 605-367-7003 www.greatzoo.org
Apr. 17 "Trey McIntryre Project" - Washington Pavilion Husby Series, Sioux Falls, 605-367-6000 www.washingtonpavilion.org
Apr. 17 "walk MS: Sioux Falls Walk" - Washington Pavillion of Arts & Science, Sioux Falls MS Society 605-336-7017 www.walknth.nationalmssociety.org
Apr. 18 "Yankton Polar Plunge" - Lewis & Clark Lake (at East Midway boat ramp) Yankton, 605-661-7378 www.sosd.org
Apr 21 - 25 "Fat Pig" - Vermillion, Wayne S Knutson Theatre, 605-677-5400 www.usd.edu/theatre
Apr. 23-24 "42nd Annual Dakota Conference" - Augustana College, Sioux Falls, 605-274-4007 www.augie.edu/cws
Apr. 23-27 "Walleye Fishing Tournament" - Platte Area Chamber of Commerce, Platte, Snake Creek Rec Area/Lake Francis Case, 888-297-8175 www.plattesd.org
Apr. 24 "The Little Chicago Syncopators" - Gayville Hall, Gayville, 605-267-2859 www.gayvillehall.com
Apr. 29 "McCrossan Banquet Auction" - Sioux Falls Convention Center, McCrossan Boys Ranch, 605-339-1203, www.mccrossan.org

MAY 2010
May 1 "Critter De Mayo" - Great Plains Zoo, Sioux Falls, 605-367-7003 www.greatzoo.org
May 1 "Paul Sanchez" - South Dakota Symphony, Sioux Falls, 605-335-7933 www.sdsymphony.org
May 1 "Opening of 2010 Sculpture Walk" - Sioux Falls, 605-339-8359 www.sculpturewalksiouxfalls.com
May 1 - 2 "Spring opening FREE weekend" - Dakota Discovery Museum, Mitchell, 605-996-2122, www.dakotadiscovery.com
May 7 "Little Shop of Horrors" Pepsi-Cola Theater, Mitchell, 605-996-9137 www.mitchellact.org
May 7 "Arts Night Auction/Dinner" - Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls www.washingtonpavilion.org
May 8 "Consignment Auction" - Prairie Village, Madison, 605-256-3644 www.prairievillage.org
May 15 "30th Annual Trail Tour 5K" - Big Sioux Recreation Area, Brandon, 605-582-7243 www.sdparks.info
May 16 "Fantastic Family Fishing" - Palisades State Park, Garretson, 605-594-3824 www.sdparks.info
May 21 "Over the River and Through the Woods Hike" - Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985 www.sdparks.info
May 21 - 23 "Open House and Free Fishing Weekend" - Statewide South Dakota State Parks, 605-773-3391 www.sdparks.info
May 22 "Pie Iron Cooking is a Piece of Cake" - Chief White Crane Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985 www.sdparks.info
May 22 "Geocaching 101" - Pierson Ranch Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985 www.sdparks.info
May 28 "Geocaching 101" - Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985 www.sdparks.info
May29 "Bird ID Walk in the Park" - Walker's Point Recreation Area, Madison, 605-256-5003 www.sdparks.info
May 29 "Tree Talk and Walk" - Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985 www.sdparks.info
May 29 "Old Time Country Gospel" - Gayville Hall, Gayville, 605-267-2859 www.gayvillehall.com
May 29 "Bikes & Babes Rally for Miracles" - Sioux Falls, 605-334-2721 www.jl-harley.com
May 29 "Cycle Through the Park" - Big Sioux Recreation Area, Brandon, 605-582-7243 www.sdparks.info
May 29 "Bird ID Walk in the Park" - Lake Herman State Park, Madison, 605-256-5003 www.sdparks.info
May 29-30 "Memorial Weekend in Mitchell" 605-996-3032 www.memorialweekendinmitchell.com
May 31 "Memorial Day Program" - Geddes, 506-337-2188 www.geddessd.com
More...