Sneider talks to Kiwanis on tourism

Awanda Nowatzki introduced Nina Sneider, director, Buffalo City Tourism Foundation, to speak at the Kiwanis noon luncheon meeting Jan. 14 at Lantern Room. Sneider said 2007 was a good year for tourism in Jamestown with increases in most areas. She said 46 percent of the foundation income comes from hospitality taxes and 45 percent comes from the JSDC. All of it goes out in grants for funding events, advertising and administration. Sneider said attendance at the National Buffalo Museum was up 20 percent and that figure will undoubtedly go up with the birth of Dakota Miracle, the white calf born to White Cloud.

Money spent for improvements is multiplied many times. For instance the advertising of the refurbishing of the World’s Largest Buffalo got national, regional, state and local coverage with a value of $500,000. Improvements at the rodeo grounds have brought more activities and larger crowds.

The State of North Dakota said there are 30,000 jobs due to tourism. Travel writers invited here by the State of North Dakota came from Wyoming, Germany and four Swedish media. Of the six writers here this year, three came because of interest in Louis L’Amour.

Sneider said the State of North Dakota partnered with Buffalo City Tourism Foundation in funding a study on the use of the Louis L’Amour name on tourism. Two things being discussed are establishing a Louis L’Amour center and naming the reservoir Louis L’Amour Lake. Those who want to let their opinion be known on naming the reservoir can go to the Web site: jamestown.localtoolbox. com/jamestown and click on poll: Should the reservoir be named Louis L’Amour Lake? Only one vote from each computer even if there are two in the household who want to vote. The poll will close Jan. 31.

Postcards of Dakota Miracle are available at the National Buffalo Museum.

Captain Tim Miller of the Salvation Army thanked Kiwanis for the increase in its giving to the Christmas kettle drive again this year. Kiwanis members reached their goal of raising the bar of giving to the Salvation Army and coming in next to the top in service-club giving.

Jerry Ronholm will introduce Juan Bastidas, JHS foreign exchange student from Ecuador, to speak at the Jan. 28 Kiwanis noon luncheon meeting at the Lantern Room.

Tags: buffalo, city, tourism, foundation, kiwanis, nina, sneider, awanda, nowatzki