Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2006

Contact: Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce 269-469-5409

Harbor Country hosts 13th Art Attack April 28-30

If there is a fine line between artistic expression and life itself, then Harbor Country has crossed the threshold and now hosts an open house on the matter. This enclave of eight communities in southwest Michigan is celebrating its 13th year of “all that is art” embodied in their annual Art Attack. The eclectic, interactive look at art in its many forms runs from Friday, April 28 through Sunday, April 30.

Art Attack was originally conceived as a way for local businesses to express
their artistic side—the art of landscaping, the art of baking a cake, the art of flower arranging. Like a fine wine aging to its expressive potential, Art Attack has grown and developed as a showcase for a wide variety of local and regional creativity. It has become a stage for area artists to premiere their new works and demonstrate their talents, sponsored by Harbor Country businesses that have a propensity toward promoting the finest elements in design and taste.

“We strive to follow the original premise of Art Attack,” explains Rita Cochran of Local Color Gallery, who is a founder and co-chair along with her sister Jennifer. The businesses have adapted Art Attack to highlight their personal artistic inclinations.

Quite naturally, Harbor Country’s galleries take center stage for this event: WOW Gallery, Local Color, Roger Harvey, Steve Rubinkam, Dawning, Studio b, Amethyst, Joseph-Robert House, Block Fine Arts, Fritz Olsen Sculpture, Courtyard, Acorn, Lakeside, Musikantow Studio and the Gallery at Gordon Beach Inn. Many of these galleries will offer artist demonstrations, open houses, and new shows.

“It is a time when the observer can meet and talk to the artist,” explains
Courtyard Gallery owner, Gene Halun. “It has proven to be a successful combination for our gallery.” Courtyard Gallery utilizes the Art Attack
concept of ‘meet and greet the artist’ throughout the year.

Yet, the celebration is not limited to traditional venues. In fact, the Art Attack visitor should expect the unexpected. Stray Dog Bar and Grill, New Buffalo, is displaying the pet portraits of artists David Hugg, Janet Bloch, and Tim MacDonald. MacDonald is a semi-finalist in the Smithsonian Portrait Competition. The restaurant will also host a kids’ coloring contest.

Whittaker House, known for its exceptional clothing, will present the jewelry of Madeline Rabb. Customs Imports will present an international display of art from Bali to Morocco. At Patty’s Picks you can visit with Vidas Svabas who designs jewellery (old English spelling) to enhance the human spirit, but also creates necklaces for horses to negate the effects they may feel being under the saddle. The Union Pier retailer will also host nature artist Susan Willis and the wearable art of Kathie Mueller. At Retro Café you can enjoy breakfast and chat with local landscape artist Roger Harvey. The Whitechapel Inn will host artists’ works and demonstrations from the Gaia Artist Cooperative. Vineyard Lofts will present the original jazz of saxophone player Brad Wheeler, and the oil creations of Vincent. Authors Robert and RoseAnna Mueller and Elaine Thermopoulous will be signing their historical looks of this region from Michigan City to Benton Harbor. St.
Julian Wine Company will present the work of Jace Heimbach called “DreamWood,” and the custom jewelry-making of Pamela Covert.

With all the attention to new ideas and imagery, you could be hard-pressed
to find traditional events. Art Attack has two very popular “traditions.” The first is the “Name That Sculpture” competition at the Fritz Olsen Studio in Sawyer. Now in its sixth year, visitors are asked to stretch their imaginations and find a title for a work by this internationally-acclaimed sculptor. The winner wins a valuable Olsen sculpture of their very own. The culmination of Art Attack is also its longest running traditional event—the Mystery Dinner at Hannah’s Restaurant. This event is perfect for the would-be or should-not-be thespian alike. This guided evening of delicious
dining and dabbling drama shows that Art Attack is truly the stage for all that is art or all who want to be artists.

For a complete listing of the Art Attack events you can visit the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce website at www.harborcountry.org/artattack or pick up a brochure and map at locations throughout Harbor Country. Some events do require reservations. Art Attack is sponsored by the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce and the Harbor Country Lodging Association. The event committee is comprised of Rita Cochran, Jennifer Cochran, Liz Thomas, Chuck Garasic, Gene Halun, and Melissa Stranard. For additional information call 800-362-7251 or 269-469-5409.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 8, 2006

Contact: Karen Gear 269-756-3121

Three Oaks annual auction Saturday, March 18

"Going, going, gone," says Karen Gear about the annual Three Oaks Business
Association Auction to be held Saturday, March 18, 2006 at the Three Oaks
Elementary School Gym. "Those are the words we like to hear. It means that the
community is supporting our fundraising effort." Actually, the auction provides
a fundraising venue for three community groups: Three Oaks Business
Association, the Sawyer Dance Troupe, and Radio Harbor Country.

