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Wenatchee Valley Sports Council News
 Greetings!
I was in Denver, Colorado recently at a national convention for sports types and the discussion, not surprisingly, was on the economy. And sports tends to be rather recession-resistant. In fact, the great quote from National Association of Sports Commission Executive Director Don Shumacher was, "my daughter is only 12 once."
He was referring to the fact that despite whatever economic trials families may be facing, they will still travel for sports events in which their children play. Luckily for us, we are chalk-full of sports events here in the Wenatchee Valley.
April was an exciting month with Ridge to River and Jr. Ridge as well as the Marathon and MS Walk. It also proved nerve-wracking for softball interests with the PUD pulling back on field maintenance for tournaments. Luckily, the Apple Valley Softball Association stepped in and negotiated for more maintenance, and offered monies to tournament organizers who couldn't afford the PUD rates beyond the minimum. So a HUGE thank you to the AVSA for helping us all, including the Sports Foundation's O'Terry's tournament in August.
Enjoy the sun and fun and final full-month of school and our beautiful green hills while they last!
Happy Trails
Eric Granstrom - Wenatchee Valley Sports Council |
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Wenatchee Goes Hog Wild! Oh so close!!! If only Junior Cadiz' shot in overtime could have lifted just a little more. But then again, maybe it's better the Wenatchee Wild didn't win the Robertson Cup (NAHL Title) in it's first year out.
Now, don't hurl stones. But in talking with several in the hockey community, all agree that Wenatchee Wild fans have no idea how many teams and communities will kill for the chance to even play in a championship tournament, let alone the title game and an overtime chance to win!
For those living under a stone, the Wenatchee Wild fell 3-2 in overtime on Sunday in the title game of the Robertson Cup at Mason City, Iowa. It capped the most unbelievable and improbable inaugural season. The NAHL's newest team led the entire league in attendance with the sparkling new Town Toyota Center. It finished second place to Fairbanks in the West Division standings. It ran through two playoff series, knocking off the Alaska Avalanche and Fairbanks Ice Dogs en route to the West Division Championship and final five appearance in Iowa. Wenatchee went 3-1 en route to it's title match with St. Louis Sunday and played the NAHL's two-time, defending champion to the wall and back in an historic contest.
Several hundred fans welcomed the Wild home on a rainy Monday and helped create a magic moment for one an all present. And, to top it off, Wild President Bill Stewart announced upon the team's return that Wenatchee will most likely host the Robertson Cup in 2010. An amazing story indeed. Congratulations Wild! |
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What I Learned at NASC Camp - by Eric Granstrom
I learned that the amateur sports industry in the United States is still pretty healthy, despite our economic woes. I learned that even though the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council is one of the smallest members in the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC), our dilemmas and issues are the same as other larger organizations around the country. I also learned that steps we're taking to market the Wenatchee Valley are in the right direction.
Denver, Colorado was the location for the four-day NASC conference, bringing together sports councils, commissions, CVB's (Convention & Visitors Bureaus) and sports event owners/managers. Over 800 people in attendance made this year's NASC Symposium the largest yet. The time and money spent on attending and being a member is definitely worth while.
I can tell you that I made several great contact while in Denver, including USA Hockey, US Figure Skating, USA Volleyball and the overall US Olympic Committee. Of course, I also spent time with a representative from the World Cup Stacking Championships. It's one of the fastest-growing sports in the US...right next to Beer Pong.
I also took extreme pride in representing Washington State during the opening ceremonies. The Washington Association of Sports Commissions sponsored the opening ceremonies and had a booth in the Sports Marketplace (trade show). Thanks to Crunch Pack, we had plenty of healthy treats to share with convention attendees.
An interesting side note...the keynote address was all about branding your location and the speaker stressed appealing to the five senses and how taste smell are often overlooked. As conventioneers departed the luncheon, they filed past our booth in the Sports Marketplace and found this wonderful, chilled display of Crunch Pack apple slices. To a person, they looked, pointed, grabbed a bag and said, "You Guys Get It!" Thanks Crunch Pack!
Here's hoping we get some positive things our way out of the NASC Symposium and add to our already lush offering of sports events here in the Wenatchee Valley! |
Ride of Silence Includes Wenatchee
 The world wide Ride of Silence bike rally will take place in Wenatchee May 20th. The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12mph for no longer than an hour, and remain silent during the ride.
The ride hopes to raise cycling awareness during bike safety month to motorists, police, traffic engineers, insurance companies and city officials. The ride is also a chance to mourn, in funeral procession style, those who have already been killed.
The cycling community in the Wenatchee Valley has been rocked by tragic accidents over the past several years. The latest of which nearly claiming the life of Wenatchee Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Ed Farrar. Dr. Farrar is expected to take part in the Wenatchee ride May 20th. He was left a parapalegic after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle last October.
