Join Local Flavor at Silverwood Park

Many tourism bureaus (and especially those in rural communities) are discovering that a "Local Flavor" strategy can result in a dramatic increase in tourism in their area. A Local Flavor Strategy involves working with artisans, restaurants, and musicians in their community to develop collaborative activities and events — such as festivals and tours — that build on the special qualities of their community.  For example, in rural southeastern Ohio, the tourism bureau worked with a small village of 600 people to host a Pawpaw Festival based on a little-known fruit that grows in the region's forests. This festival now draws thousands of people and magazines such as Food and Wine and Better Homes and Gardens attend and write stories highlighting the event.  See http://www.ohiopawpawfest.com/

A key to the success of this innovative strategy is the capacity to build effective networks among organizations and individuals who often have not worked together before.For the  Pawpaw Festival to be a success, the local tourism bureau worked with a pawpaw entrepreneur, village volunteers, food vendors, non-profits, artisans, webpage designers, and the area technical college.  How do you identify who needs to be part of a Local Flavor network? How do you build the relationships needed for success? How do you get people to work together well?

Particpants will use Network Weaver tools - activities to take home to utilize with others in their network: mapping on to identify current tourism network and individuals they would like to add to their network; worksheets to carry out an assessment of their networks; a checklist about Network Weavers that will help them and everyone in their network learn more about connecting people. Each participant will be provided with ideas for 6-10 projects they can do with their local partners: artisan trails, different kinds of festivals, local food cooking contests, self-organizing projects, etc.

June Holley has provided training in network building for many Local Flavor initiatives around the country. She recently published a 400-page how-to manual called the Network Weaver Handbook, that provides detailed instructions you can use to organize many concrete network building activities. In a half day workshop on August 28th she will introduce us to some of these network building activities which you will then be able to go home and use in your tourism efforts. 

A network weaver is someone who is aware of the networks around them and explicitly works to make them healthier. They do this by helping people identify their interests and challenges, connecting people strategically where there’s potential for mutual benefit, and serving as a catalyst for self-organizing groups. 

Local Flavor is providing this work shop at a huge discount for our members. Your bricks-n-motar business must be registered and listed in the www.getlocalflavor.com directory.  Non-members, city/state/county representatives, nonprofit organizations in related fields (food/music/art festivals, local foods, etc) will benefit from this workshop and are invited to attend. Two + members from same area recommended.

If you would like to purchase June's much anticipated new book, the Network Weaver Handbook, please go directly to her website: http://www.networkweaver.com/  The book k is designed to give you skills and resources you need to build effective and innovative networks. It is not necessary for the workshop. Some of June's clients include

• Heart of Wisconsin
• Social Venture Partners
• AEO 8-year National Learning Cluster Project
• Central Appalachian Network
• Annie E. Casey Foundation
• MetaStrategies, Toronto
• BALLE

Silverwood Park Visitor Center features a Coffee Shop/Cafe. We suggest you bring or purchase a lunch there and enjoy the park before the workshop.

For more information please contact

 
Deborah McLaren
Local Flavor LLC
1873 Iglehart Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55104
Cell 651-983-9880
Deborah@mm.com
www.GetLocalFlavor.com
Linkedin Group: Local Flavor
Twitter @LocalFlavor