The doors open at 9 a.m. to allow the public a chance to view the oral auction
items and to begin bidding on silent auction items. The oral auction starts at
10 a.m. This year some of the auction items include vintage Three Oaks items,
gift certificates to local restaurants, a quarter-page ad in the South County
Gazette, oil changes, movie passes to the Vickers Theatre, a Conn organ, UPS
computer backup unit will need 220 electric (retail value $1300), sofas,
furniture, kitchen items, bikes, antiques, New Buffalo School doors, and much
more coming in each and
every day.

The Three Oaks Business Association (TOBA) uses this opportunity to raise funds
for marketing. The Sawyer Dance Troupe will be hosting a pancake and sausage
breakfast that morning at the back of the gym and that helps them raise funds
to travel to their competitions. And Radio Harbor Country 106.7 FM will be host
their 2nd Annual Bake Sale at the event, raising much-needed funds to keep the
local community radio station on the air. Bake sale customers may have the
opportunity to meet Three Oaks' very own "Julia Child."

"It's a great day to go treasure hunting and help the community at the same
time," says Gear. If you have any questions or would like to donate an item
contact Karen Gear at Fifth Third Bank, 269-756-3121.

MAY 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elizabeth Johnson

Academic and Allied Marketing Manager

517-318-2359

ejohnson@ei-ahla.org
<mailto:ejohnson@ei-ahma.org>

www.ei-ahla.org

Michigan Leads Best-Practice Winners in Tourism and Destination
Management

LANSING, Mich., May 2005-Three Michigan tourism organizations have been
recognized in the second volume of the "Guide to Best Practices in Tourism and Destination Management, " published by the Lansing-based Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Written by Rich Harrill, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Tourism Research at the University of South Carolina's School of Hotel,
Restaurant, and Tourism Management, the book spotlights successful approaches in the areas of tourism and destination management research, funding, professional development, Web marketing, and sustainable tourism. Michigan was the only area to have three winners featured in the guide.

Best practice winners from Michigan include Mackinac State
Historic Parks, Travel Michigan, and Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce.

Mackinac State Historic Parks earned recognition in the area of research for its commitment to developing visitor profiles and related marketing for a type of organization not known for investing in such research. Harrill cited the parks system's program for its "commitment to a consistent research design, emphasizing the importance of longitudinal results that in turn shape the future plans and visions
of parks programs." The organization was also commended for demonstrating the value of partnerships, citing its long-term relationship with Michigan State University's Tourism and Recreation Resource Center.

Travel Michigan earned recognition in the area of Web marketing for its Web site, www.michigan.org, the official state of Michigan travel Web site. Over the past three years, the Web site has become the primary vehicle for consumers planning a Michigan vacation. Over 90 percent of all inquiries to Travel Michigan are made through that Web site. Harrill noted that "the Travel Michigan web site is a best practice because of its ability to engage in one-to-one marketing, track results through research, and generate more business leads."

Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce was recognized for being a "Best Practice Adapter," that is, an organization that took a best practice featured in the first volume of the "Guide to Best Practices in Tourism and Destination Management" and made it work for them. The Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce is a best-practice adapter because of its commitment to upgrading its Web site (www.harborcoutnry.org) to include online booking and availability functions, as well as advanced search and navigation functions. The organization was cited for its "commitment to excellence despite limited resources." According to Harrill, "Harbor Country's Web site has become a focal point for the community, resulting in increased chamber membership and a new sense of enthusiasm and dedication among lodging association members."

"Guide to Best Practice in Tourism and Destination Management, Volume 2" is available for $35.00 for AH&LA members and $40.00 for nonmembers. To order, call 800-752-4567 or 517-372-8800 (outside the U.S. and Canada, call 407-999-8100). Or visit www.ei-ahla.org and order through EI's online shopping cart.

Established in 1953 as a nonprofit educational foundation of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Educational Institute's mission is to support AH&LA by becoming the preferred provider to the lodging industry, hospitality schools, and related hospitality industries both domestically and internationally by developing and
providing quality resources to train, educate, and certify hospitality professionals.





FOR RELEASE THE WEEK OF APRIL 11-18
Contact: Mike Hojnacki, Marketing Director
Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce
Voice/answering machine 269-756-9070
E-mail: wordsbymike@triton.net
HARBOR COUNTRY HOSTS 12TH ANNUAL ART ATTACK

Art Attack is coming to Harbor Country. Circle your calendars for April 22, 23
and 24. Take the time off. Hire a baby sitter. Make a day of it. Make a weekend
of it! Now in its 12th year, this annual eclectic, interactive celebration of
"all that is art" is ready to showcase the new works of national, regional and
local artists.

