Our Supporters
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Corporate Sponsor:
Appreciation Society Business Members:
Doug Groppenbacher, CCIM, CIPS
Custom-Built
Teardrop Trailers
by
Teardrop72
Cultural Organization Members:
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If this issue of Along 89
was forwarded to you,
click here to join the list.
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How to Contribute Your Stories and Photographs to the US Route 89 Road Trip Guides...and Why It Matters
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by James Cowlin
When the idea of doing a photographic study of US Route 89 first occurred to me, I figured it would take a couple of years to complete the project. Seven years later, I'm still discovering new places and meeting interesting people to include. This is beginning to shape up to be a lifelong project, even with Barbara (my wife) hard at work with me!
We're excited by the growth in interest we are seeing on the US Route 89 website and in subscriptions to the email newsletter, Along 89. The website is there for you to use at any time. The newsletter is published approximately monthly and usually spotlights an event or a place or person. If you've received this, then you've already signed up to receive the newsletter. The newsletter and US Route 89 website are two different things. We've noticed that some people have been confused by this. What you are reading is the newsletter. Here's the US Route 89 website.
Our goal is to create the richest website possible with content provided not only by us, but by the community of people who share our enthusiasm for this unique and special road. User story and photo contributions will help us develop a vital and continually growing virtual community. The Road Trip Guides are where you can add your information. Just find the section of the road pertaining to your photo or story and that's where you want to put it (see below for more instructions). The possibilities are endless. As more stories and photos are added to the road trip guides, the site will grow exponentially in richness.
We can't be everywhere at once! Your contributions can be as simple as a snapshot or two, or as complex as a historically researched story, a series of photographs with captions or a restaurant review. Creativity and humor are welcome.
Take a look at a few of the contributions. Just click on each link to get a feel for what people are doing:
In order to make the process even easier than before, we've had the website's Share Your Story redesigned. We've even created a downloadable tutorial to help you get started. And if you get stuck, just send us an email and we'll be glad to help you out. You only need to register one time. You can log in and submit your stories and photographs any time you like, as many times as you would like.
The second way to be involved in the project is to join the US Route 89 Appreciation Society. We have membership categories for all types of supporters. Individuals can join as General or Supporting Members. Businesses, civic and cultural organizations benefit from being listed as sponsors on Road Trip Guides, as well as our other publications. Your financial support will help us continue to expand and improve the website. It's a full time labor of love on our part. Click here to join, using PayPal, or download the form and mail us a check.
Please keep the following distinction in mind: registering as a contributor and joining the US Route 89 Appreciation Society are two separate things. When you register, you are doing it to add stories and photographs to the Road Trip Guides. This is different from joining the Appreciations Society, which helps support the website and other activities by making a monetary contribution. Both are important and you can do one and not the other. However, we hope that if you enjoy receiving the newsletter and using the website, you will join the US Route 89 Appreciation Society so we can continue with this project.
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Successful Presentation at the Arizona Highways Travel Show
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by Barbara Cowlin
Jim was invited to be a speaker at the first Arizona Highways Travel Show at the Convention Center in Phoenix on May 31. Of course, his topic was Taking a Road Trip on US Route 89.
We arrived in the parking garage adjacent to the Convention Center, only to see streams of people in red shirts heading to the Diamondbacks baseball game. Since this was the inaugural year for the travel show, we had no idea what to expect. Suddenly my vision was of a giant hall, empty of people, because they were all across the street, rooting for the Diamondbacks.
That was not the case! The hall was packed with vendors from all over the state, and jammed with visitors. We spent several hours visiting booths, meeting people and acquainting them with the US Route 89 project. The response was of overwhelming interest and enthusiasm. We got reacquainted with Steve and Sharon Hatch, of Hatch River Expeditions. Dwayne Cassidy, of the Page-Lake Powell Tourism Bureau, was delighted to see us again, and asked for another batch of brochures to hand out.
Most exciting to me was Brian Lang from the Arizona Office of Tourism, who told us he knew about the project because he had seen our brochures in a number of places around the state.
 The highlight of the Arizona Highways Travel Show was Jim's presentation (in my humble opinion). Jim spent some time with Justin, the tech guy, getting connected to the projector and microphone systems.
 It was a challenging space. The stage was in a corner of the Hall, fully lit from above and fairly noisy, since it wasn't in an enclosed room.
 Every seat was filled. There were even people standing in the background. I handed out the US Route 89 Appreciation Society brochures, and people were literally snatching them from my hands! The audience was riveted to their seats as Jim described the project and took them on a photo journey on historic 89 through Arizona.
 After the talk was over, quite a few people stayed to ask questions. Others milled about, looking at their brochures. No one seemed in a hurry to leave. Despite the technical challenges, Jim obviously captured the interest and imaginations of the crowd.
DISCLAIMER: all of the (fuzzy, poor quality) photos are mine.
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Support the "Slow Road" Movement:
Join the US Route 89 Appreciation Society
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 You love driving the two-lane highways that keep you close to the edge of the road so you can see the land at a leisurely pace. You think nothing of stopping along the way to admire the view and smell the fresh air. You seek out unique places to eat where the special of the day depends on what's in season at the nearby farm. You already appreciate the opportunities offered by a journey on US Route 89.
You are not alone in your passion for a trip on a "slow road." There are many others like you. Together we can spread the word of the joys of leisurely travel. Join the US Route 89 Appreciation Society and you'll receive an official membership certificate and button to attest to your belief in the "slow road" movement.
General Membership: $5
Benefits:
· Membership Certificate
· Membership Badge
· Email Newsletter
· Invitations to all project events
Download the Membership Brochure in pdf format |
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