News and Notes 05/16/2017

• Important reminder: Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 17, is the deadline for listings for the Official Kansas Travel Guide 2018. If you have an attraction, museum, art gallery, brick-and-mortar retail presence, or location of interest to visitors, Lindsborg *needs* your listing. The more listings a community features in the travel guide, the more likely the community’s chance of snagging overnights, day trips and brief stops. Call or drop by the Lindsborg CVB, which will do *almost* all the work to prepare your listing. 785-227-8687 or cvb@lindsborgcity.org. Please? Thank you.
• Weather permitting, the popular Community Water Fight is slated for first squirt at 5:30 p.m. a week from today, Tuesday, May 23. Keep your eyes and ears on the forecast, everyone.
• We encourage you to add to Lindsborg's visual interest for Midsummer’s Festival. Businesses, organizations and residents could garland their front doors. Everyone can make sure flower pots/beds are planted and maintained with lively colors.
• Also on Midsummer’s: If you can volunteer to help with set up on Friday evening, June 16, or tear down on Saturday afternoon or evening, June 17, you will be cheered widely. The Midsummer’s planning crew is organized and has been working hard. These committed folks could use just a little boost from you for a few hours. Please consult Mim Carlson at mimcarlson754@gmail.com.
• City Hall fielded a heads-up call earlier this week about video production scheduled for June 5-6 in Lindsborg, including some shooting on Main Street. Production contact: Carla Greenhalgh, 719.661.1438. The production's purpose: a documentary on the Zamzam, a passenger ship ferrying missionaries to Africa in 1941. The ship was sunk by German raiders; however, most of the passengers — including the Danielson family of Lindsborg — were rescued. The Zamzam’s dramatic story and its passenger made headlines during World War II — and continue to pique interest today. Read more at http://www.zamzamship.net.
• Our community’s transient guest tax on overnight motel and hotel rooms pays for advertising aimed at generating more overnight stays in Lindsborg. One ad series that has done particularly well is in AAA Magazines mailed to auto club members in different regions nationally. In the last year, Lindsborg has gained about 400 leads (people saying they would like more information about visiting here and share contact information). Who responds? Please give a huge shout out to ace volunteer Sheryl Haigh! Sheryl *hand-addresses* envelopes containing travel information and, later, follow-up postcards to each of the 400. Now that's the Lindsborg touch. (Of course, she has superior penmanship, too.) Heartfelt thanks to Sheryl and all the volunteers who make it work in Lindsborg. • Did you know that *31* outdoor attractions and events have been added to Lindsborg’s very own application for smart phones? Thank you, Lindsborg CVB and new business owner Rick Bodenhamer of Rendezvous Adventure Outfitters on Main Street. The additions were collected to respond to growing inquiries about outdoor activities in our area. (BTW, if you haven’t seen Lindsborg travel ap, be sure to download it free and browse. Either android or iOS. Mighty handy for those of us who live here, too.)
• What else is the CVB hearing these days? Well, lots, says director Holly Lofton. The phone is ringing off the hook at the office most days. More travelers are asking for specifics of festivals and regular events earlier than ever (and outdoor options, natch). That means schedules and features need to be available earlier than ever. Just having come off two days at the Kansas Sampler Festival, Holly is reminded that Lindsborg and Bethany College have made great memories for many, and the impact of the personal touch is often a theme. She often heard about the feeling of trust conveyed in Lindsborg (such as the honor system for payments at the Courtyard Bakery), and relationships to Scandinavia. And key festivals and the Dala horses, always.
​• What do you hear these days? Keep your ear to the ground for us, would you? Whether words of cheer or suggestions for improvement, let an Ad Hocker know your thoughts.