The Social Media Revolution 2012

Social media......it seems a bit overwhelming.  Small business owners are so busy trying to run their businesses day to day that they may feel they don't have the time to learn or to spend that time adding information to social media.
Spend the day with nectarMedia consultant, Josh Wade for hands on real world training on how to win and build business online.  42% of businesses report getting new customers through tools like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more.  Learn the strategies YOU need to market effectively online.
The Pullman Chamber of Commerce with the Latah Economic Development Council and the Moscow Chamber of Commerce invite you:

"Winning & Building Business Through Social Media Marketing"
January 10, 2013
9:00am-1:00pm
BellTower Event Venue
125 SE Spring St.
Pullman, WA 99163
$15.00 includes lunch (seating is limited, so rsvp early!)
to register: marie(at)pullmanchamber(dot)com
SPONSORED BY: Washington State Department of Commerce and Inland Northwest Partners


Marie~ExDir

Life Beyond Tourism

For those that still ponder the value of tourism, I would like to illuminate the concept of the Life Beyond Tourism Manifesto, an organization that promotes tourism worldwide for more than the obvious monetary benefits.

The eight points in the manifesto assert that tourism is a crucial source of prosperity, but also that it is an opportunity for cultural dialogue and the celebration of diversity, a “workshop of knowledge”, and that environmental management helps to preserve this knowledge and dialogue for the future. In other words, the focus of tourism is on the triple bottom line – or – people, planet and profit.

For tourism to truly be successful in a community it needs to be based on values, not just consumer services. We all have heard the horror stories of a tourist location becoming so popular it prices the local residents right out of their homes.  If we look beyond the initial profits and plan properly, it can bring about benefits that can last for generations.

Some of the key points are:

·         Tourism is a crucial source of prosperity.  No question here. Currently, it can mean life or death to our small towns on the Palouse. Tourism is the fastest growing industry since the economy tanked and we can all benefit from it.

·         Tourism provides an opportunity for getting to know -- spirit of place.  And yes, we do have a “spirit of place”. Pullman’s cultural diversity gives it a flavor of its own and the traditional farming history on the Palouse can provide knowledge to a public that still may not know where their food comes from.

·         People working in the tourism industry foster awareness of spirit of place and of intercultural dialogue. I can’t stress enough the personal touch workers have in this industry. If you don’t value where you live and work, how can you pass on that value to our visitors? Tourism can foster community pride and development among its residents.

·         The tourist is a potential harbinger of knowledge and of intercultural dialogue. We can learn from our visitors. And today’s visitor may become tomorrow’s business owner, bringing with them their cultural history.

·         The tourism destination should consider the traveler to be first and foremost a guest of the city, then a guest of the business providing the services and facilities, and only lastly, their customer. This is a rule of thumb that can make or break the tourism industry. We can all work harder to help our visitors feel welcome and make them want to return again.

·         Architectural, urban and environmental planning and management need to foster 'Traditional Knowledge' and 'Intercultural Dialogue'. We need to plan for tourism in the future. Culture is both tangible and intangible. Future building should reflect the personality that is Pullman.

That means as a whole we need to focus on decreasing the use of scarce resources, identify and evaluate both positive and negative environmental, economic and social impacts, and plan to connect both visitors and residents to the Palouse environmentally and culturally. This truly is a great place to live!

Vicki Leeper

Tourism Director

Inland Northwest Partners recognizes communities and individuals for economic development achievements

SPOKANE, Wash. —The Inland Northwest Partners (INP), a regional non-profit economic development organization, honored local communities and individuals with Hometown Awards at the organization’s winter meeting earlier this week.  For more than 35 years, the INP has recognized deserving individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions toward economic development in the region.
The Hometown Awards, voted on by INP board members, were given to recipients in one of four categories— Community, Partnership, Hometown Hero, and Hall of Fame Award.
The Community Award honors communities that have successfully implemented an effective recruitment, retention or community development strategy that impacts a community’s economy.
Lacrosse, WA was honored for their efforts to reinvigorate their community’s economy through such efforts as:

• coming  together and forming an organization called the LaCrosse Community Pride –a nonprofit organization that  solicited and received $150,000 in funding from government, corporations and townspeople.

• buying and refurbishing a building that volunteers hope will house a grocery store, medical clinic, small library, coffee shop and meeting area.

• coaxing hundreds of hours of labor from businesspeople, college students, retirees and craftsmen in the rebuilding effort.

• luring Spokane-based Sterling Savings Bank to open a branch office (after the local bank was shut down) with a favorable lease agreement, the pledge from more than 100 locals to open new accounts, and the promise of new farm loans.
  

The Partnership Award recognizes a significant economic development accomplishment through innovative partnerships.
The Partnership Award was presented to the Tri-County Economic Development District Stronger Economies Together (SET) team - an economic planning group that involved business representatives, citizens and local governments tasked with the goal of expanding community input into the development of the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The effort morphed into an action-oriented project that drew in 325 participants from Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties – who took part in seven planning sessions where community members weighed in on the state of the local economies and proposed solutions to real challenges. A number of ideas regarding infrastructure, business climate, tourism and agriculture surfaced, and as a result of the success of the process, the group will continue to work together to develop and implement strategies to enhance this region’s economy
The Hometown Hero Award recognizes individuals who have played a key role in the economic development efforts of a community or region.

