NEWS ..... The Rest Of The Season & More

[Chamber of Commerce]

NEWS - The rest of the season

Bite of Beaver Island – Oct 6th
It started in 2002 and is back again slated for October 6th. Please plan to attend and or participate. The Chef Registration form can be found on the home page of the Chamber web site. www.beaverisland.org Heading up the Bite this year is Marijean Pike (231.448.2853) and Frank D’Andraia (231.448.2603). The Craft Registration form (Community Center) will be available soon.

½ Marathon, 10K and 5K - Sept. 1st
Reminder – You can still sign up for the event. Don’t delay do it today. A link to the registration form and additional info can be found here. www.beaverisland.org

Marketing Beaver Island
An eight page feature story about Beaver Island will appear in the Sept issue of Traverse Magazine. Your Chamber of Commerce was actively involved from the start and we are pleased to report that we were able to arrange for Beaver Island’s own Frank Solle to do all of the photography. Eight pages in Traverse Magazine if purchased as advertising would cost more than the Chamber’s total annual budget.

Our Friends of Beaver Island Facebook page continues to grow and contribute to Beaver Island awareness. www.facebook.com/beaverisland Tammy McDonough reports that early ½ Marathon entrees appear to be up as a result of the targeted news feeds your Chamber bought on Facebook. The page reached 11,400 people.

The Beaver Island Under the Radar MI TV show is the investment that keeps on giving in reruns. It took us five years to get them to do the show but the payoff is great. Visitors continue to comment about the show and recognize Islanders who appeared in it. You can view the show on the home page. www.beaverisland.org

I’m sure your Chamber Directors will have an announcement soon about “replace the old guy.” My retirement begins Sept 15.

Best wishes,
Steve West

[meadefamily]

Great things happening on BI! Bump.

[Chamber of Commerce]

Subscribers to Traverse Magazine are now receiving their Sept issue. The Beaver Island feature is beautiful. The Frank Solle photos are great. Eight full pages all about Beaver Island. The layout is even nicer than the galley proof we reviewed. Page 65 is a near full page star and aurora borealis shot. WOW!

[JFPowers]

Some folks visited over the weekend and said the island is beautiful, except for the fact that so much is already closed unlike other Northern Michigan destinations.

They had watched the "Under the Radar" Beaver island show and that is why they came, It was great the chamber got on this program but what is not great is that the island is not able to support a level of business to keep stores and shops open.

This should be high on the agenda of the chamber, it also begs the question of whether the Boat should adopt a much more customer focused schedule in September. The visitors said that they had to changes their plans based on the limited boat schedule. Here is a picture of the webcam on mackinac and Beaver this morning, their season is still busy with tourists as you can see

IMG_6103.JPG (786.03 KiB) Viewed 1853 times

[Batman]

Wow some great Ideas boat ticket sales in april May Sept Oct
These two months Sept Oct are the time locals from Traverse city and surrounding areas will come
Sales in slow times just makes sense the Boat is only full a few times a year
Some of these entities will brag about advertizing in some big city a few thousand miles away and it can have a small impact i guess maybe
But the artical in Traverse the magazine has potential to have the biggest inpact
Tourism should begin in Northern Michigan after all they can go to Charlevoix lets just say one hour from them and jump on the boat or plane and come to Beaver Island I know because thats what I do.
And why there is not a sighn when entering Charlevoix from every main road that says “COME TO BEAVER ISLAND” the ferry and plane service is located in Charlevoix I believe would have the biggest impact of anything !!!
Net working with other local chanbers
Advertizing in local Northern Michigan is were the most return will happen But and I mean But there has to be more to do then get off the boat ride around on a bus eat lunch and go home
If you want tourist you need places to eat and stay arts and kraft fairs night life ,Improve the camp grounds, bath houses have sales on tickets to get here
Sept - Oct could become great months and making it 5 month season . That would have a great impact . Carful what you wish for
me I love it , but I dont think some people see it that way
It tourism stupid

[mbj]

We, too, hosted friends who remarked about the beauty, peacefulness of Beaver Island. However, we found little open as well. A Sunday afternoon ride to an advertised "open 8-5 Sat. and Sun." was disappointing as it was closed at 1:00, other places closed at 2:00. But the hike using Barney's Lake Trail was a highlight. Thanks for the new signs for the trails around the island. Fishing seems to be getting better as well. How about some sturdy docks at some of the ramps, Font Lake, Barney's, Green, etc. so we who do not have boats can throw in a line for awhile? And at least one ice cream shop open each day until 6? Our guests thought people on the Island were very friendly for the most part.

[mbj]

One more thing - we fished at the end of the Barney's Lake trail. There were 2 wooden chairs there which was nice. A few benches along the trails would also be a nice addition to the trail system. Maybe that is in the plan for the future. We hope so as many of our guests as well as ourselves are not so young. We had to climb over some downed logs on the Barney's Lake fishing trail. Was not safe. But the end of the trail was worth it - 2 huge pike were caught. The men fished for awhile from shore while the women relaxed in the wooden chairs and watched the men fish. Thanks again.

[steveandelaineonbeaver]

Full Disclosure - I’m no longer “The Chamber Guy.” My last day was Friday the 14th - Retired.

As usual Doc Jeff brinks up some interesting, thoughtful and provocative points. In short which comes first the chicken or the egg?

B I tourism is up YTD according to boat stats & air. Sept looks good. So which comes first – business is open or they wait to see how much buzz is to be transacted?
In August and early Sept some visitors left for home hungry. Why?

Best wishes from my new earth sheltered office.
Steve West

[BI Pirate]

Hey Retired Guy, Congratulations. What great insight on that chicken egg thing.

[Dave P.]

Maybe get the boat company to post inbound and outbound passenger numbers as the boat departs.
I'm sure they know how many people are on board....take about two minutes to update a site.
Separate count of visitors vs. residents.
Might give a clue if it was going be be worth staying open.
Granted, you don't know if they want/need to buy ice cream to eat, an ax to murder someone, or are
just visiting Grandma.
Dave

[Batman]

Last night I went to the Turtle Creek Casino for the Grand Traverse Chamber of Comerse and talked to the Lamar sighn people about road sighn to Beaver Island coming into Charlevoix and They ask who should they talk to about a propasal I couldnt answer the question because I dont know never been to a business after hours or any chamber meetings I dont even know when they meet and that could be my fault but transparency of the chamber needs to happen meeting of chamber members on island . I have been a member For years .
There needs to be a new Direction for the Chamber God Bless Steve West Did what he knew to do but this is a New Era and there needs to be a plan in place to promote the Island and Business

[steveandelaineonbeaver]

Batman,

Nothing tricky here. Reading your chamber member emails you will find that Rachel Teague is Pres & Diane McDonough VP. They will welcome your ideas. The new Ex Dir will be in place soon. By the way bill boards a real OLD SCHOOL. Again reading your emails from Chamber you find out about TV show, The Facebook page, Traverse Mag ........ the list / plan goes on. However, there is plenty of room for improvement and to spend more. The annual chamber budget is smaller than Mac Fudge Grand Hotel. How mush more do you want to spend. $$$$$$$

Best wishes,
Steve

[BI Pirate]

Hey Retired Guy, We're hear more Chamber information from you now that you are retired than we heard when you were Chamber Guy. We know it is you because your spelling hasn't improved "mush" with retirement.