Buy your tickets online beginning July 1st for Trails and Vistas ”If Dreams were Clouds” Art Hike on September 11 & 12. The Art Hike has sold out for the past four years and we expect another sellout this year. Come join us for another wonderful experience of aerial dance, poets, music and installation art with stunning vistas at Squaw Valley USA.

This year’s Art Hike will involve a 1,000 foot elevation gain at high altitude at Shirley Canyon. Since this hike may pose a challenge to persons unconditioned for moderate to strenuous single-track trail hiking, we are also offering family hikes and leisure hikes for persons that need a shorter hike.

Launch times for your hike are available throughout both Saturday and Sunday, each group is limited to 30 and you can choose a time and style of hike that works best for you and yours if you purchase early. Visit Trails and Vistas 2010 for tickets and/or to preview an amazing video from Trails and Vistas 2009.

We Need Your Help

As a newly formed 501(c)(3) non-profit, Trails and Vistas needs your help to continue to offer this wonderful experience of art and culture in the Sierra. We’re very close to reaching our goal of raising $5,000 to receive a wonderfully generous matching contribution of $10,000 (Sky Sponsorship) from The Richardson House of Truckee! We need your helpto raise $685 more to reach our goal of $15,000. Can you support this fundraising endeavor by contributing $10, $25 or more?

We are so excited to have secured $4,315 with grants from the Lahontan Community Foundation, The Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce, the Truckee Rotary, and generous donations from people like you.

Donations can also be sent via check to:
Trails and Vistas
10309 Cromley Square
Truckee, CA 96161

Would You Like to Become a Sponsor?

Trails and Vistas has two “Dream” sponsorships available for $1,500 each. Our “Dreamers” will receive 15 complimentary tickets (one half of a 30 person hike), the opportunity to promote your product or service at the end of your hike through one of our hike stewards and extensive recognition in all of our marketing and public relations collateral. This exclusive sponsorship opportunity truly is a dream.  Please contact Christina Stoever-Young at christina@trailsandvistas.org to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

We look forward to seeing you on the trail this September.

Dancer in the Meadow

My latest project, The Richardson House, involves rehabilitating a historic home and converting this house from a neglected B&B to an impeccable private holiday rental. While a very tedious and labor-intensive process — from floor and paint to web design and marketing collateral — every step has involved our local community and an array of unique and creative partnerships.

Our philosophy is to create a sense of community around this prestigious home in the historic district of Truckee, California. She has maintained her glorious position sitting just above town since the 1880s and has gone unscathed through major fires and redevelopment. We knew before we purchased this incredible home that she would never be ours; she would always belongs to Truckee. Our role is nothing short of looking after her, for now, until another generation pulls her under its wing.

Our first decision was to hire a house manager. Given the current economy, we knew the pool of viable candidates would be vast. Little did our house manager know, we had already decided Chelsea was our gal before we wrote the job description. Chelsea Walterscheid is president of the Truckee-Donner Historical Society, a historian by trade and life long resident of Truckee. Who better to manage this historic home than a historian?

Due to Chelsea’s vast network within the community, she brings an incredible array of individuals to the home. Whether bidding on our next project or simply stopping by to say hello, her diverse relationships directly benefit our business.  Contractors want to please Chelsea and share her interest in the home, each of them taking a little bit of ownership of The Richardson House with them after each project.

Much like Chelsea, we had our sights on our caretaker long before we’d closed escrow. Jim Katt is “the man” about town when it comes to landscaping. His thoughtful designs utilizing natural resources were something we’d already experienced at our own home. The yard at The Richardson House had been neglected for many years, and we knew we needed someone with patience and passion to turn this historic eyesore into the gorgeous garden the home — and neighbors — deserve.

As we approached Jim to not only take on the exterior project, we asked that he consider joining our team as caretaker, upon his acceptance we were surprised with his many hidden talents – including a keen eye for paint and design.  Before long, the garden will be in full bloom, and I suspect not only Jim, but also the many friends and fellow landscapers he’s included in this project, will be swelling with pride.