Dick Watters, Southeast Washington EDA Whitman County director, was recognized as this year’s hometown hero for his efforts as a tireless advocate and consensus builder on behalf of the 16 communities in that county. He helped develop and successfully implement the Whitman Mayors’ Leadership Roundtable, was instrumental in planning the Port of Whitman Business Plan competition, as well as many Palouse Knowledge Corridor initiatives, and helped shape the strategies to “hire local” with the Palouse Wind renewable energy project in Whitman County.  As a former WSU basketball player with a WSU undergrad and masters degree, his heart has always been dedicated to improving the lives of those who live on the Palouse.

Dick Watters was on hand to accept this much-deserved award.

Hall of Fame Award recognizes the person, community, agency, or company that has provided substantial support to economic development efforts in the Inland Northwest region.

This year’s most prestigious award was presented to a champion for economic development and growth both in Pullman and Whitman County– Mr. John Sherman, who recently retired from a position that he held for 31 years as the city supervisor of Pullman, WA. During his three decades of service, he has seen five mayors and 43 different City Council members come and go. Throughout his career, he has been interested in getting people involved in the community and attributes many of the improvements in Pullman over the years to the work of generous individuals and successful community partnerships.
John has witnessed the construction of four new schools during his time in office and is proud of the fact that the city is often ranked as one of the best places to raise kids. He sees a bright future for Pullman in the years ahead! 
John Sherman was on hand for his induction into the Inland Northwest Partners Hall of Fame! 
 
About the Inland Northwest Partners (INP)
The INP is a non-profit organization focused on enhancing the long-term vitality of a two-state region through its core offering of educational meetings, programs and seminars.  More than 300 business and community leaders from eastern Washington and northern Idaho are members.  The INP is also part of a regional marketing effort known as the Inland Northwest Economic Alliance (INEA), a consortium of eleven economic development groups.  For more information, visit www.inwp.org.

Shop Pullman First!

Pullman Needs U

10 Reasons to Shop Pullman First

Start your holiday shopping right here in Pullman – you will find what you were looking for and more!

1. Significantly more money stays in Pullman when purchases are made at locally owned, rather than nationally owned, businesses. More money stays in the community because locally owned businesses purchase from other local businesses, service providers, and farms.
2. Most new jobs are provided by locally owned businesses. Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally, and in Pullman they provide new jobs to residents.
3. Our one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants are an integral part of our distinctive character. The unique character of Pullman is what brought us here and will keep us here.
4. Local business owners invest in their community. Local businesses are owned by people who live locally and are more invested in the community’s future.
5. Customer service is more personal. Pullman businesses are closer to the customer and tend to form personal and lasting bonds with their customer base.
6. Competition and diversity lead to more choices. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based on the needs of their local customers and not on a national sales plan, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.
7. Local business has a lighter environmental impact. Shopping in Pullman is more energy efficient, requiring shorter travel distances. Local businesses also make more local purchases, thus reducing the overall carbon footprint of goods sold.
8. Public benefits far outweigh public costs. Local businesses require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services than most “big box” stores or national chains.
9. Local businesses encourage investment in the community. A growing body of economic research shows that entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
10. Non-profits receive greater support. Non-profit organizations receive an average 350% greater support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.

Call to Artists!

Our area of eastern Washington and northern Idaho, the Palouse Region, grows a quarter of the lentils in the United States. Since 1989, the National Lentil Festival has celebrated this wonderful little legume that is consumed by people all over the world. We invite you to explore our website and welcome you to join us for the National Lentil Festival August 16-17, 2013

Calling all artists! The National Lentil Festival is seeking artwork for the 2013 festival poster and merchandise! Click here for details – but hurry! The deadline for submissions is November 16th!

2012 Festival Poster – Artwork by Jacqueline Daisley

Lentil Fest Poster Artists

Calling all artists! The National Lentil Festival is looking for artwork for the 2013 festival poster! Visit www.lentilfest.com for details on submitting your artwork. The deadline for submissions is FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16TH, so don't delay!!

Chocolate Decadence

At Home Designs – Framing it UP!

Shop Pullman First kicks off with Chocolate Decadence, November 8th, 4-7pm. Hundreds of shoppers will enjoy FREE chocolate samples and other holiday treats from over 30 participating businesses. Get your official Shop Pullman First – Holiday Shopping Guide on Nov. 8th, brought to you by the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and Moscow-Pullman Daily News,  which will include a map of all the delicious chocolate stops! While you eat and shop, make sure to check out the WSU Visual Merchandising Displays and enter to win a Home for the Holidays Prize Pack! The drawing will be held on December 1st at our annual Holiday Fest celebration in Pine Street Plaza!

Follow us on Facebook for real time updates during the event!

DOWNLOAD YOUR Official Chocolate Map!