An extensive program outlines the three-day event that will feature gallery
openings and receptions, artist workshops, artist demonstrations, interactive
exhibitions, open houses and fun with art, music and food. Your personal copy
of the program can be easily obtained at www.harborcountry.org/artattack. The
program is also available throughout the eight Southwest Michigan communities
that officially comprise Harbor Country: Michiana, Grand Beach, New Buffalo,
Three Oaks, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, and Sawyer.

Without fanfare, the events quietly start on Friday, build to an artistic
frenzy of artist receptions and open houses on Saturday evening, and culminate
with the fun and surprise offered by a Murder Mystery Dinner at Hannah's
Restaurant on Sunday evening.

The work of area schools will be featured as part of this year's exhibits.
Student work from New Buffalo Area Schools will be on exhibit at select New
Buffalo businesses. High School students from River Valley High School will
have a special exhibit of their work at The Scarlet Macaw in Sawyer. Their
exhibition starts with an artist reception on Saturday, April 23 from 3 to 7
p.m. EST.

Jewelry making and new designs will be featured at Vivian's, Catherine &
Company, Amethyst, and Whittaker House in New Buffalo. African jewelry will be
featured at Patty's Picks and a trunk show will be held at The Gallery at the
Gordon Beach Inn, both in Union Pier.

Photography will be highlighted at Patty's Picks and Local Color Gallery in
Union Pier, Country Mates, Block Fine Arts and the Roger Harvey Art Gallery in
New Buffalo.

A wide range of artistic expression can be found in the blended presentations
of many media at WOW Art Gallery, Courtyard Gallery, and Michigan Thyme in New
Buffalo, Acorn Gallery, Gintaras Resort, Acorn Gallery, and Local Color Gallery
in Union Pier. Also at the Lakeside Gallery in Lakeside, Jill Underhill Gallery
in Harbert, and Zieve Studios, Studio B Fine Arts and Fabulous Finds, Dawning
Art the Gift in Three Oaks.

Singular exhibits will include Stefani Bay at Whittaker House, Angela Reichert,
Rick Ott and Ralph Behrendt, and Steve Cambronne at WOW Art Gallery, Alex
Fatouros and Elaine Thomopolous at 105 East Internet Cafe, and Steve Rubinkam
at his studio, all in New Buffalo.

Catherine Doll will display her latest work at her studio, and Nifodora Krumrie
will show her recent work at The Scarlet Macaw, both in downtown Sawyer.

Cynthia Hicks will present her jewelry at The Gallery at the Gordon Beach Inn.
Pat and Tim Rodeghier will present their new landscapes at The Plum Tree.
Landscape artist Harriet Christakos will be at Patty's Picks, and Deborah
Hoover and Bonnie Labovitz will show their watercolors at Local Color Gallery,
all in Union Pier.

Natalie Mooney will present her affirmative art along with affordable wines
offered by host Brewster's Italian Cafe in New Buffalo. Nationally recognized
watercolorist James McComb will offer a demonstration at his studio in Union
Pier. James Bolek and Nannette Dombkowski will be featured at Amethyst in New
Buffalo. Photographer Ben Golden and Fritz Olsen will be featured at the Fritz
Olsen Sculpture Studio in Sawyer.

Looking for a bargain! Consider the Affordable Art Yard Sale being held at
Sandpiper Inn on the lake in Union Pier. Here you'll find affordable pre-owned
art that you can use to fill an empty corner, embarrass your friends, or lose
the art and just keep the frame.

On a musical note, The Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra will perform at the New
Buffalo Performing Arts Center on Sunday at 3 p.m. And you can enjoy dulcimer
music from 4-6 Sunday at The Gallery at the Gordon Beach Inn in Union Pier.

It is said that art is in the eye of the beholder. Art Attack is a high-powered
event that pokes you in the eye with the cutting edge of all that is art. The
nicest thing about it-- it doesn't hurt, but it certainly makes you take
notice.




December 28, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mike Hojnacki, 269-756-9070 or mhojnacki@triton.net

Chamber Guide seeks photos, cover art

The Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce seeks submissions of local photography
to grace the 100 plus pages of its popular annual guide. Photography must
originate from Harbor Country environs or events. Harbor Country includes the
eight communities of New Buffalo, Michiana, Grand Beach, Union Pier, Lakeside,
Harbert, Sawyer and Three Oaks. Exclusive use of the photo must be granted to
the Chamber of Commerce in exchange for a byline of the photographer to be
placed next to the photo. Photo may appear in Chamber-related promotions
including the chamber's website. There is no monetary compensation.

The guide is also seeking original artwork to be used for cover art and an
annual poster. All media are acceptable provided they can be photographed. Art
theme should represent Harbor Country visually or in spirit. Copies of previous
covers can be reviewed at the Harbor Country office. There is no monetary
compensation, though artist will receive copies of the poster.

