AUGUST 2011 Southeast Compass

SOUTHEAST COMPASS

Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association August 2011

IN THIS ISSUE

Did You Know?

Regional Marketing Assistance

Web Coop's

Member Spotlight

SSDTA Board Meetings

Link-Up with SSDTA

DID YOU KNOW?

· SSDTA distributes your brochure to all South Dakota interstate info centers all season long for FREE?

All you have to do is get us a good supply of your brochures and we do the work for you.

This is one of your free member benefits... are you taking advantage of this service?

Other benefits

PHEASANT FEST

Kansas, City

SSDTA will have a corner booth at Pheasant Fest in Kansas City in February 2012.

We are seeking a couple of promotional partners to help man the booth and show your business or community to hunting enthusiasts.

SSDTA will pay for the booth and furnishings. Your cost would be $100 plus your own travel and meals.

You may bring one brochure to hand out.

First come first serve basis.

If you would like to be a partner in our booth, please contact Jacquie at 665-2435 or jacquie.sesd@iw.net

Brochures and

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

Join SSDTA 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

Cathy Buchheim President
Sioux Falls CVB
Mark Schilling Vice President
Corn Palace, Mitchell
Hannah Walters Sec/Tres
Mitchell CVB
Steve Howe Exec. Committee
Vermillion Chamber
Chrissy Spoo Exec. Committee
Empire Mall, Sioux Falls
Dawn Glover
City Manager, Elk Point
Jacquelynn Skotvold
Centerville Development Corp
Julie Gross
Madison Chamber
Don South
Strawbale Winery
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
Dennis Nelson
City of Freeman

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

Dams creating a new "Attraction"

Who knew that when Gavin's Point Dam release levels reached 160,000 cfs it would create a new visitor attraction. Cars are lined along the spillway continuously. I started looking at license plates and they are more out-of-state than local. In talking to the "visitors" many of them are coming to see the record water releases at not only Gavins Point but traveling to all of the dams to see history in the making. "I'll be able to tell my grandkids I was here and saw the enormous flows coming through the dams" said a young man in his thirties from Des Moines, IA.

For the most part visitors have heard about the flooding and are learning what areas are closed and what areas are open. We continue to get a few calls from folks wanting to know if they can put a boat in at Lewis & Clark Lake... answer is YES, above Gavins Point Dam the park is functioning as normal. Swimming, boating, and fishing are normal.

Below Gavins Point Dam, is a different story. High water releases have closed boat ramps and no river access is allowed. It's a sight to see and the "thunder" of the water surging through the dam is incredible. If you haven't been there already, it would be worth a road trip of your own. Bring the camper and enjoy the campgrounds at the same time. Continue to spread the word that Southeast South Dakota is open for visitors.

Each month we feature our packages and special get-aways in our email news to over 6,000 visitors. Visitors are looking for easy pre-packaged vacations at a good value. Help us by creating your own unique package.

Package listings on our website are free. Submit your package here.

· Put your event on www.southeastsouthdakota.com events calendar so visitors don't miss it.

· VISITOR GUIDES AVAILABLE - Call 605-665-2435 and we will help you get your supplies.

Be sure to read the entire newsletter for some interesting news, upcoming meetings and an opportunity to serve your region.

- Jacquie, Executive Director

SSDTA Seeking new Regional Marketing Assistance Projects

We are looking for a few good projects!

Each year SSDTA chooses a few groups to assist with marketing. We attend their planning meetings, offer help with designing a brochure or advertising. We give our input on how they might increase visitors and how to track numbers of inquiries and visitors to their event or attraction. Please note that the assistance we offer is in marketing only, not overall event planning.

The projects we choose to assist must be non-profit, with a focus on drawing visitors to an event, community or area.

Past projects include the I-29 Cultural Corridor, Oyate Trail, Missouri River Corridor, Bash to the Colonies, Czech Days Festival, Lewis & Clark Golf Trail, and others.

If your group would like to be considered as a RMA project, please contact the SSDTA office. Projects are chosen by need for assistance and value of the effort to draw visitors.

Each project remains in the program for two to three years as we increase marketing efforts and track success.

Rules for RMA projects:

* Community or event must be a member of SSDTA

* Must be non-profit (not necessary to have a 501c3 status)

* Must have focus on drawing visitors to the event or venue in Southeast South Dakota

* Must apply to be considered.

Coop Opportunities

Get Your Brochure On-line - Click Here to see other on-line brochures.

Advertising on southeastsouthdakota.com

Coop costs and more...