2012 CHOCOLATE STOPS:
WSU Visual Merchandising Display spots
Merry Cellars – 1300 NE Henley Ct

Sugar Britches – 1275 N Grand Ave Snap Fitness – 745 N Grand Ave
Ric-O-Shay – 118 N Grand Ave
Farmers Insurance – 102 W Main St

Gladish Community and Cultural Center – 115 NW State St Prune Orchard – 107 S Grand Ave
Flirt – 107 S Grand Ave
Daily Grind – 230 E Main St
Neill’s Flowers & Gifts – 234 E Main St

Design Effects – 236 E Main St A Wrinkle in Time – 242 E Main St
At Home Designs – Framing it UP! – 250 E Main St
Sam Dial Jewelers – 255 E Main St
Lily Bee’s Consignment Shop – 400 E Main St
Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters – 400 E Main St

Subway – 460 E Main St Glassphemy – 135 Kamiaken St
Old European – 455 S Grand Ave
Chipman & Taylor Chevrolet – 250 SE Bishop Blvd
Wild Ivy – 275 SE Bishop Blvd

Ace Hardware – 1690 S Grand Ave Great Clips – 690 SE Bishop Blvd
Sid’s Pharmacy – 825 SE Bishop Blvd
Crimson & Gray – 1096 SE Bishop Blvd
Sweet Mutiny – 1195 SE Bishop Blvd
Barnes & Noble “The Bookie” – WSU CUB, 1500 NE Terrell Mall

Visit our Pinterest boards for more!

 

 The Beautiful Palouse

 

Chamber Updates

You may have noticed that there hasn't been a post in a while......well, we've been quite busy here at the Pullman Chamber of Commerce!  And it only gets better and better all the time.
After our 4th of July Celebration, we cruised right into the National Lentil Festival.  By itself, the festival keeps us busy with planning, signing up vendors, organizing volunteers, taking care of permits, purchasing festival supplies, and hiring musicians.  Amberly, the Chamber's Events Coordinator, did a spectacular job of keeping us on track and making sure all the logistics were taken care of.  AND she gave birth to her second son right in the middle of it all!
National Lentil Festival also falls, by design, on the Week of Welcome to the students of Washington State University.  Students, parents, and staff all come back to welcome and begin the new school year.  Together, we praise the lentil and farmers who work so hard to put good food on all our tables.  And we have a good time doing it!
With WSU academia, there also comes football. This year has been an exciting one with the anticipation of a winning team with our new coach, Mike Leach, and the state of the art renovation of Martin Stadium.  To help celebrate the football team, we have increased our First Down Friday celebrations.  This tailgating event is being held in different locations throughout Pullman, and the events are all a bit different, but the theme is the same "GO COUGS!"  Visit Pullman Chamber's website or our facebook page to get specifics on each event, and plan on joining us for some fun before the game.
The Pullman Farmers Market continued each Wednesday through the close of the season on October 17th.  We have seen growth in attendance this season and the vendors are all talking about the return and some changes for the 2013 season.
Pullman has had several new businesses open recently: Red Bento, Birch & Barley, Miss Maggie's Antiques, Nomad's Hookah Lounge, Airway Hills Golf, Whiskey Barrel Cider Company and Washington Trust Bank, to name a few.  Dirt is moving on a few new buildings as well, and with each new business, we watch our community grow and prosper.
Along with our events that bring visitors into town, we have seen several seminars and workshops aimed at helping our businesses in their work.  Starting with the new entrepreneur, we had a SCORE workshop on "How to Start Your Own Business".  SCORE also offered "Sales and Marketing for Your Business" and we will continue this series through the spring.  Every second Tuesday of the month......check online for more workshops. Pullman Chamber Calendar of Events
The Pullman Chamber is partnering with the Moscow Chamber and the LEDC (Latah Economic Development Council) to bring a "Social Media Bootcamp" to Pullman in January.  This promises to be a great workshop with social media specialist Josh Wade of Nectar Media.
As we celebrate our 95th Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet this week, I stop to thank Pullman and surrounding communities for investing in our towns and county.  The Pullman Chamber has benefited greatly by our business owners, large and small, and hope that we can continue our work together through the decades.  We continue to strive to make Pullman a better place to live, work AND do business!
Ex Dir~Marie Dymkoski

Don't you just love a makeover????

We have had a makeover here at the Chamber Office! I am not sure how old the carpeting in this place was but it was definitely past its prime and headed right into disgusting. :(  So we packed up everything in the office with the help of Pratt Mayflower. (They were fabulous and if I was moving they would be my first call!) Why do we never throw anything out until have to start moving it around? Anyway once we had the office cleared out the carpet installers showed up and got right to work. Joanne Anderson at Design Effects did a great job helping us pick out carpet and paint. The carpet was installed over a Friday afternoon and Saturday so we came in Monday morning to new carpet and that lovely new carpet smell. We spend Monday morning painting walls and Monday afternoon Pratt Mayflower returned with all of our goodies. Why does it take so much longer to put things back together? We had it torn down in about a half day but putting it back together has taken soooooo much longer! We are finally about finished with the renovation (most of them anyway) and it is so wonderful. It looks great and it smells new and we are very happy. I would be doing makeovers all the time if they weren't so much work. :)  Come see our new look.
Debbie ~ Office Manager

New Wine Tasting Tour Video Out!

Click here to view this video

Be sure and check out the new Quad Cities Wine Tasting Tour Video. Many thanks to all the participants who helped make it happen! And stay tuned for one about our local breweries and new hard cider company.

