Vélo Québec Voyages

Last summer I noticed a distinct increase in bikes, bicycle variety, passing through Westport & Wadhams. We have a wonderful spot for tour organizers to schedule us as a stop on routes. With a little thought and planning I believe we could also be a wonder Base Location.

Here is a link to an article in today's Plattsburgh Press Republican, Canadian bike tour to bring $1M to region. The link on the title of this post goes to The Grand Tour, to which the article refers.

Looking at the offerings on the Vélo Québec Voyages website I see they have 2 additional tours passing through Westport, these will be at the end of May and originate in Montreal, all the way to Nyack, near New York City.

Suppose as these bikers pass through we handed out something as simple as a collectable pin with our new brand logo and link to our website along with perhaps a sports drink. Perhaps we could charge some nominal amount for people wanting a souvenir water bottle with our brand.

Prominent on our website might be a link to suggested bike tours originating in Westport and accommodations. I have long wanted to see what we might do as a group to influence Amtrak to accommodate passengers wishing to bring bicycles on trips.

Membership Form - Business

Please review the proposed Membership Form - Businesst by clicking the title and leave comments & suggestions below or by emailing Wm@WilliamMcHone.com.

Membership Form - Not for Profit

Please review the proposed Membership Form - Not for Profit by clicking the title and leave comments & suggestions below or by emailing Wm@WilliamMcHone.com.

Boater's View of Westport

Hi, Here is more feed back from a former boater with us. D

How do you brand Westport?  That is a challenging questions.  There are many factors but difficult to capture in a short phrase.  Certainly the location and spectacular setting connecting the Lake with the Adirondacks is a major attraction and one that will not change.  For us the first attraction was the lake and the marina, which quickly led to lots of good friends and good times.  People and businesses come and go but the small town friendly atmosphere continues.  Westport is unique in vacation and recreational offerings with theater, music, dining, shopping etc.  One of the few places on the Lake where such things are readily available, especially from the water.

Creative Brief

From: kbseguin@aol.com
To: Normandie@aol.com
Date: Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:11:24 -0500
Subject: Creative Brief Form
Hi Molly,

I wanted to send along the framework for a creative brief that would summarize a project for creative execution.  There has been so much new feedback since we met that I thought you might be closer to summarizing this in the document.  Also, I have been very involved with the GMA shoot that takes place this weekend in LP.  I hope this helps! 

Kathy

Vermont Town Turns to College in Bid to Guide Change

By ABBY GOODNOUGH

Published: December 4, 2008

Hoping to avoid conflict that often stymies planning, officials in Staksboro, Vt., are asking Middlebury College students to help steer development.

Westport as a Technology Port/Hub

I might have added this as a "comment" to the notes, but decided I wish to solicit comments specific to this thought.

Westport is privileged to have the home office of Chazy & Westport Telephone Corp., part of Westelcom, one of the leading technology companies in the region. A "port" or "hub" takes on another meaning here and, I believe, one we would be remiss if we failed to incorporate in our discussions and planning as we move forward. 

Please take a quick peak at a website that I feel could be cloned to show Westport as a Port/HUB. Nodes could encompass our diverse themes in a technologically cleaver way. This would be very iPhone, iPod touch friendly as well. 

WESTPORT CREATIVE GROUP MEETING 11/18/08

Kimberly Rielly, marketing wizard

Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union
518.585.6725  x2303

Visit us online at tfcuNOW.com

Objective: Per a sneak-preview of the agenda for the meeting on the 25th, we attempted to prioritize 2-3 themes for next week's meeting with Jim McKenna, choosing one theme/brand under which the other themes could be folded.

Consensus by the end of the meeting:

Overall theme:  PORT/HUB

Discussion led to this umbrella theme, which plays off Westport's "accessible" attribute. (Westport is the easiest town to access from I87, Amtrak stops here, working waterfront welcomes boaters from Lake Champlain, the Lake Champlain bikeway goes right through town, many Adirondack destinations are less than an hour away, etc.).

Other related terms were "Port of call", "crossroads", "jumping-off point".

It's a flexible brand that will allow us to allude to other sub-themes- the "hub's" spokes:

RECREATION

INTERACTIVE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE

(Chris can clarify; interaction within historic venues.  Eg: depot, library, fairgrounds, Inn, marina – all historic buildings that are being used – visitors can interact and experience these historic buildings in a contemporary, working setting.)

ARTS/CULTURE

---------------------

Other notes Kim took:

Culture/quality of life
A large number of artists choose to live here – why? Maybe there's a way to highlight the cultural aspect from the perspective of the quality of life that draws so many artisans to the area. In my personal opinion, it is a combination of several of the area's attributes; access to (hub) unique cultural outlets/experiences/ opportunities – Depot/Meadowmount; the spectacular landscape provides inspiration; safe, quiet.

Nov. 8 Branding Initiative

A big Thank you to all who gave up a valued Saturday.  The general consensus is that it was worth it.  All in all, this was yet another high energy conversation that just keeps moving forward.  Yes, some of it was repetitive of our previous meetings, but the difference here is that now we are getting very close to a marketable product.

As you know, we are now at the stage where a smaller group is going to take the attached raw data to the Creative Staff at the Visitors Bureau of Essex County.  This will be an important event that will narrow down all that we have put together.  VERY IMPORTANT: Please take a minute to review the attached raw data.  We need to hear from you very soon if any of the following apply:

If something you deem important did not make it to the compilation
If you feel particularly strong about an entry, or particularly against an entry
If you have thought of something since our gathering this past weekend

If any of the above apply please let Molly know and the data summary will be updated to reflect your comments.  I see our smaller group meeting with the VB in the next week to ten days, maximum.  Meanwhile, thanks again to Joe Lathrop who facilitated this process so well and who put up with our bumps and bruises.....Also, by signing in to the meeting you have now been added to The Marketing Group e-mailing list.  Should you wish to be removed, do let me know.  Take care and thanks again, Molly, Dee and the gang

{Added by Wm McHone}

Here are a couple links and an address you may be interested in:

Joe Lathrop, jlathrop@ocg-intl.com website: www.ocg-intl.com

Normandie Beach Club
Your Place in the Sun!
(518) 962-4750
(518) 962-2050 fax
www.normandiebeachclub.com

Authoring, Commenting & Tracking

It is hoped that this blog will serve as one more way to present items of interest to the Westport Chamber of Commerce in general and the Marketing & Website Sub-Committees in particular. Some things that come to mind in this regard are:

1. Tracking of entries through automatic notification is done by simply entering your email address at the top right to "Subscribe".
2. At the bottom of all entries you'll find "Post a Comment", anyone can and everyone is encouraged to do so.
   
3. If you wish to bring particular notice to any entry click on the time of the line at the bottom that begins "POSTED BY...". That brings up just that entry, paste the link in your browser window into an email and send it to whomever.
4. Become an "Author" and make your own posts. Please email Wm and he will take care of that and help with any questions.