Web packages/specials/coupons - FREE Click here

Member Spotlight

Yankton Riverboat Days

& Summer Arts Festival

August 19-20-21

Yankton Riverboat Days
PO Box 483 · Yankton, SD 57078

Phone: 605-665-1657
www.riverboatdays.com

Southeast Tourism Board Meetings

SSDTA Board Meeting Schedule

September 28 - 10 am Sioux Falls

October - SSDTA Members Annual Meeting

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

Sponsors Needed for the SSDTA Annual Meeting

Contact Jacquie 665-2435 jacquie.sesd@iw.net

Link to www.southeastsouthdakota.com

Please consider putting a link on your website to Southeast South Dakota Tourism.
Your guests may be interested in what else there is to see and do.

Here's the link and logo http://www.southeastsouthdakota.com/

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...

Call 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!

AUGUST 2011
Aug 4-7 "Brandon Hometown Days" Brandon, 605-582-7400, www.brandonhometowndays.com
Aug 4 "Nature Day Camp: Bug Buddies" Palisades State Park, Garretson, 605-594-3824, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 4 "Thursdays on the Platz, Live Music" Vermillion, 605-624-5571, www.vermillionchamber.com
Aug 5 "One Fish, Two Fish: Fishing Clinic" Chief White Crane Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 5 "Downtown Block Party on the Eastbank" Downtown Sioux Falls, 605-338-4009, www.dtsf.com
Aug 5 "Evening in the Vineyard" Wilde Prairie Winery, near Brandon, 605-582-6471, www.wildeprairiewinery.com
Aug 5-7 "32nd Annual Sioux River Folk Festival" Newton Hills State Park, 605-987-2263, www.fotm.org
Aug 5-7 "Southeastern SD Threshing Show" Lennox, 712-737-2671, www.cityoflennoxsd.com
Aug 6 "4th Annual Big Sioux Bustle - GPS / Geocaching Race" Big Sioux Recreation Area, Brandon, 605-582-7243, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 6 "2nd Annual Big Sioux Sun Run" McHardy Park, Brandon, 605-582-7400, www.brandonvalleychamber.com
Aug 6 "Green Eggs and Ham" Lewis & Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 6 "Oh the Places You Will Go Bike Hike" Lewis & Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 6 "Horton Hears a HOO Night Hike" Lewis & Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 6 "Classic Car & Antique Tractor Show" Main St, Wessington Springs, 605-539-1805, www.wessintonsprings.com
Aug 7 "18th Annual Car Show" Prairie Village, Madison, 800-693-3644 www.prairievillage.org
Aug 9-14 "Sioux Empire Fair" Sioux Falls, 605-367-7178, www.siouxempirefair.org
Aug 11 "Nature Day Camp: Bug Buddies" Big Sioux Recreation Area, Brandon, 605-582-7243, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 11-13 "Clay County Fair" Clay County Fair ground, Vermillion Chamber & Development, 605-624-5571, www.vermillionchamber.com
Aug 12 "Board Game Hike" Walker's Point Recreation Area, Madison, 605-256-5003, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 12-13 "Photoshop Workshop" SD Art Museum, Brookings, 1-866-805-7590, www.southdakotaartmuseum.com
Aug 12-14 "Scottie Stampede Rodeo Days & Kuchen Feier" Scotland, 605-583-4419 www.scotlandsd.org
Aug 12-14 "Fur Trader Days" Geddes, 605-337-2501, www.geddessd.org
Aug 12-14 "Harvey Dunn Plein Air Event" DeSmet, 1-866-805-7590, www.southdakotaartmuseum.com
Aug 13 "Quilts and Vines" Strawbale Winery, Renner, 605-543-5071, www.quiltsandvines.com
Aug 13 "Adams Homestead Celebration" Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, McCook Lake - North Sioux City,
605-232-0873, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 13 "Board Game Hike" Lake Herman State Park, Madison, 605-256-5003, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 13 "Galaxy Gazing" Lewis & Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, 605-668-2985, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 13 "Parrot Show" Newton Hills State Park, Canton, 605-987-2263, www.gfp.sd.gov
Aug 15-18 "Turner County Fair" Parker, 605-297-4428 www.turnercountyfair.com
Aug 16 "Test Fest" (Rocky Mountain Oyster Fest) Magilly's, Yankton, 605-668-5181, www.magillyslakesideeatery.com
Aug 16-18 "DakotaFest" Mitchell, 800-827-8007, www.visitmitchell.com
Aug 17 "Miller Lite Bull Bash" Mitchell, 605-770-8299, www.visitmitchell.com

More...