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Tourism Alliance Launches Membership Drive

MARCH 24, 2005--The St. Croix Valley Regional Tourism Alliance, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that promotes tourism in the St. Croix Valley, is launching a major membership recruitment effort.

"This is the first year that a comprehensive membership drive is being held," said Mark Kinders, SCVRTA president. The membership drive is being coordinated by Jose H. Trejo, who is a management consultant in St. Croix Falls, Wis.

SCVRTA is a collaborative partnership promoting tourism-related activities in the lower St. Croix Valley from St. Croix Falls, Wis., and Taylors Falls, Minn., in the north to Hastings, Minn., and Prescott, Wis., in the south.

"The alliance promotes the19 communities of the St. Croix Valley as a single destination in major population centers, like the Twin Cities," said Kinders. "We are very fortunate to live in this beautiful river valley, with its extensive scenic panoramas and attractions, and through our cooperative efforts in attracting visitors, everyone benefits."

Members include lodging establishments, restaurants, retail outlets, boutiques, salons and service providers, marinas, golf courses, attractions, business associations, manufacturers and others.

The alliance serves as an educational resource for the history, culture and natural resources of the lower St. Croix Valley and is dedicated to tourism in its member communities through cooperative promotional efforts. In addition, SCVRTA offers extensive networking and education opportunities, centralized information on upcoming events for visitors to the valley, and regional exposure to the participating members.

A full-color, 50-page regional tourism magazine has just been published by the alliance as part of its extensive efforts to attract tourists to the area. The magazine is being distributed throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota, including at the Mall of America. Its Web site, www.saintcroixriver.com, has thousands of visits each month to obtain information from the valley.

Over its 11-year history, the alliance has received numerous grants from Wisconsin and Minnesota tourism departments to promote visits to the valley. Those activities have increased visitors’ expenditures in the valley. The efforts of the alliance have been recognized with a half-dozen national, state and regional awards for its collaborative structure and for its marketing campaigns and communications.

"The success of the organization is due in part to the support of government officials at the local, regional and state levels, as well as the involvement and support of the members and communities served," said Kinders, "This is an all-volunteer organization utilizing the talents and abilities of its members to succeed."

Kinders said that new members will gain by the networking and tourism educational opportunities associated with the alliance, as well as increased opportunities for reaching prospective customers. The membership fees will be used to expand the alliance’s marketing efforts, Kinders said.

Wisconsin communities served by the alliance include Prescott, River Falls, Hudson, North Hudson, Somerset, New Richmond, Star Prairie, Osceola, Dresser and St. Croix Falls. Minnesota communities include Hastings, Afton, Lakeland, Lake Elmo, Bayport, Oak Park Heights, Stillwater, Marine-on-St. Croix, Scandia and Taylors Falls.

For information on becoming a member of the alliance, contact Trejo at 715/483-3247, or via e-mail Trejo@centurytel.net.

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