Once we had the right people in place, it was time to dig into the marketing aspect of the business. Creating a new brand is an exciting process, although personally, very difficult for me upon the onset. Because I have the wonderful privilege of knowing so many incredible marketers and designers, choosing one agency or individual was tough. After a great deal of thought I knew the individual creating our brand would need to fit into our community partner philosophy. We needed someone who would visit the house, proudly point it out to friends and family, and ‘own’ the brands look and feel throughout the region.  Cesar Lopez of New Leaders was our man.

Cesar spent countless hours at the house: attending marketing meetings, admiring her rehabilitation, directing photo shoots, and simply getting a feel for her presence and vibe. Over the past four months, Cesar has become yet another one of the homes’ tenders, in his own special way.

To reinforce our vision of sharing The Richardson House with the community, we’ve created another infrastructure to enhance partnerships. Local and regional not-for-profits have been invited to use her for board meetings and/or special planning sessions. She’s quickly grown into the hearts of Trails and Vistas, Custom Learning Academy, and the Truckee Donner Land Trust. The list continues to grow each and every week.

As private holiday home rental remains a key component of our marketing effort, we went to a few of our favorite local businesses and asked if they would become a business partner by enhancing the “Truckee” experience for our guests. After a resounding  “Yes,” to those we asked, we were able to produce the Truckee Experience Card for all Richardson House guests. Guest benefits extend to specialty stores and restaurants all within walking vicinity and include:

-       A complimentary dog cookie at Scraps Dog Bakery

-       A free bath soap from Riverstone – Home, Gift and Garden

-       A mimosa with breakfast – on the house – Squeeze In Truckee

-       A “Relaxing” tea bag with any $10 purchase – Truckee Tea Company

-       A vino and cheese sampler – Moody’s Bistro & Lounge

-       ½ off your second burger – Burger Me

In addition, our guests will have the comfort of knowing that a portion of the proceeds from each stay will directly benefit the Truckee-Donner Historical Society and Truckee Donner Land Trust. The Richardson House is also a member of The BEAR League and the Sky Sponsor for Trails and Vistas 2010.

In five months, we’ve proudly partnered with at least two-dozen businesses and individuals in our community.  This process can be time consuming as a business owner or manager and certainly requires diligence, as you only want to work with businesses and organizations that support your mission, enhance your brand, and will take excellent care of your customers and employees. In my opinion though, partnerships are worth the effort, and the benefits will long out-way a short campaign or half-hearted PR push.  They grow out of mutual respect and can far exceed their immediate benefits if carefully nurtured and honestly represented.

I encourage you to look at the partnerships you already have and examine how they might be enhanced.  From there, look outside of the box and see where you can creatively bring in additional partners to enhance your product or service for your customers. It’s certainly worth the effort.

Our contract:

Dear Richardson House Guest,

Please enjoy all the beautiful gifts nature has to offer. Our neighborhood hosts beautiful birds, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, deer, coyotes, and one of our favorite creatures – “Ben,” the black bear.

Ben, like all of our area bears, established our neighborhood as his stomping ground many years ago.  As Ben is quite shy, he likes to roam around at night, when all is quiet and calm.  He is, however, a sly one and can sense as much as a stick of gum in your car.  In an effort to look after our valued guests – and our neighborhood bear –we ask that you practice “Bear Aware” rules of conduct while in our home:

• Prior to retiring in the evening, please be sure all outdoor spaces are free of food and garbage (porch, yard, and driveway).  In addition, make sure all windows on the first floor are closed and locked.
• All garbage needs to be placed in the bear box garbage (raccoons also love a late night snack and tend to make quite a mess).   To ensure a proper closure, make sure you hear the latch lock.
• Turn gas BBQ to high for five minutes to burn all food particles after use.
• Maintain a “food free” vehicle when parked anywhere in the Sierra Nevada area.

Since Ben does not rely on The Richardson House (due to your good practices and those before and after you), we have no reason to fear his presence.  To ensure community safety, The Richardson House imposes a $250 fine on any guests not adhering to “Bear Aware” practices.  This fee will be immediately charged on your account if our house manager, caretaker, owner, or neighbors witness such errors.

