Spring for First Wednesday at our Travel Café – Umbrellas & Boots in the City!

 SALEM, OREGON -- Grab your umbrella, slip on those boots and head to Travel Salem’s Travel Café this month to enjoy a handful of fun products and services offered by local businesses. We’re hosting one of the art deco umbrellas located around the city – stop by to check it out! Come rain or come shine, make Travel Salem part of your evening outing! Enter to win drawings from participating businesses. Here’s a sneak peek at who will be here!

• Lights in the Attic Wedding Films and Photography — Showcases their wedding cinematography and photography with their sister company,Tara Francis Photography. Check out their photographic expertise and special packages for your next event!
• Maps Credit Union — One of Willamette Valley’s premier financial partners offers saving and checking accounts, auto and home loans, visa credit cards, personal and business insurance, and more. Stop by to find out about the credit union—open to the entire community—and to enter their drawing for a gift basket of Salem goodies!
• Dallas Chamber of Commerce — Want to find out more about what’s going on in Dallas? Dallas Chamber and a few businesses will be here with pictures, materials, and info about their current & upcoming events! Enter to win a basket of goodies from Dallas merchants!
• Willamette Valley Vineyards — Pours delicious, rosy pinots and other sustainable wines, as well as offering this First Wednesday Special: $6 tastings which includes Riedel wine glass. Be a Wine Club Member for a night! Receive 20% discount on all bottles purchased at First Wednesday. *Wine Guild Members will receive complimentary wine tastings. Riedel stemware not included.

Contribute to Travel Salem's "Absolutely Giving Back" program by dropping off a new or gently used clean child's light jacket or sweater.

###

A Trio of Wineries, Willamette Valley Cheese Company and Latitude One Kick Off this Month’s First Wednesday at Travel Salem!

SALEM, ORE –– Put a little bit of love in your heart this season! Bring your loved ones to Travel Salem for a heart-warming experience as we feature three local wineries in an exclusive wine tasting event on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 from 5 to 8 p.m. at our Travel Café on 181 High Street NE. Enjoy buttery cheeses from Willamette Valley Cheese Company, shop around for clothing and gift ideas for your loved ones and find information about how to get involved in YWCA’s Women helping Women programs! Plus, come check out our pal, Sal, the famous Golden Pioneer!

• Consigning Women – Salem is all about recycling — what better way to embrace this philosophy than purchasing from one of our local consignment shops! Pick something out for yourself or a loved one while here!
• Latitude One – Dallas’ delicious Italian restaurant is back by popular demand! If you didn’t sample their dishes last year, you won’t want to miss the red velvet cake and other decadent treats the Chef will be baking up for our February event.
• Willamette Valley Cheese Company – Enjoy local, delicious, buttery cheeses for pairings with our local wines. Free tastings as well as cheeses for purchase. You’ll want to take some home!
• YWCA – Learn about their outreach programs and events for women and children and how you can become involved.
• Special Complimentary Wine Tasting Event!!
  ---> Firesteed Cellars – The wines of Firesteed display distinctive varietal character and consistently ‘over deliver’ in terms of value for the price. Try for yourself the Premium Citation Chardonnay, 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot, and Dry Riesling.
  ---> Left Coast Cellars – They’ll be pouring tastes of three of their estate-grown, hand-crafted Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir wines. Wine will also be available for purchase.
  ---> Willamette Valley Vineyards – Special Pre-release pouring of their 2008 Pinot Noir style Port. Complimentary tastes of this limited wine. Perfect for pairing with Valentine’s Day chocolate. (stemware not included.)

Contribute to Travel Salem's "Absolutely Giving Back" program by dropping by a new or gently used clean child’s winter coat.

###

Tips for Extreme Time Management for a 26/7 World at Travel Salem’s Marketing Exchange Luncheon

SALEM, ORE –– Learn to tame the email hurricane, identify and remedy your top “time-wasters” and learn tips on accomplishing more with less stress by attending Travel Salem’s Marketing Exchange luncheon on Thursday, January 20th from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Prudence Uncorked, 325 High St. SE in Salem. Brenda Buratti, founder of Right Now Communications will shares her lessons on Extreme Time Management for a 26/7 World to help individuals and businesses increase productivity and achieve their goals with proven time management methods. Call now to reserve your seat!

Keynote Speaker: Brenda Buratti, founder of Right Now Communications has an extensive background in television and media with expertise in change dynamics. She has over 20 years experience managing through seismic industry changes, new product development and downsized environments.

