SOUTHEAST COMPASS
Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association                   August 2010
IN THIS ISSUE
23rd Annual Meeting
Overnight stays up
2011 EVENTS SUBMISSION
Email Marketing
Member Spotlight
Web Coop's
SSDTA Board Meetings
Link-Up with SSDTA
23rd Annual Membership Meeting
    Save the date... 
  October 6, 2010
for SSDTA's 23rd Annual Membership Meeting,
to be held at the Great Plains Zoo.
    Plan to attend for the annual regional tourism update, discuss topics important to your business, meet the board of directors and network with other SSDTA friends.
     Plan to attend an informative workshop on Search Engine Optimization with Rodger Wenzlaff.
1-888-353-7382
jacquie.sesd@iw.net
NEW
MEDIA RESOURCE WEBPAGE
     Rodger has added a new page to our website just for the media to see press releases, newsletters, recent articles about the region and much more.
    Send us tourism related articles about the region that you see in your local paper or news about your town or business that relates to tourism in the region.
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

SSDTA Board Officers Elected for 2010-11
Southeast Tourism
Board of Directors
Lisa Scheve
Lisa Scheve President
Yankton CVB

Mark Schilling
Mark Schilling Past President
Corn Palace, Mitchell

Cathy Buchheim
Cathy Buchheim Vice President
Sioux Falls CVB

Hannah Walters Sec/Tres
Mitchell CVB

Steve Howe
Vermillion Chamber

Dawn Glover
City Manager, Elk Point

Chrissy Spoo
Empire Mall, Sioux Falls

Jacquelynn Skotvold
Centerville Development Corp

Julie Gross
Madison Chamber

Callie Wockenfuss
The Lakes Lodge, Wentworth

Jason Bradley
Culvers, Mitchell

Emily McNamara
Wild Water West, Sioux Falls

Ryan Friez
Thunder Road, Sioux Falls

Jeff VanMeeteren
Lewis & Clark Rec Area, Yankton

Terri Schelm
Country Inn & Suites,
Dakota Dunes
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.
Bash to the Colonies
So much to do, so little time!
    August is a busy month with final days of summer, getting in that last family trip to a nearby destination. Still many great festivals and events coming in August to check out and great "back to school" sales.
    Be sure to check out some of the coming events you will want to enjoy with the kids. And relax... the kids may be back in school, but there will be lots of warm weekends to enjoy time together right here in Southeast South Dakota. 
    Had a good summer season? Adding or expanding your business? Got some good pictures of guests enjoying their visit to your business? Let us know how your season is going, send us pictures that we can use on our website or in newsletters to visitors. Brag a little, so we can pass on the Good News. 
    Something new has been added to the SSDTA website. Maps, lots of maps. Each community in the region now has a map that includes an icon for each member business. The maps show visitors how to find your attraction, lodging or event. If you have a unique logo or icon that you would prefer us to use for your business, send it to us. See the maps under cities at www.southeastsouthdakota.com. Watch for more changes to the website and more value to your business.
                                                                    - Jacquie, Executive Director
Southeast overnight stays UP 2.9%
     According to Smith Travel Research overnight stays in the Southeast Region of South Dakota are up by 2.9% over last year. Black Hills Region up 1%, Glacial Lakes Region down .5% and Great Lakes Region down 1.5%.
     We have had a good summer and it's not over yet. We continue to push the season into the fall with festivals and events and promoting less crowded campgrounds, cooler nights and great shopping opportunities.
     All across the region we are hearing reports of increased revenue over last year.
     Report from SD Tourism shows car counts for the last month down but we are pleased to see Canadian visitors up 7.3%.
2011 On-Line Events Submission
DEADLINE OCTOBER 15, 2010
Don't miss the 2011 events calendar in our visitor guide and on-line. Your event will also be listed on our 2011 desk calendar. Submit on-line or by email.
Events Submission Page
  Email Marketing to Visitors
      We are sending a 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. The newsletter also includes a link to all of the packages. Submit your package here.
    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
"Bash to the Colonies Regatta" - August 28-29BASH to the Colonies 2
    Bash to the Colonies Sailboat Regatta is a "friendly competition" between sailing enthusiasts.
Trophies are awarded but the event is not a hardcore race. It has developed into a weekend of sailing, fun, food, music, and entertainment. All proceeds go to Special Olympics South Dakota to help those with handicaps.
    All types of boats get on the Lewis and Clark Lake to watch the race, tag along with the race, and to simply enjoy the water for the weekend.
     There are many fun and exciting things to do throughout the weekend.

