Greetings!
The Wenatchee Valley has erupted in brilliant color as more and more people get outside to take in the splendor of this area. Whether visiting or a full-time resident, please enjoy this month's guide into all things sports in the Wenatchee Valley. |
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NASC Symposium a Hit in Omaha by Eric Granstrom
Eric Granstrom with Sports Events Magazine's Aimee Krueger (Omaha, NE)...I had an amazing time at the NASC Symposium in Omaha April 21-25. I returned with tons of ideas on how to make the Sports Council better and I've already begun implementing some of them (see You Tube story below). I'd say the best thing that came out of NASC was the chance to get to know my counterparts in other sports councils and commissions around the state of Washington.
Tim Waer of Tacoma Sports Commission sponsored the opening ceremonies and with it came a booth at the Sports Marketplace. Tim was generous enough to open his booth up to the Washington Association of Sports Commissions and it became our rally point during the symposium. It's amazing how you have to travel so far from home sometimes to get to know your neighbors. Wenatchee will host the WASC in June and provide a tour of the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center, a luncheon and then golf availability at the Highlander. It will be our chance to showcase the valley for its potential to host events of a statewide, regional and national stature.
While in Omaha, I met with event-holders such as the American Junior Golf Association, Can-Am Police and Fire Games, US Olympic Committee and AAU Karate about their open bids and the possibility of getting the Wenatchee Valley on their radar screen. I also attended several incredibly informative seminars and presentations on topics ranging from improving your website to dealing with a social media to determining the economic impact of sports. All of these tools will help me make the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council better than it's ever been.
NASC will hold a market segment meeting this September in Colorado Springs and then next year's symposium will be held in Denver. I've already made plans to attend. |
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Sports Council Now on You Tube!
(Wenatchee, WA)...One of the most important things I learned at the recent NASC symposium in Omaha was that if you're not on You Tube, you're missing the boat. According to several experts on search engine augmentation who spoke at the symposium, the more your organization's name is out there on the web, the more "points" you score with search engines.
For example, Google has a scoring system that not only looks at key words on every page of your website, but they also look at how many other sites have links to yours, how many other pages have hyperlinks to a particular item on a page of your site, and how many multi-media productions you have posted. If you search "Wenatchee Sports" on Google, you'll see the Sports Council's link comes up Number 1. That's because our site scored highest with Google when summing up all the criteria they look at.
Adding a You Tube site with video helps add more points to the search engine scoring. So, enter You Tube WenatcheeSports!
If you go to You Tube and type in Wenatchee Valley Sports, the link to our new You Tube site will get three of the top four listings with links to videos on the site. This is a bold new step forward in modern media and best of all, it's ABSOLUTELY FREE! The next step is to not only link the You Tube site to the Sports Council's website, but to embed the video directly on the site as well. Before you know it, we'll also have blogging capability on the site as well.
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Graybill Joins Sports Council
 (Wenatchee, WA)...The "Fishin' Magician" is now a member of the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council Executive Board. By unanimous vote April 8th, the SC Board elected Dave Graybill to fill its final vacancy bringing the board to its full 15-member contingency.
Graybill has worked with Director of Marketing Eric Granstrom for over a year on expanding the focus of Wenatchee Valley Sports marketing beyond traditional ball sports and bicycling to outdoor recreation including hunting and fishing.
Graybill is a native of North Central Washington and has fished in this region for over 40 years. He has also fished extensively in the Western Hemisphere, including Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. He was an outdoor writer for many years for Hunting and Fishing News in Seattle and has written feature articles for Northwest Sport Fishing, Salmon, Trout, Steelheader, Washington-Oregon Fish and Game, North American Sportsman, and FishMonitor.com, WashingtonLakes.com and LandBigFish.com.
Dave provides the "Outdoor Insider" reports to 10 radio stations in Eastern Washington and Seattle. Dave also has a column in four weekly newspapers in Eastern Washington. These include the Leavenworth Echo, Cashmere Valley Record, Lake Chelan Mirror, Okanogan Valley Gazzett Tribune, and the Quad City Herald. Two daily newspapers also feature Dave's writing in their Friday editions. These include the Wenatchee World and the Columbia Basin Herald. Dave just recently added another outlet for his audio reports with a new local access television show.
Dave's wealth of knowledge in the outdoor world and experience in marketing will be a great addition to the Sports Council board. If you'd like to find out more about the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council, its Executive Board meets the second Tuesday of every month at Noon at the Roaster and Ale House at the Coast Hotel.
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Q&A - 5 Questions on Wenatchee Valley's Super Oval This month on 5 Questions, we sit down with Manager of Wenatchee Valley's Super Oval, Michelle Lawson.
Shot from above at WVSO by Terry Loss Photogrphy
1) Q: Michelle, what's new and exciting this year at WVSO?
A: I'll start at the end. For the first time in the Pacific Northwest, monster trucks that frequent the mid-west will be here for our grand finale! We're bringing in 40 cars and trucks for them to jump and smash as well as a bunch of dirt for the infield, I need to replace the irrigation anyway. Also, for the first time in three years, the NSRA Sprint Cars are coming back to WVSO, that's VERY exciting. I would say this if the most diverse season in my eight years at the track. You'll find just about anything and everything this year, so I hope people give us a look!
2) Q: You've had two races so far, how did they go?
A: We are coming off our first rainout in three years last weekend (May 3rd), so I'm pretty upset about that. We tried, but the rains were just too much and they came just in time for the main events. And, even though the weather was cold our opening weekend, the crowds were very supportive and it was great!
3) Q: What makes WVSO so special?