If you hear Ben sneaking around in the wee hours of the evening, and if you feel, for any reason, uncomfortable or uncertain about his presence, The BEAR League is available to you 24-hours a day: 530-525-7297.  In addition, your house caretaker resides in the carriage house behind you and will be quick to assist with ANY issue or concern you may have.

If you encounter any bear while in our area, do not be afraid or submissive.  Let him know you are there; make eye contact but do not stare; pick-up small children and keep them calm; and most importantly, appreciate the experience and move on with respect and self confidence.

Thank you for being our guest and a great neighbor while enjoying The Richardson House.

Sincerely,

Chelsea Walterscheid
House Manager
chelsea@therichardsonhouse.com

I must admit, he’s right.  LED screens are everywhere, selling products and promoting restaurants.  Even the local museums display dark booths that once held cashiers, only to be replaced by computer kiosks.   The technology is so vast that you need a user’s manual to navigate the toilet (no joke).

Now, according to a recent CNN Japan story, “Ads that Watch You” advertising is on the move – once again.  Imagine stopping to take a look at an advertisement, all the while the advertisement is looking at you.  The following is from a CNN Japan transcript:

“Here is how this works. When you walk up to the ad, a camera captures your image. The computer figures out if you are a man or a woman and your age. Meanwhile, an age and gender-specific ad rolls. This shows that I’m in my 30s and I like seasonal pasta. The computer then determines how interested you are, how long you stay. That data is then recorded for the company. NEC engineer Junko Amagai says the facial recognition technology is accurate to within 10 years of your actual age, and the next-gen system they are testing out is even more age accurate.”  CNN Business 360

It sounds as though we can expect testing to begin in the United States this spring.  As a marketer, I suspect this new technology will continue to reinvent modern media.  As an individual, I can only hope Christian Dior will not ‘guess’ my age to be older.  Hopefully the techie’s behind the beta’s will remember the old saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

One home, in particular, continues to stop us in our tracks – The Richardson House.  The phenomenon is something that neither of us can explain. She’s so astute, like a proud dame overlooking historic Truckee ― a Queen overseeing her regime.

Because of our love for this house, a desire to leave a legacy for the unique Town of Truckee, and nothing short of raw determination, The Richardson House is now our home. (Although, I must caution, the use of the word “our” is extended to the community-at-large.) Our intent is to reintroduce her as a place many can enjoy. Whether her living areas are used as meeting places sites for non-profit organizations, her yard as a solstice for those looking for a quiet place to read or a couple to celebrate a special day, or her bedrooms enjoyed as a respite by locals and their guests alike, The Richardson House will soon return to Truckee society in all of her splendor.

Richardson House, Historic Truckee

Admittedly, I’m typically the first person in the room to remain a bit skeptical when presented with a new program.  All the type A attributes of my personality kick-in, and I’m instantly rationalizing every aspect:  “Does this support our mission?” “How much will this cost?”  “How many resources will we need?”  “What other programs will suffer when we shift resources?” “Who will lead to ensure success?” And most importantly, “What is the goal?”

You see, when it comes to business, without a goal, I’m like a bear without paws – incapable of survival.

With that said, I was leery when the idea of putting forth a fundraiser for Trails and Vistas continued circulating our meetings. We loosely tossed around concepts at meetings, without a real commitment to a feasible idea or actual program.  Due to the lack of resources, enthusiasm, and mass competition in the community, we continued to table the idea.

During this period, I was enjoying my time as a docent for the Old Jail Museum. The Truckee Donner Historical Society is close to my heart, and I love sharing stories of Truckee’s colorful history with those who curiously walk through the Old Jail Museum doors. Oddly enough, as a docent I’m also a recipient of many of their own stories, several of which have been hard to forget.

This year’s winner was the young man who went on and on about his private “ghost” tour of The Truckee Hotel. As it went, a friend told him stories over drinks. The friend knew someone else who took the group of friends over to the Truckee Hotel for a private tour. As the young man’s words continued, an idea gelled in my mind.