The Ride of Silence has been a tribute as well to former Executive Director of the Wenatchee Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau Jill Wood Spanjer, who was killed while riding along Highway Two near Cashmere in 2004.
Cyclists will gather locally at the Wenatchee Convention Center parking lot and begin riding at 7pm. The ride will progress south on Wenatchee Avenue, turn west on Ferry Street, turn north on Mission and then west on Second back to the parking lot.
(photo above is of the "Ghost Bikes" used in the Cycle Washington Memorial Ride in 2007) |
 The Box Man Commeth!
The Chelan County Port District has provided $30,000 to fund a market research survey to the Wenatchee Valley Visitors Bureau, acting as the lead agency for area Chambers of Commerce.
A number of interactive devices (already being called black boxes) will be installed at locations throughout Chelan County, and in the Pangborn Memorial Airport terminal, where visitors can answer a variety of questions relating to the length of their stay, the reasons they chose to visit, and what has attracted them to the area.
According to Roger Clute, Executive Director of the Wenatchee Valley Visitors Bureau, "we will begin to see these devices around the county as soon as this summer." The collection devices will be in place for the better part of a year and will be moved to various locations depending on the season. |
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Steelhead Stamp Bill Goes to Governor  A bill aimed at keeping alive steelhead fisheries in the upper Columbia River and its tributaries has passed the Washington legislature and is on its way to the governor's desk.
According to bill sponsor, Senator Linda Evans Parlette, the legislation will create the "Columbia River Recreational Salmon and Steelhead Pilot Stamp Program." Under the bill, anglers over age 15 wishing to fish will purchase a $7.50 stamp, and stamp revenues will go into a dedicated account used to maintain selective fisheries on the Columbia River (below Chief Joseph Dam to 10 miles above the mouth of the Columbia River) and its tributaries.
According to the Senator's newsletter, "2006 figures show that recreational fishing contributes $1.1-billion a year to Washington's economy. A big part of keeping that going is maintaining our selective fisheries, but budget cuts at the Department of Fish & Wildlife have threatened to close some of them. Some of our local fishing groups came to me this year with an idea for a way to continue funding selective fisheries despite these budget cuts." The bill passed the legislature and went to Governor Gregoire's desk May 8th.
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 R U Going to the Olympics? Who knows what benefits you may enjoy for letting E3NCW know you're going already going to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver less than a year from now?! Email today! |
 Sports Foundation Welcomes New Hire
The Wenatchee Valley Sports Foundation has hired a part-time assistant to manage clerical needs and fundraiser. Molly Steere joined the team April 23rd and has jumped feet-first into website design and fundraising research. Molly comes to the Foundation after a successful career as a mechanical engineer for the Kenworth Coorporation. She moved to the Wenatchee Valley with her husband and both are currently building a home and expecting their first child.
If you'd like to be Molly's first successful donor to the Wenatchee Valley Sports Foundation, email her today at molly@wenatcheevalley.org. |
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May Sports Calendar
8-10 - Washington Rife & Pistol Association Jr. Outdoor Championships & NCW Gun Club - for ages 10-19 (air rifles & small bores)
8-10 - GWGSA Kickoff Tournament at Sterling Complex & Hydro Park
8-10 - Golden Age 60+ Men's Softball Tournament at Walla Walla Point Park
16-17 - Raiders Rumble Men's Softball Tournament at Walla Walla & Hydro Parks
16th - 5th Annual Corey McDougall Memorial Golf Tournament at Highlander, 11:30am
16th - WVSO - NW Legends, B-Modifieds, Pepsi-Cola Mini Super Stocks
22-23 - WIAA Regional Baseball at Recreation Park
23-25 - Sterling Invite Girl's Fast Pitch Softball Tournament at Sterling, Hydro & Walla Walla Point Parks
30-31 - NSA Explosion 91 Girl's Fast Pitch Softball Tournament at Walla Walla Point & Hydro Parks
30th - WVSO - Vintage Modifieds, Gooche's Roofing Bump2Pass, Pepsi-Cola Mini Super Stocks, Dick's Heating & Air Conditioning Thunder Cars, Jerry's Auto Supply Pure Stocks
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 Visitors Guides Now Available For your complimentary copy, stop by our Visitors Center at 25 N. Wenatchee Avenue next to the Owl Soda Fountain or at our Visitors Center at the Apple Commission Office at Olds Station. You can also request a copy via email at info@wenatcheevalley.org.
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Thank you for being part of the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council on-line community. If you'd like more information about the Sports Council, go to our website!
Sincerely,
Eric Granstrom
Wenatchee Valley Sports Council |
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