Submissions for both are due by 5 p.m., Wednesday, February 16 at the Harbor
Country Chamber office, 530 S. Whittaker, Suite F, New Buffalo, MI 49117.
Photos may be submitted electronically in jpg format to sue@harborcountry.org.
Questions may be directed to guide co-chairs Chuck Garasic at 269-469-0332 or
Keith Sindelar at 269-469-6860.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2004

Georgia Tech Economic Development Institute
Contact: Nancy R. Fullbright (404-894-3827)
E-mail: nancy.fullbright@edi.gatech.edu

HARBOR COUNTRY SELECTED AS A BEST PRACTICE
IN TOURISM AND DESTINATION MANAGEMENT BY GEORGIA TECH

The Harbor Country® Chamber of Commerce and Lodging Association has been selected by Georgia Tech’s Economic Development Institute (EDI) as a best practice in tourism and destination management in the best practice adapter category. It will be featured in the second volume of EDI’s Guide to Best Practices in Tourism and Destination Management.

“Being selected is a great honor for the Harbor Country team but personally, I feel the designation of a ‘best practice’ shouldn't be looked at so clinically,” said A.J. Boggio, member of Harbor Country’s Board of Directors. “By listening to their clients and customers, any dedicated, cooperative and hardworking group can achieve its goals and become a ‘best practice’ in tourism and destination management.”

EDI recently announced the winners in its second-round competition for best practices in tourism and destination management. A follow-up to its 2002 collection of best practices, this effort helps the local, state, national and international tourism and destination management industry adopt successful approaches in the areas of research, funding, professional development, Web marketing and sustainable tourism.

“The publication of the second volume of the Guide to Best Practices in Tourism and Destination Management will provide hospitality industry professionals and students with the opportunity to learn from the best," said George Glazer, vice president of academic publications at the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. “Sharing success stories like these benefits the industry by offering models that organizations can adapt to improve their own operations.”

Nominations were submitted by tourism and destination management organizations worldwide. A cross-section of the industry is represented in this year’s award-winners, including eight state organizations, five international organizations, four convention and visitors bureaus, two local organizations and one university program. The following programs were designated as “best practices” in their respective fields:

Research:
• Canadian Tourism Commission/Statistics Canada
• Colorado Tourism Office
• Mackinac (Mich.) State Historic Parks
• Maine Office of Tourism
• Ottawa (Ontario) Tourism and Convention Authority
• Texas A&M University, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences

Funding:
• Missouri Division of Tourism
• Travel Montana

Professional Development:
• BestCities.net (Denmark)

Web Marketing:
• Chattanooga Area (Tenn.) Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Durham (N.C.) Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Travel Michigan

Sustainable Tourism:
• Juneau (Alaska) Convention and Visitors Bureau
• ECOCLUB.com (Greece)
• Hacienda Pinilla (Costa Rica)
• Queen Anne’s (Md.) County Department of Business and Tourism

Best Practice Adapters:
• Harbor Country (Mich.) Chamber of Commerce and Lodging Association
• Rhode Island Tourism Development Advisory Council

These case studies will be published as a guide for tourism and destination management-related agencies, industries and organizations. The first volume was published by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and is available at www.ei-ahla.org. This year’s volume will also contain a section called Best Practice Adapters for those organizations that adapted a best practice strategy after reading the first volume.

“Tourism continues to emerge as a vital strategy in economic development at the local, state, national and even international levels,” noted EDI Director Rick Duke. “Recognizing best practices in the industry will help tourism organizations get the most benefit from their efforts.” The author of the book, Rich Harrill, is a senior business associate with EDI. He holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning and a doctorate in parks, recreation and tourism management from Clemson University. He is the author of Guide to Best Practices in Tourism and Destination Management, and has published numerous articles on tourism and urban planning.

Dr. Richard Harrill

About Georgia Tech’s Economic Development Institute (EDI):
EDI offers an array of services with a common objective: to grow Georgia’s economy by providing technology-driven solutions to the state’s businesses and communities. Whether the goal is attracting new companies to Georgia, expanding existing enterprises, providing technical expertise to help Georgia business and industry be more competitive, or helping communities plan for growth, EDI helps keep the state’s economy moving forward.

The Tourism and Regional Assistance Centers (TRACS), a unit within EDI, provides services based on four decades of research and implementation assistance. TRACS has multiple partners with a common mission of providing innovative economic development assistance focused on tourism-related issues to Georgia’s communities. TRACS also serves as an advocate for economic developers focusing on tourism-related issues, promoting the tourism industry, providing credible data and demonstrating the need for increased funding.

For more information on best practices in tourism and destination management, please contact Rich Harrill either by phone (404-894-3852) or by e-mail (rich.harrill@edi.gatech.edu).