A: I think what differentiates us from the other track is that we're very clean. From the moment you walk in the gate, you notice the difference. We also do our best to make every event a family show with something for everyone. Also, we have not raised ticket prices in the eight years I've been here. (On average, an adult tickets goes for $12).
4) Q: The race track is also a gun club. I'm sure you'd like to remind race fans to leave their weapons at home?
A: (laughing) Yes, please. But, they're welcome to watch the races on Saturday and then come back and shoot on Sunday! I'm actually the North Central Washington Gun Club President, I'm a member of the NRA and I shoot pistols, revolver, I don't care much for automatics. The track and the gun club have a very good relationship and being on both sides helps. I can understand the needs of both organizations.
Q: A quick follow-up question - would you be a member of the gun club if you weren't the Super Oval manager?
A: Absolutely! I was a member of a gun club before I moved to Wenatchee and that's one of the first things I looked for when I came to the valley.
5) Q: What's the easiest way for people to learn more about WVSO?
A: The website! Just go to www.wvso.com and you can find the schedule, the rules, the records, the classifications, ticket prices and everything. Of course, if someone just wants to talk racing I'm happy to do that too over the phone! (the phone number for WVSO is 884-8592).
Thanks to Michelle Munro for being our focus on 5 Questions this month. If you have an idea of person to ask five questions of, email us at sports@wenatcheevalley.org. |
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SC VP Takes on Ohme Gardens 
(at right a photo Ohme Gardens by Monte Dodge)
(Wenatchee, WA)...Sports Council Vice President Sally Brawley has taken on the responsibility of marketing Ohme Gardens this spring and summer. Brawley, who works as the director of the Mission Ridge Ski School during the ski season, says she's "excited about the opportunity and challenge of this new role." She says, "no one has ever really specifically marketed Ohme Gardens before, so it should be fun!"
For the first time, the garden oasis overlooking the Wenatchee Valley on Birch Mountain, has its own website. Go on-line to www.ohmegardens.com to find out more information about donating, becoming a member or booking an event. You can also call for more information at 662-5785. | |
If you have any questions or comments about the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council or this newsletter, please give me a call at 509-663-3723 or toll free at 1-800-572-7753. You can also email me at eric@wenatcheevalley.org. |
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Sincerely,
Eric Granstrom
Wenatchee Valley Sports Council
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NEWS & NOTES
Congrats WVC!!!
The Wenatchee Valley College baseball team has clinched its first-ever East Region Championship! The Knighs have games May 7th at Spokane and May 10th vs. Columbia Basin.
Meanwhile, the Lady Knights are a sweep away from their third-consecutive Eastern Region Championship. WVC hosts Yakima in a final doubleheader Friday, May 9th.
The Mike Utley Foundation has received a $14,466.00 Player Foundation Grant from NFL Charities. NFL Charities was founded in 1973 and through its Player Foundation grants seeks to support the charitable activities of both current and former National Football League players.
NFL Charities Evaluation report noted that the Mike Utley Foundation was singularly focused on providing support for innovative research, rehabilitation and education for spinal cord injuries. "Mr. Utley knows first hand the need for increased education, information and research." Additionally the evaluation stated that "The Foundation appears to be professionally-run and highly accountable for the funds it receives and gives."
Utley's annual fundraiser, Dam2Dam Thumbs Up! Bike Tour is slated for September 27th. Go to Mike Utley Foundation for more information. |
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Sox Need Your Help
 (photo provided by Brooks Davenport)
The Wenatchee AppleSox baseball club will start a new season June 6th and they're still in need of host-families for players. According to Assistant GM and Minority Owner of the AppleSox Ken Osborne, "we're still about two or three families short for this year."
Typically, collegians that come to play for the AppleSox between June and August don't have jobs and can't afford housing. Host families step in and provide a place to sleep, eat, shower and wash clothes. In return, the families receive season tickets for the entire family and according to Osborne, "these young men are terrific role models for kids. They can also be helpful around the house for senior citizens. We consider the AppleSox players to be a real asset for our community during the summer."
If you'd like more information on becoming an AppleSox host family, call 509-665-6900 or stop by their office at 610 North Mission Street, Suite 204. |
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Board of Directors
Pres. - Caryl Morrell
VP - Sally Brawley
Sec. - Bruce Bennett
Erik Bakke
BJ Kuntz
Dan Kelly
Mark Madland
Ken Osburne
Scott Paton
Trina Sanders
Bob Rust
Dan White
Director of Marketing - Eric Granstrom |
2-4 - Century 21 Apple Blossom Slugfest Baseball Tournament
9-11 - GWGSA Kickoff Girls Fast Pitch Softball Tournament
10 - WV Rams vs. Spokane Sabertcats, 6p
15-18 - WAHSET State Equestrian Championships
17 - Columbia River Soo Bahk Do Karate Black Belt Testing at Lee Elementary School
17 - WVSO - NSRA Sprint Cars, 6pm
31 - WVSO - Bump 2 Pass Night, 6pm
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Trail Maps Available
(graphics by Cascade Graphics)
Wenatchee Valley Trips & Trails A Field Guid to the Wenatchee Area is available free of charge at our offices. Write:
Trips & Trails Guide
25 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Suite C-111
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Or email your request to:
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Wanna Join Us?
The Wenatchee Valley Sports Council Board of Directors meet the second Tuesday of every month at the Wenatchee Roaster and Ale House at Noon.
All meetings are open to the public. For an agenda or to make a presentation, contact Sports Council Director of Marketing Eric Granstrom at 509-663-3723 or via email at sports@wenatcheevalley.org
Written requests for meeting minutes can be made to:
Wenatchee Valley Sports Council
25 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Suite C-111
Wenatchee, WA 98801 | |