After a few weeks, I was able to create a concept behind my vision. In my mind, it fit:  Trails and Vistas is known as an “experience” type of event, while the Truckee Donner Historical Society is known as a historical “informant.” Combining history with an experience, as it has in the past, makes perfect sense. After a pitch to Nancy Lopez, our Trails and Vistas Executive Director, and then our board of directors, I was given the go-ahead to present the idea to the Truckee Donner Historical Society. I was elated. They loved the concept, mutually agreed upon the goals, and were more than happy to share the funds. Their quick ability to recognize the significance of the event, the opportunity to raise money, and a commitment to put what little resources they could forward, made my decision to produce the event on their behalf easy – even though we only had five weeks on the books to make it happen. (I’ll write another blog on “How to combat event induced heartburn” at a later date).

With that said, we agreed upon the following goals:

• Position the Historical Haunted Tour as one of the season’s most talked about events by providing a unique and engaging experience to our attendees.
• Create public awareness of Truckee’s historical gems, and promote preservation.
• Produce an annual, sell-out event.
• Capture additional funding opportunities by enhancing silent auction items and/or sponsor donations.
• Expand next year’s Tour into a larger, late-summer event with a broader spectrum of sponsors.
• Create a solid foundation for long-term growth through this unique and thoughtful partnership.

"Do I let them out or keep'em in?

Due to the hard and diligent work of Nancy Lopez, Chelsea Waltershire (president of the Truckee Donner Historical Society), Judy Dunlap (past president of the Truckee Donner Historical Society) and our numerous volunteers, we not only achieved these tangible goals for this year, we were able to surpass several.  Their constant presence in our day-to-day communications helped each of us remain focused as our concept grew into a full-fledged event.

I had the great pleasure of greeting our guests as they returned, each and every one saying they couldn’t wait until next year.  Our dear attendees, neither can we!  Thank you for your support.

A special thanks to:

Eileen Lewis, Helen Heindel, Lisa Robertson, Colleen Dalton, Cindy Maciel, Nancy Lopez and Chelsea Walterscheid, who were tour guides in period dress, escorting attendees through The Kruger White House, The Old Jail Museum, The Pour House, The Truckee Hotel and The Pharmacy. These businesses kindly donated their places for the performances.

"Our fantastic volunteers"

Jane Pedrazzini, Mark Brown, Jean Fournier and Reina Markheim, who took on personalities from the past and related spooky happenings and famous hauntings at the sites. Guests enjoyed wine and music by Ian Ethan Case and Chris Waltz in the beautiful surroundings of the Kruger White House.

The evening included a successful silent auction, put together by Judy Dunlap and raising nearly $3,000 for the two nonprofits. The money raised will be used to purchase archiving software for the Old Jail Museum and new computers and online research tools for the Historical Society’s Joseph Research Library.

A big hug to my father, Kurt Breitwieser, who, had less than eight hours to prepare for his docent role at The Pour House; although, I suspect the “ladies” at his site helped calm his nerves and enhanced the experience for all.  You’re a trooper, Dad!  Delighted you answered my call…

Dad and the ladies telling tall tales at The Pour House

Attendee comments:

Great tour, the docents were entertaining, especially the first woman in the basement.   Enjoyed seeing historic sites previously not visited. – Anonymous

Awesome! Exceeded my expectations!  – Katie S.

Not just great fun, but very informative. Wonderful costumes! – Gordon S.

What a wonderful event that showcases our rich history and character here in Truckee. Fun and educational, so proud to live here!  Jenny F.

This was excellent, I can’t wait until the 2nd annual!  – Grant P.

And a special shout-out to both Kira at Moonshine Ink http://moonshineink.com/articles.php/68/1515 and Amy at Sierra Sun http://www.sierrasun.com/article/2009911179986 for their great coverage.

A great evening to gather with good friends...

My first experience serving on a board of directors (BOD) was in the early 90’s.  While attending the University of Nevada, Reno College of Business I was elected president of the collegiate chapter American Marketing Association BOD.  It was the first of many enlightening, challenging and downright political experiences I’ve enjoyed on a board over the past fifteen plus years.

With the drastic changes in the economy as of late, I’ve been witnessing an interesting paradigm shift in the world of not-for-profit boards. Businesses and organizations have access to fewer grants and sponsorships, while donations are on a decline. Board and committee members are now busier than ever trying to meet the demands of their current employers.