Garden Tourism is Flourishing!

Garden tourism is a type of niche tourism involving visits or travel to botanical gardens and places which are significant in the history of gardening.  Europe has known this for years and has built an extensive million dollar industry around tours to various historical gardens. Surveys show 70% of these visitors are more interested in the gardens than in the homes.

I LOVE to visit gardens when I travel. There is a natural affinity for people who garden. Some think it is a pastime for retirees, but glance around any garden center and you will find young families and single adults gardening. And gardening is a voyeuristic sport - we like to look at other people's gardens!

On my recent vacation to California I jumped at the chance to visit a peony garden, and yes - I bought one to bring home, even though the climate here is different. Some things you just have to take a chance on. The flowers there were unusual and beautiful, the setting was well worth the drive. And new ideas for garden art were around every corner.

Here on the Palouse, garden tourism is alive and well. We are fortunate to have the beautiful Lawson Gardens right here in Pullman. The roses are a special treat in late June. A visit to U of I Arboretum in Moscow is great any time of the year. Bring your old bread crumbs to feed the ducks. If you were lucky enough this spring to stop by Living in The Garden, on Hwy 27 on the way to Palouse, you were sure to get some inspiration. Gorgeous flowers surrounded by relaxing music and a great gift shop. Again, a beautiful setting well worth the drive. Too bad their season is so short. They are only open April to July 1st.  Right now is when Sunshine Flowers & Crafts is just coming into its own. You can "stop and smell the flowers" and fill a bucket with fresh blooms for just $7. They are located off the Old Moscow Highway.

Community gardens offer a different kind of visit. Here you can get ideas for everything from flowers and herbs to vegetables and fruit trees. I was recently at a wedding in Seattle held in a community garden and was stunned by the fabulous bee hive they keep there -- it was really a bee palace! Koppel Farms here in Pullman offers the same chance to see what grows well in our climate. A great help when you are new to the area. Sunnyside Park also offers garden plots.

I am pleased to see plans in the future for WSU's Arboretum and Wildlife Conservation Center. This 100 acre landscape already contains a naturalized forest grove. And when completed it will be a wonderful addition to Pullman.

There is good reason to take garden tourism seriously. A recent study conducted by the National Garden Festival in Buffalo and Western New York shows:

• 19% visited other area attractions while there
• 83% ate at least one meal in a local restaurant
• 30% did some shopping during their visit
• Average expenditure during their visit was $67.82 per day (I spend that easily at every garden center I visit!)

So, even when you are traveling - you can still garden!

Vicki Leeper
Tourism Director

Pullman ArtWalk

This year's Pullman ArtWalk is going REGIONAL! 

An exciting lineup of local artists, family events and customer appreciation sales await you during the 2012 Pullman ArtWalk. Bringing communities together from Rosalia to Colfax, Palouse to Uniontown, art work from local artisans is on display at participating businesses during regular business hours. Use the maps enclosed in this program to explore the variety of locations, mediums and textures on display.

We are very pleased to bring to you this year's collaborative "regional" ArtWalk. Whitman County is ripe with unique artists and the Pullman ArtWalk is a chance for many of our smaller towns to participate in a collaborative event to showcase the towns and people, and to highlight and bring our communities together. 

Hundreds of visitors spent time browsing the shops, viewing the art and speaking with the artists last year all during one night of receptions. This year, by popular demand, we've extended the party to not only reach around Whitman County, but to indulge our whims with receptions and gatherings all week long. 

In keeping with the essence of the long-running history of Pullman's Crazy Days, businesses are eager to show their customer appreciation throughout the week with barbecues, store specials and great discounts. Dissmore's IGA will have its yearly customer appreciation Thursday evening and Pullman Building Supply will have hot dogs and goodies Saturday, July 21. The Pullman Farmers Market will be hosting Palouse Women Artists along with a wine tasting by Wawawai Canyon Winery on Wednesday and many other businesses will have specials and discounts throughout the week. 

The Second Annual Mayor's Award recipient is Richard "Dick" Domey. Domey has made many outstanding contributions to our community through and for the arts. In 2003, Dick was recognized as one of four "community treasures" for their work enhancing the Gladish Community and Cultural Center. He is also a strong advocate for the arts in education. The Mayor's Award is given as a recognition of arts in our community and sponsored by Mayor Glenn Johnson. Last year's recipient was ArtWalk creator and artist, Carrie Vielle. 

It has been a pleasure organizing the 2012 Pullman Regional ArtWalk for you. We thank you for your part in keeping the arts alive in our community and joining us in discovering the unity in our communities.

Ex Dir~Marie Dymkoski

Life as an Event Coordinator...

First, I apologize for the delay in getting new information on our blog! It has been "my turn" to post for quite some time now and between getting ready for Pullman's 4th of July Celebration, continuously working and thinking about the National Lentil Festival, making plans for our First Down Friday events and getting ready to have a baby who is due July 31st, my time to write has been limited to say the least! However, as my email program is slow to work this morning, I decided now was as good a time as any to do a little writing. :)

Speaking of the different events we have coming up here at the Pullman Chamber, it's such an interesting life taking the lead on so many different events that happen throughout the year. Something we all joke about in our office is that we never know what time of year it is because we are all constantly thinking AT LEAST 2 months in advance!