Saturday, Aug 28th, 2010
10:00 am - Regatta Starts - Mono Hulls
10:30 am - Regatta Starts - Hobies
5:00 pm - Regatta Finish
6:30 pm - BBQ, Awards and Social - North Shelter
7:00 pm - Music by "Too Drunk to Fish" - North Shelter
Sunday, Aug 29th, 2010
12:00 Noon - Junior Bash - lazer racing (must be under 16 years of age)
1:00 to 5:00 pm - Music by "Too Drunk to Fish" - Hobie Beach

Lewis & Clark Lake, Yankton    605-665-2680     www.bashtothecolonies.com 
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 - Your brochure on-line.
     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
   Sept. 22nd - Empire Mall, Sioux Falls 10am
   October 6th - Annual Membership Meeting - Great Plains Zoo
   November 24 - Mitchell CVB 10am
    Everyone is welcome to attend board meetings and  serve on a committee. We value your opinion and welcome your input at meetings. Please feel free to attend and participate.
    Please join us for a meeting and lunch. If your business would like to host an SSDTA board meeting call 888-353-7382  or email: jacquie.sesd@iw.net
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

AUGUST
Aug 17-21 "Treasure Hunter Roadshow" - Riverfront Event Center, Yankton, 217-636-7900 www.treasurehuntersroadshow.com
Aug 20-21 "Riverboat Days PRCA Rodeo" - Yankton, 605-665-9231 www.riverboatdays.com
Aug 20-22 "Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival" - Riverside Park, Yankton 605-665-1657 www.riverboatdays.com
Aug 21 "Monarch Butterfly Tagging" - Palisades State Park, Garretson, 605-594-3824 www.sdparks.info
Aug 21 "Annual Pheasant Fest" - Plankinton, 605-942-7767 www.plankinton.com
Aug 21 "McCrossan Boys Ranch Xtreme Event Challenge" - McCrossan's Boys Ranch, 605-339-1203 www.mccrossan.org
Aug 25-30 "Corn Palace Festival" - Michell, 605-995-8427 www.cornpalacefestival.com
Aug 27 "Geocaching 101" - Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985 www.sdparks.info
Aug 27-28 "Bull-A-Rama" - Vermillion 605-624-5571 www.bullarama.org
Aug 27-29 "Annual Steam Threshing Jamboree" - Prairie Village, Madison 605-256-3644 www.prairievillage.org
Aug 28 "Lewis and Clark Walk Through History Hike" - Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985 www.sdparks.info
Aug 28 "Bash to the Colonies Regatta" - Lewis & Clark Lake, Yankton, 605-665-2680 www.lewisandclarkpark.com/resort.html
Aug 28-29 "Great Dakota Wine Fest" - Valiant Vineyards, Vermillion 605-624-4500 www.buffalorunwinery.com
Aug 29 "Bash on the Beach" - Lewis & Clark Resort Area, Yankton, 605-665-2608 www.lewisandclarkpark.com/resort.html

SEPTEMBER
Sept 3 "Over the River and Through the Woods Hike" - Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985 www.sdparks.info
Sept 3-5 "LifeLight Christian Outdooe Music Festival" - Worthing www.lifelight.org
Sept 4 "Pie Iron Cooking is a Piece fo Cake" - Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985 www.sdparks.info
Sept 4 "Toss Along the River: Disc Golf Tournament" - Big Sioux Recreation Area, Brandon, 605-582-7243 www.sdparks.info
Aug 7 "The Hay Country Jamboree" - Gayville Hall, Gayville 605-267-2859 www.gayvillehall.com
Sept 4 - 6 "Wagner Labor Day Celebration" - Wagner, 605-395-4085, www.cityofwagner.org
Sept 5 "Triple V Triathlon" - Lewis & Clark Lake, Yankton, 605-661-7035 www.allsportscentral.com
Sept 5 "Palisades Amazing Family Dash" - Palisades State Park, Garretson, 605-594-3824 www.sdparks.info
Sept 6 "State Pedal Pull" Labor Day Monday, Corn Palace, Mitchell, 605-995-8427 www.cornpalace.com
Sept 7 "Front Porch Stories & Blues" National Music Museum, Vermillion, 605-677-5306, www.usd.edu/nmm
Sept 9 "Monarch Migration Walk in the Park" Spirit Mound Historic Prairie, Vermillion, 605-624-5571, www.vermillionchamber.com
Sept 10 "Duos for Harpsichord & Fortepiano" National Music Museum, Vermillion, 605-677-5306, www.usd.edu/nmm
Sept 10-11 "Ribs, Rods & Rock'n Roll" - Vermillion, 605-624-5571 www.sdbbchampionship.com
Sept 10-11 "Kuchen / Old Time Harvest Festivals" - Delmont, 605-779-2621 www.delmontsd.org
Sept 10-12 "2010 River Park Rendezvous" - Baltic River Park, Baltic, SD - (605) 335-2236, www.abatesfsd.org/2010balticpark.html#
Sept 11 "German Fest" - Falls Park West, Sioux Falls,
605-274-2423 www.sfsistercities.com
Sept 11 "Menno Car Show" - Menno, 605-387-5607 www.mennosd.org
Sept 11 "Sidewalk Arts Festival" - Sioux Falls, 605-367-6000 www.washingtonpavilion.org
Sept 12 "32nd Annual Homesteader Day" - Beaver Creek Nature Area, Brandon, 605-594-3824 www.sdparks.info
Sept 12 "Antique Tractor & Car Parade" - Spencer, 605-239-4498


More...