Promote Your Business: Jump start the New Year with compelling marketing strategies and networking opportunities at this luncheon to promote your business and services! Remember to bring your business cards and brochures for the Marketing Exchange table.

Enter-to-Win!: Heirloom Roses will give away a $100 gift card towards the purchase of their roses. Be sure to enter your business card for a chance to win! Guests must be present to win.

Reserve Your Seat Today: Save $5 with advanced registration if purchased by January 17th!

-- Online - use your credit card www.travelsalem.com/Members/marketing-exchange-luncheons

-- Phone - use your credit card by calling 503-581-4325, ext. 58

-- Mail - send your check to: Travel Salem Marketing Exchange Luncheon, 181 High St. NE, Salem, OR 97301

RSVPs and prepayment of $18 required / $23 at the door RSVP a must!
Special 10% savings offer if you pre-purchase season tickets to all 6 of the 2011 series

Please remember that when we receive your RSVP, we will order and pay for your lunch. If you are unable to attend, payment for lunch is still required. Thanks for helping to make Travel Salem luncheons a success.

Thanks to our Sponsors: Prudence Uncorked, Amtrak-Cascades, Right Now Communications and Heirloom Roses!

###

Treat Winter Blues with Belgium Waffles, Quilting Demos and a Little Indoor Golf at the Travel Café!

SALEM, ORE –– Winter blues? Not here at Travel Salem! Come to our Travel Café on 181 High Street NE for next week’s First Wednesday event on January 5th, 2011 from 5 to 8 p.m. to enjoy a variety of activities to warm up your chilly winter evening!

• Airlie Farm Bed, Breakfast & Beyond – Need a “staycation” after all the holiday running around? Come learn about a truly pampered stay at a beautifully-restored farmhouse situated close by on wooded acreage in wine country. At this B & B you can bring along your horse to explore 200 acres of trails and an indoor arena. Learn about Airlie Farm’s special booking packages, enjoy freshly-baked cookies and enter to win a gift basket.
• BelgiQue Sugar Waffles & Espresso – Waffles aren’t just for breakfast anymore! Stop by to meet a master waffle maker and taste thick Belgium waffles whipped up with an Oregon twist!
• Greenbaum’s Quilted Forest – Join us for an evening of fast and fun quilt project demos. No experience required to pick up great project ideas to fill those long winter evenings!
• Meadowlawn Golf Club – Get your golf fix on a cold winter day! Enter the indoor putting contest to win a prize.
• Stayton Family Practice – Still feeling “the pinch” from eating all those rich holiday treats? Start off the New Year right by learning about healthier food alternatives and a successful physician-assisted weight loss program.
• Willamette Valley Vineyards – Did you know January is Oregon’s Crab Month? Enjoy Willamette Valley Vineyards delicious and sustainable white wines that pair perfectly with seafood. $6 wine tasting with Riedel wine glass. 20% discount on all bottles purchased at First Wednesday.

Contribute to Travel Salem's "Absolutely Giving Back" program by dropping by a new or gently used clean child’s winter coat.

###

Calling all Wrestling Fans: Oregon State Fair Expo Center Hosts the West Coast World Championship for K-8 Wrestlers

SALEM, ORE. –– Travel Salem is pleased to announce the Oregon State Fair Expo Center will host the 2nd annual Rocky Mountain National’s West Coast World Championship on December 10th and 11th at the Expo Center at 2330 17th street in Salem at 8:30 a.m. The event is one of the highest profile K-8th grade wrestling competitions in the West Coast region and the venue offers competitions held on 10 mats throughout the center with a seating capacity of 4,000 spectators.

Last year, over 500 athletes competed from across the Western U.S. including members of several mat clubs from Marion and Polk counties. Participating clubs this year include the Dallas Mat Club, Team Aggression and Salem Elite Mat Club, among others.

The competition is a rare opportunity for elementary-aged youth to get a taste for competing against some of the best youth wrestlers in the West at an event judged by certified High School wrestling referees. This is the second year the Oregon State Fair Expo Center hosted the event.

“We can look forward to building something very special for the great people in Oregon our second time around,” said Ed Gutierrez, director of Rocky Mountain Nationals events. “Oregon offers up some of the best wrestling in the country and we want to complement what they are already doing, but add a different flavor. We adopted the slogan to inspire, encourage and recognize these kids. It’s inspiring to see these little guys compete. We make the competition more than an event, but an unforgettable weekend.”