For example, I remember back in February feeling like the year was already flying by so fast because it was almost April! Now, why would I think that, you ask? Well, at the time I was getting the Lentil Festival vendor applications updated and ready to be posted to our website by our published date of April 1st. Because that is what I worked on most of the time I was at work, it was like my mind thought it WAS April!

And let me tell you, this sort of thing can really start playing tricks on you. For one thing, it seems like the weather has taken FOREVER to get warm and sunny! While I know that is true for everyone to an extent this year, when you are thinking in February that the weather should be starting to turn to spring, it makes it quite a bit worse (especially for sun-worshipers like me!!)

Not to mention, I am also always thinking of things I want to make sure and do for the 2013 National Lentil Festival because, if you can believe it, it's already too late to incorporate many new ideas I think of at this point in the year! When you are thinking about things that far in advance, the year 2020 doesn't seem that far away! I just have to constantly remind myself  not to get lost in the future and take time to enjoy the present. This is especially true when it comes to getting ready for that new baby I mentioned before. :)

~Amberly, Event Coordinator

Green, Greener, Greenest

The Palouse in Spring is a study in green. Looking out over the landscape I am amazed at how many different shades of green are visible. Even in the cloudy rainy weather we are having today the greens just pop out at you. As I was driving north the other day the sun was shining with a few clouds in the sky and the scenery was so gorgeous it nearly took my breath away. The sun on the hills with some areas shaded made the colors look almost unreal. I have received many calls at the Chamber Office in the last 2 months asking what month is best for photographers to visit the Palouse. My standard answer has been to ask the caller what they are looking for because we have something wonderful in every season. The brilliant colors of spring or the harvest colors of late summer and fall or the winter colors of brown and white are all beautiful and interesting and unique. People may have a favorite season or may love all of the seasons. I love this time of year but I am also looking forward to summer, fall, and winter! That is why I live here in one of the most beautiful places on earth. When fielding these calls I ask the caller for an address and then send them our photography guide to help them decide when to visit. I don't want to be responsible for deciding the best time to visit...I also can't predict the weather!    Debbie ~ Office Manager

NETWORKING SUPER POWERS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

You may be surprised to know that I am shy. People usually are. They see me speaking at a luncheon or Chamber function. It's much easier to speak to a room of people who are interested  in what I have to say (at lease I think they are) than it is at a cocktail reception or business after hours where I have to make small talk. If I had to network that way for my own small business, I would be terrible.

Yet, networking is vital for your business. And there is tremendous value in this collaboration for our local tourism industry. Our rural community is increasingly seen as a place for entertainment, leisure activities, and an alternative to a busy urban area. Visitor requests for information are more than three times what it was at this time last year. We can thank the beautiful cultural heritage of the Palouse region for this increased interest and can use this identity marker as a means to promote our farm products, cottage industries and other local producers through rural tourism.

Using our heritage for promotion is not only a fashionable trend right now, but also shows a community's social, economic and political determination. We are discovering a new-found interest for our own rural identity, and as tourists come into the area, they buy local products, eat in local restaurants and represent a sizeable source of income.




Visitors are intrigued when a restaurant features locally grown products or a boutique hotel has locally made lotions and soaps in each room. Let's work on promoting the region as a whole! This requires building these business relationships between grower/manufacturer and retail. The Pullman Chamber offers many networking options each month to get out and hobnob with other business owners - meetings, luncheons, and after-hours. What a great way to find that new product for your business, or a new way to incorporate the Palouse into your business identity.

And if your shy? Do what I do and check out the daily posts on the Chamber's facebook page and be armed with a current topic to talk about!

Vicki,
Tourism Director

Visitor Education

There are many things about being the Executive Director of the Pullman Chamber I enjoy.  The community members, business owners, and students that we work with, the visitors that reach out to us for information about Pullman and our region, and the co-workers and volunteers that make going to work so much fun.

The diversity in what we do and the day to day surprises are what keep me excited about going to work.  Every day brings new adventures and new inquiries.  With those questions, usually comes education for all of us here at the Chamber office.  I would venture to say that no visitor leaves here without a great understanding of our community, our region and our university.  If a visitor asks about something that one staff member can't answer, it's easy for one or another of us to jump in to help.  With that collaboration comes learning more about our area from each other.  Hence, the education!

We also learn from our visitors.  We learn that Pullman is, indeed, a safe and welcoming place.  Several times a week we have guests tell us how much we've helped them and how friendly we all are.  Often we have visitors who are here for a few hours while their pet is at the Veterinary Hospital or maybe even a few days to visit the campus or friends and family.  They stop in and are welcomed by a friendly and knowledgeable staff who send them out with maps, brochures, ideas, and of course, smiles.