Individuals seem perpetually challenged in their genuine effort to be an active part of their family, a valued employee or business owner and a committed community citizen.  Taking on a board position can sometimes tip the scale to the point of overload, especially given all the help most boards are seeking as of late.

Although many of you may believe this is a good time to lessen your commitments outside of home, I would like to encourage you to reconsider (with a few caveats, of course).  By doing so you will reap many personal and professional rewards, including but not limited to:

Networking with dynamic and passionate individuals

Showcasing your professional talents

Introducing your product or service

Enabling your family, friends and colleagues to participate in your efforts and events

CONTRIBUTING TO A GREATER GOOD

With that said, I must throw caution to the wind.  Part of being on a board is taking responsibility for your commitment.  Taking the time to have a full understanding of what is expected of you PRIOR to taking on such a position is a necessity.  I recommend a private meeting with the Executive Director as well as a separate, in-person or phone meeting with several current members of the board you are considering joining.  Make sure it’s a fit for you from both a personal and professional standpoint.

In honor of a few of my favorite executive directors, I thought I’d share a few personal tips in the realm of professional “boarding” –

Read your bylaws once a year, understand your role and embrace your responsibility.

Attend meetings, contribute to relevant conversation and follow through on your commitments.

Network.  If you have a caterer on your board, let them bid on your next event.

Inspire others; bring a positive attitude to your BOD meetings.

Share your creative ideas and solutions, however be prepared to help implement these concepts.

Do not join a BOD if you are not committed to donating your professional expertise, personal (non business) time and financial resources.

Do not join a BOD if their regular meetings take place at a time you know will not work for you.

Do not join a BOD if you are doing a friend a favor and otherwise have no interest.

Do not join a BOD if your first conversation with the Executive Director outlines all of the responsibilities you will not be able to fulfill (translation – if you need ample exceptions compared to the rest of the BOD, it’s not a good time to join).

Do not join a BOD if you are in-between jobs.  Although it can be a great resume builder, your best intent can fall short if a new employer has other plans for your time.  Instead, join a committee and take on a short-term project.  Showcase your professional skills to your fellow committee members and BOD, it may help you land your next great job.

Do not resign without helping your executive director find your replacement, while not a “law” in the bylaw section, it’s a common and well-practiced courtesy.

Do not burnout your executive director, if this individual is overloaded with new programs and strategies your current goals and objectives will surely suffer.

If you’re currently a board member and feel you may be guilty of a few of the “do not’s,” please don’t fret.  Now is as good of time as any to reanalyze your role.  Perhaps it’s a good time to light your fire and “jump in” to the next meeting by acknowledging your absence to your fellow board members and make a personal commitment of tangible time and resources to your board from this point on?  Or maybe you could surprise the group with an unexpected holiday contribution of cash, in-kind services, or relevant goods?  Or perhaps it’s simply time to acknowledge the reality that life has you otherwise preoccupied and it’s time for you to find a super star to step-in and fill your role.

Whatever choice you make as a board member moving forward, I encourage you to make it count.  Being invited to join a board is a tremendous compliment as well as an opportunity, savor your role, have fun and whatever you do – don’t let your board down.

By Scott Thompson, Truckee Times

What a weekend!  Trails and Vistas 2009 proved to be yet another enchanted weekend for over 700 individuals.  Our talented, dedicated and eclectic artists put on a seemingly effortless performance in a variety of elements – ensuring a great time for all.  If you weren’t able to join us this year, don’t worry, September 11-12, 2010 is right around the corner.

From a planning perspective, we’re proud to report that we exceeded the majority of our goals.  Those included:

• A sell-out event, third year in a row.
• Enhanced communications to both confirmed attendees and prospective attendees, utilizing social media as an added marketing tool.
• Tactical and responsive planning by our new “working” Board of Directors.
• The addition of an email based research component to ensure successful planning and marketing for 2010.
• A merchandising program for our artists the weekend of the event, to help promote and sell their merchandise / CD’s.
• An increase in practice hikes for trail leaders, to help accentuate attendee experiences.
• Successful private donor development, to help offset decrease in grants.
  

  Photo by Scott Thompson

The Reno Gazette Journal published a great story today, enjoy.