Mat clubs can enter their wrestling teams online for $36.00 before Sunday, December 5 at midnight. If a wrestler does not make weight, he can pay another registration fee of $20 to declare another weight. Late registration is $56 at weigh-ins.

For participants- Weigh-ins begin on December 10th from 4 to 7 p.m. in the arena of the Expo Center.

General admission to the event is $12. Receive a $2 discount when you bring in a can of food to donate to the Marion-Polk Food Share.

To volunteer for the event contact Debbie McCune at 503-581-4325 ext. 28 or email her at dmmcune@travelsalem.com. RMN needs help organizing, distributing information and awards, setting up, tearing down and coordinating things throughout the day.

Rocky Mountain Nationals (RMN) is a youth wrestling program based in Colorado which provides opportunity for youth to participate in wrestling championships which encourages their development not only as athletes but as students as well. Involvement with wrestling and sports in general has been shown to increase youths' self esteem, confidence, and social skills. For more information, visit www.rockymountainnationals.com or contact Ed Gutierrez at 303-635-1549.

###

***Travel Salem is a non-profit organization that promotes Salem and Marion and Polk counties for leisure tourism and convention and event business. The local annual economic impact of the greater Salem area visitor industry is $452 million. Travel Salem manages the Official Salem Area Travel Café/Visitors Center located at the historic Grand Hotel building (181 High St. NE, Salem), two I-5 satellite visitor information locations located at the Best Western Mill Creek Inn (3125 Ryan Dr. SE) and the Red Lion Hotel (3301 Market St. NE), and the Official Salem Area Website www.TravelSalem.com***

Travel Salem Hires New Public Relations Manager

SALEM, ORE. –– Travel Salem is pleased to announce Jenie Skoy as the Association’s new PR Manager. Jenie has a wealth of experience as a former magazine editor, newspaper reporter and freelance food and travel writer. Jen grew up in Idaho and worked for more than a dozen years as a professional writer based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jenie holds a degree from Utah State University in English literature with a minor in print journalism. She’s written for publications such as Sunset, USA Today, Fodor’s travel guides, Dining Out , Utah Style and Design, Digital iQ magazine, Ancestry, Park City magazine, the Wasatch Journal and many others.

Jenie has also worked as a freelance PR writer, writing for clients as diverse as Microsoft and Beehive Cheese Company. She also worked as the editor of Growing Edge magazine in Corvallis, the associate editor of Utah Business and Digital iQ magazines in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as a special sections editor at the Register Guard in Eugene.

Jenie is an avid food blogger and photographer and enjoys doing anything in the wilderness including rock climbing, hiking, fly-fishing and camping. She loves to cycle in Minto Brown Island Park, and dine in Salem’s downtown restaurants.

Jenie claims that her true gift as Travel Salem’s public relations manager is her tenacity at promoting Salem and Marion and Polk counties’ rich destination attractions and activities to local and national media.

###

***Travel Salem is a non-profit organization that promotes Salem and Marion and Polk counties for leisure tourism and convention and event business. The local annual economic impact of the greater Salem area visitor industry is $452 million. Travel Salem manages the Official Salem Area Travel Café/Visitors Center located at the historic Grand Hotel building (181 High St. NE, Salem), two I-5 satellite visitor information locations located at the Best Western Mill Creek Inn (3125 Ryan Dr. SE) and the Red Lion Hotel (3301 Market St. NE), and the Official Salem Area Website www.TravelSalem.com***

Stop by the Travel Salem Travel Café during First Wednesday to Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

SALEM, ORE –– Come to the Travel Café at 181 High Street NE this Wednesday, October 6th from 5 - 8 p.m. to sip pink wine, get a mini-massage and learn more about local Oregon history as you celebrate with us in Oregon Days of Culture during Salem’s First Wednesday celebration. Enjoy a sampling of fun activities, exhibitions and cultural expressions held inside and outside the Travel Café including:

• Salem Cinema – Catch a sneak peek of which heart-warming "pink"-themed movies the Cinema will offer this month as a way to raise cancer awareness.
• Zeeba Salon – Enjoy a rejuvenating chair massage as well as beauty and spa consultations from massage therapists and estheticians on hand.
• Croissant & Company – Enjoy sampling sweet pastries and savory snacks made locally.
• Jensen Arctic Museum – Check out the Arctic Adventures of Oregon Authors, sign up to participate in the arctic pen pal postcard program or just enjoy the touching table with artifacts.
• Mission Mill Museum (part of the Willamette Heritage Center) – Enjoy the costumed representatives that will be sharing the many facets of the museum and heritage center.
• Antique Powerland Museum – Learn about the 15 independent museums at Antique Powerland and their family events.
• Keizer Chamber of Commerce – Learn more about local history from a dynamic interpretive display featuring several new points of interest in the Keizer area.
• Willamette University Theatre – Get the low-down on WU Theater's list of exciting performances for this fall and into 2011 including the Oregon premier of Aquitania.
• Willamette Art Center – Learn details about which Art Center class to participate in, such as glass blowing, wheel-thrown pottery, Raku firing, ceramic sculpture and even one called Kid's Adventures in Clays.
• Willamette Valley Vineyards – Sip delicious pink wines in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Cost is $6.00 for wine tasting and a Riedel wine glass. Take home a bottle of your favorite wine and receive a 20% discount on all bottles purchased at the Travel Café.

###

***Travel Salem is a non-profit organization that promotes Salem and Marion and Polk counties for leisure tourism and convention and event business. The local annual economic impact of the greater Salem area visitor industry is $452 million. Travel Salem manages the Official Salem Area Travel Café/Visitors Center located at the historic Grand Hotel building (181 High St. NE, Salem), two I-5 satellite visitor information locations located at the Best Western Mill Creek Inn (3125 Ryan Dr. SE) and the Red Lion Hotel (3301 Market St. NE), and the Official Salem Area Website www.TravelSalem.com***

Travel Salem Receives $7,500 from Travel Oregon to Produce an Interactive Online Map

SALEM, ORE. –– Travel Salem’s proposal to produce an interactive online map was one of 10 tourism destination projects in the state to garner a portion of a $60,000 grant by Travel Oregon’s Matching Grants Program. Travel Salem received $7,500 to produce an interactive map featuring cultural and heritage highlights in Marion and Polk County. Created in 1986, the annual Matching Grants Program supports new projects that improve local economies and communities by enhancing, expanding and promoting Oregon’s visitor industry.

“This dynamic, colorful map will help connect visitors with some of our most prized cultural heritage attractions from one user-friendly format,” said Angie Morris, CEO of Travel Salem. “The ultimate goal of the map is to encourage visitors to stay longer in our communities and to take full advantage of the rich cultural diversity of our region.”

The Matching Grants Program selection committee, representing private and public sector organizations, selected this year’s grant finalists from a pool of 29 applicants. The 10 commission-approved projects are located throughout the state and, when complete, will fulfill a range of local, regional and state needs for improved tourism capacity.

“The grant dollars provide seed money to projects that will increase Oregon destinations’ visibility among potential visitors.” said Carole Astley, industry relations manager at Travel Oregon. “The 10 applicants we selected are thinking about long term return-oninvestment for developing and promoting tourism in the regional areas their organizations serve.”

Those interested in taking advantage of this interactive online resource to promote their attraction can contact Irene Bernards at ibernards@TravelSalem.com. “We encourage cultural and heritage nonprofits in Polk and Marion counties to leverage the dollars we’ve received through this grant,” said Morris.

###

Travel Salem Ranks 37 on List of 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon

SALEM, ORE. –– Travel Salem has been selected again as one of Oregon’s “Top 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon” by Oregon Business magazine. The rankings were unveiled at a sold-out event held at the Portland Art Museum on September 22, 2010. Travel Salem was recognized as the 24th best small nonprofit and 37th overall.

“Those of us who choose nonprofit careers do so for the chance to serve a cause greater than ourselves,” said Angie Morris, president and CEO of Travel Salem. “Travel Salem attracts and retains amazing, talented staff, who bring their ‘A-game’ and give a little bit of their heart to their job every single day. There is no question why they are some of the best in the industry.”

The rankings were based on an independence assessment of employer’s workplace practices and the confidential input of employees who answered 60 questions about workplace satisfaction such as benefits, management, trust, work environment and development. The criteria employees ranked as most important were: “treatment of employees by supervisors,” and “pride and belief in the organization.” More than 150 nonprofits participated and almost 5,000 employees completed the survey. The free, voluntary survey was calculated by research partners Davis, Hibbitts and Midghall along with a research editor at Oregon Business magazine.

The “Top 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon” is featured in the October issue of Oregon Business magazine.

###