We've been visited by a bicyclist who started in western Washington and was traveling across the country to Florida.  He camped in Pullman and shared with us his musical talents playing his accordion in our office.   Another visitor shared with us the sad story of the two dogs she was bringing to the Vet hospital.  Both were going through cancer treatments and she was renting a home to stay in for the extended stay.  She appreciated having a friendly and sympathetic ear to talk to. And yet another time we had a mens' quartet stop in to sing us a few songs before heading out to a paying job.  Oh, the variety of visitors~

Each of the staff here at the office has specific jobs that we do to keep the Pullman Chamber of Commerce working like a well-oiled machine, but together we work to make sure our visitors and tourists to Pullman enjoy their stop and want to come back soon.  I think we do a great job!

Marie~ExDir

Social Media Revolution

Back in March, Vicki and I attended the WFEA (Washington Festivals and Events Association) Conference representing the National Lentil Festival and Pullman Chamber of Commerce. We learned a lot about what is happening in the worlds of festivals, events and tourism in Washington State, but one thing that really caught my attention was the emphasis on social media in both the workshops and casual conversation between the conference attendees. Even though I was in college during the "birth of Facebook" and many other social media sites, it was very eye opening to me how much social media is being used in the BUSINESS WORLD! Until then, I had thought of social media as something that was used primarily on a personal level.

I have had a personal Facebook account since it first became available at WSU - as you know in it's beginnings Facebook was only available to college students and only to a limited number of schools. My boyfriend at the time (now my husband of 5 years) was going to school at USC and was able to get a Facebook account a lot sooner than I was and I was so jealous! But I digress... :)

Now, of course, almost anyone or any organization can create a Facebook account. However, as I said, I  had no idea how social media was really being used for marketing purposes until I went to this conference. While I could provide pages and pages of information I picked up on this topic, I think a better way to get the initial idea across is to share this video that was played during several different sessions I attended at the conference.


As business owners and operators, employees, sales people, event planners and individuals, I think this video is a must see! :)

~ Amberly, Event Coordinator

Drive Safely on the Palouse

All of the rain the Palouse received in March has made the recent warm, sunny weather even more welcome. The warm weather also brings out all kinds of vehicles traveling on our highways and rural roads. The bikers, both bicycle and motorcycle, have been out and about in the nice weather. I have also noticed farm equipment on the roadways moving from field to field. It is a beautiful time of year and also a great time to think about your driving habits. Driving safely is important all of the time but something about the spring weather seems to make us all carefree and perhaps a bit more distracted when driving. The months of May and June will be filled with graduation ceremonies and outdoor celebrations. Lots of visitors to the area will be out and about looking at our beautiful scenery. As you drive through our neighborhoods and small towns be aware of the visitors, bikers, walkers, and children who are out and about enjoying the sunshine.
PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY!
Debbie ~ Office Manager

No More Rinse and Repeat

This is something you should really ponder. The tourism and event industry, like any business, is facing changes. People are no longer happy with the "same old, same old," and we need to try new, creative approaches that leave an impact. One example is your website. If it's look hasn't changed in the last two years, you can consider it outdated. Pay attention to Pinterest. Most likely you are one of the followers on Pinterest.com or the similar Gentlemint.com (like Pinterest for dudes). This new format is the wave of the future. People want their information "bite sized" and visual. Pinterest does just that. You can choose your entry point and dive right in.

So take a look at your website. Is it text-laden? How long are your emails? What are you doing to share your information more visually? How much video is on your site? I have spent the last couple months loading close to 200 photos on the Chamber website, and that is still not enough. We need video. Youtube is the second largest search engine in the world. People want and expect video. So I started simple, adding photos to every article (like this one!) and I hope to shoot short, 2 minute videos this summer to post instead of wordy articles.

It's media snacking and it's here to stay.

