The Minds behind the Madness

For the first Blog installment from Ladies Around The Lakes I will introduce the minds behind the madness and information we will be sharing with you throughout the year.

Stacy (thats me!) - born October 8th, year unknown :). I am the Tourism Director for the Okoboji Tourism Committee. To clarify most people do not realize is that the Okoboji Tourism Committee is a branch of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. We have a separate board, budget, and projects than the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, but at the same time we collaborate together to make this area successful in all aspects of business! We work as a TEAM! Myself and my committee work hard to promote the Iowa Great Lakes to potential and returning visitors. Every year we work hard to put together a successful marketing plan and fun events to bring people to the area to spend $$ - we all like it when people spend $$. Another HUGE and very important project for the entire area is the Vacation Okoboji magazine. If you haven't seen it please stop by our office and pick up a copy - you may learn something new about your hometown. There are a lot of other little things I do on a day to day basis, but I won't bore you with the details. Enough about me - lets learn about the other lady who will be participating, Erin.

Erin - born March 29th, year unknown :). Erin is the Program Director for the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. You know the event that happens at the end of January - University of Okoboji Winter Games - yeah, she is the woman behind the curtains (you should see the binders). She works hard for months coordinating and planning for this three day event that just recently won the 2008 Iowa Tourism Event/Festival of the Year. After Winter Games, Erin doesn't get to take a vacation because then its time to move on to the summer kick-off event, Walleye Weekend. This is an annual event that the chamber hosts to benefit the Iowa Easter Seals. Her duties go above and beyond these two large events that have an extraordinary economic impact on the area. This year she coordinated and managed the 2009 Mid-America Chamber Executives (MACE) annual conference. She also organizes the Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon, The Chamber's Annual Meeting, and is always thinking up new programs to help benefit the community and chamber members. If you are interested in more information about the Chamber, Chamber Programs, or Chamber Membership feel free to contact Erin - she'll lead you in the right direction.

Now you have somewhat of an idea what Erin and I do in the "big yellow building" otherwise known as the Welcome Center/Maritime Museum. Throughout the year we will be blogging about different things going on in the area and even introducing you to some new exciting things you may not know about the area.

A challenge for you: If you haven't seen the 2009 Vacation Okoboji magazine, pick one up and plan a "stay-cation" with your family and friends this summer.

Ciao!

Stacy :)