Lentils are tiny but mighty, easy to make into a meal

from The News Tribune-Tacoma, WA

You gotta love the lentil. The small, lens-shaped legume lets its showy cousins, the bean and the pea, take the spotlight. But cooks the world over know that lentils are an easy and quick preparation with a unique flavor. This is a food that plays well with others. From a nutritional standpoint, lentils are hard to beat. High in fiber and protein they also are loaded with folic acid, iron, phosphorus and potassium, according to the Mayo Clinic. Lentils also are low on the glycemic index.
The flavor and texture of lentils are distinct from other legumes, but hard to describe. Joel Mertens, executive chef of X Group Restaurants and Catering in Tacoma, said the flavor has an earthiness with an almost meaty texture. Like most chefs, he appreciates the lentil’s ability to meld with other flavors and uses them in a wide variety of dishes. Mertens makes a popular lentil side dish, perked up with bacon, at X Group’s Asado restaurant.
“Lentils remind me of my childhood when my mother would make lentil and sausage soup ... the smell of the kitchen and the memories of being called into the house for dinner from playing outside in the tree house,” Mertens said.
Olympia food and features writer Stacee Sledge makes lentil tacos for her husband and two kids. “I love that it’s a healthier version of the greasy beef and taco seasoning packet recipe I grew up on in Iowa. Substituting lentils for beef means no guilt, it’s cheaper to make, and tastes just as yummy. Call me a convert.”
The Palouse region of Washington and Idaho grows 25 percent of the lentils in the United States, according to Pete Klaiber, director of marketing for the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council. The organization supports agricultural research, product research and marketing.
Klaiber works for both the Washington and Idaho commissions of the national council. But, by design, his commute between the two takes just moments.
“The state line runs through my office,” Klaiber said. The office was purposely built on the border to satisfy requirements that each state’s commission have offices in its own state. Visitors know they’ve driven too far if they see the “Welcome to Idaho” or “Welcome to Washington” signs on the road between Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho.
Lentils are so big in the Palouse that Pullman holds an annual National Lentil Festival each August.
Festival director Amberly Boone said the event started 24 years ago because, “It was a wonderful bragging point for Pullman and something we should celebrate. Not just Pullman, but the whole Palouse.”
The festival kicks off with a 350-gallon bowl of lentil chili ladled up free to festival goers. “It’s actually stirred by a canoe paddle,” Boone said.
It gets stranger. Festival goers can enjoy a lentil pancake breakfast and top off their meal with lentil ice cream. “It’s good though. It really is,” Boone insisted.
The festival also features the Legendary Lentil Cook-off. Last year, 118 recipes were submitted. Though some are on the fringes of the culinary world, most reflect what lentils are known for: soup, chili, salads and side dishes.
Though gaining in popularity in the U.S., more lentils are exported than consumed here. Klaiber said 70 percent of the Palouse crop is exported, mainly to India and Spain.
David Weitz, the manager of Steve and son Kevin Mader’s farm just outside Pullman, ships a good portion of their lentil crop overseas. “They are a big protein replacement. Vegetarians love them. The biggest buyers are in India,” Weitz said.
The six-generation Mader farm grows a few hundred acres of lentils a year consisting of seven to 10 varieties. Lentils come in a variety of sizes and colors including yellow, pink, green and brown. It’s the brown that’s putting Washington on the lentil map.
“The Palouse region is a niche growing area for Pardina, a Spanish brown lentil,” Weitz said. Consumers can buy the smallish lentils under the farm’s Palouse Brand on Amazon.com and in a few select stores. Though the Maders grow a variety of legumes, their other “hot” crop is garbanzo beans. “Garbs are taking over,” Weitz said.
Because the Maders both grow and package their lentils, they have added a QR code to their packaging that allows consumers to determine when the crop they are purchasing was harvested and even locate the exact field it was grown in via Google Maps.
“One of the things grocery managers are always telling us is that people want to know where their food is coming from,” said Sara Mader, vice-president of sales and wife of Kevin.
The waist-high lentil plants are grown in fields much like alfalfa. After the pods mature, the plants are left to dry. They are then mechanically harvested, usually in August.
One of the lentil’s appeal is its quick prep and cooking time. Unlike beans and other legumes, lentils do not require presoaking, only washing. After that they cook in 15 to 30 minutes.
Though lentils come in a wide range of types, the newbie lentil cook can start with three main varieties:
Brown lentils: These soften easily, making them ideal for soups.
Green (French) lentils: These stay firmer when cooked and have a more distinct flavor. Use in salads.
Red lentils: A pretty pink when dried, they turn yellow when cooked. With a mild and sweeter taste, they are used in purees and Indian daals.
Craig Sailor: 253-597-8541
craig.sailor@thenewstribune.com
RECIPES
Lentil Tacos
1 finely chopped yellow onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup dried brown lentils, rinsed
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Toppings:
fresh salsa
sour cream
shredded cheddar cheese
Saute onion and garlic in olive oil until softened. Add lentils, chili powder, cumin and oregano, then cook and stir for a minute or two.
Add broth and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Check lentils for doneness at 35 minutes; it can take as much as 45 minutes. Uncover and cook for a few minutes until any remaining moisture dissipates.
The lentil preparation can be used in tacos, burritos or tostadas.
Swirl a bit of sour cream onto a tortilla and then heap about 1/4 cup of the lentil mixture on top of that. Top with a bit of shredded cheddar and a dollop of salsa. Sliced red onion can make a flavorful and colorful garnish.
Source: Stacee Sledge
Marinated Lentilles du Puy
Yield: 4 servings
Vegetable oil
3 medium red beets with greens
2 cups dried French green lentils (lentilles du Puy)
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 bay leaf
1 cinnamon stick
8 cups vegetable stock, chicken stock or water
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup store-bought citrus vinaigrette or homemade orange vinaigrette (see note), divided
Salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
1 large or 2 small heads romaine lettuce, leaves washed and dried
3 medium oranges, peeled, seeded and sectioned
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat the bottom and sides of a shallow baking dish with vegetable oil.
Trim the leaves from the beets, discarding any bruised or rotten leaves. Set the greens aside. Scrub each beet and place in the prepared baking dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake until beets are fork-tender, about 1 hour. Let the beets cool to room temperature, then slip them out of their skins and slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds.
Meanwhile, cook the lentils. Combine lentils, garlic, bay leaf, cinnamon stick and stock in a large pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer and let cook, covered, until lentils are almost tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
Trim away and discard the tough stems from beet greens. Stack the leaves, roll them into a tight cylinder, and cut them crosswise into 1/4-inch ribbons. Add the sliced beet greens to the lentils, and continue cooking until the lentils are fully tender, but still hold their shape, about 10 minutes more.
Drain off excess liquid, and discard bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Transfer lentils to a large bowl; let cool to room temperature.
Toss the red onion into the lentils. Make sure the vinaigrette is fully combined and add 1/2 cup to the lentil mixture, tossing well to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then cover and refrigerate.
In another bowl, toss beets with the remaining 1/4 cup dressing. Cover and chill. Recipe can be prepared to this point up to 2 days in advance.
About an hour before serving, bring the beets and the lentil mixture to room temperature. When ready to serve, place romaine lettuce leaves on one large plate or divide among 4 small serving plates. Overlap beets on top of romaine, mound the lentil salad over that, and scatter orange sections and toasted walnuts on top.
Note: To make your own orange vinaigrette, combine the juice and grated zest of 1 orange, 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1 clove pressed garlic, 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well to combine, then taste and add more sweetener if desired. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 10 days. Yield: 3/4 cup.
Source: Adapted from “Bean by Bean” by Crescent Dragonwagon (Workman, 2012)
Punjabi Special Daal
1/2 cup whole Urad daal (black beans)
1/2 cup whole Munghi daal (green mung beans)
2 tablespoon Red Rajma (red kidney beans)
1/4 cup Chana daal (yellow lentils)
1 tablespoon fresh garlic paste
1 tablespoon ginger paste
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 onion chopped
1 tomato chopped
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala
Red chili powder and salt, to taste
2 tablespoon oil
2 tablespoons butter
Chopped cilantro leaves to garnish
Mix all daals (beans and lentils) together and wash well.
Put daals in a pot and add water, salt and turmeric powder.
Cook on high heat to boil and then cook daal until soft, about 45-50 minutes on medium heat.
In a pan heat oil, add cumin seeds, garlic and ginger pastes and fry until light brown. Add onions and fry until golden brown. Then add tomatoes and fry till soft. Then add masala and fry for just a moment.
Add cooked daal and stir on medium heat. Remove from heat when it boils. Add butter and garnish daal with cilantro leaves.
Serve hot with naan, roti, paratha (flat breads) and rice.
Source: Amarjit Randhawa; India Mahal, indiamahal.com, 253-272-5700
Lentil Salad with Warm Goat Cheese
Serves 4 or 5
1 5-ounce log of quality fresh goat cheese, such as Laura Chenel
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1 cup French green lentils
1 teapoon salt
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1/2 cup finely minced celery
1/2 cup finely minced carrot
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup snipped chives, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
12 slices baguette, cut diagonally
Cut goat cheese into 4 or 5 equal pieces and place in a baking dish just large enough to hold them. Cover with 1-1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.
Put the lentils in a saucepan and add cold water to cover by 1-inch. Add the salt and the thyme sprigs, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Adjust the heat to a low simmer and cook until lentils are just tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and remove thyme.
While lentils are cooking, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the celery, carrot, and garlic and saute until softened, about 5 minutes.
In a bowl, combine the drained lentils, sauteed vegetables, remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup chives, 2 tablespoons vinegar, and salt and pepper to tast.
Preheat broiler. Toast baguette slices on both sides.
Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake the goat cheese until they are warm and jiggle a little when touched, about 6 to 8 minutes. Divide lentils among 4 or 5 plates. With a spatula, place a warm goat cheese round on each mound of lentils. Top with a bit of snipped chives and drizzle of oil from the baking dish. Put 2 or 3 toasts on each plate and serve immediately.
Source: Leann Willard, Bayview School of Cooking
Asado Bacon Stewed Lentils
Yields: 4 servings
4 ounces bacon, chopped
4 ounces red onion, diced small
1 and 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 ounces white wine
34 cup dry red lentils
1 teaspoon chicken base
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon maple syrup
14 cup green onions thinly sliced thin
Salt and pepper to taste
Saute bacon until brown and almost crispy. Add onions and cook them until soft. Add chicken base. Deglaze with wine and add lentils. Add chicken broth, stir in seasonings, stirring periodically. When lentils are al dente, add syrup, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
When liquid is absorbed, stir in green onions and serve.
Source: Joel Mertens, X Group Restaurants and Catering (Asado, Masa, Engine House No. 9, Choripan by Asado; xgrouprestaurants.com/
Caramel Lentil Brownies with Sea Salt
1 cup cooked lentil puree
2 cups flour
2-13 cup sugar, divided
34 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
12 cup water
12 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoon vanilla, divided
12 cup caramel ice cream topping
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 egg
Sea salt for sprinkling
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir flour, 2 cups of the sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Beat in water, oil, lentil puree and half of the vanilla. Pour into a greased 9-by-13 baking dish.
In a small bowl, beat remaining sugar with caramel topping, cream cheese, egg and remaining teaspoon of vanilla. Swirl through brownie batter with a knife.
Bake 25-30 minutes, or until a knife tests clean when inserted into center. Sprinkle with sea salt. Allow to cool, then cut into squares and serve.
Source: Joni Hilton, The National Lentil Festival

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/21/v-lite/2075952/tiny-but-mighty.html#storylink=cpy

Tase T. Lentil makes an appearance in Illinois!

Tase T. Lentil, Chel C. Chickpea and Dan D. Pea

The National Lentil Festival is proud to announce that Tase T. Lentil and his friends Dan D. Pea and Chel C. Chickpea were recently included in the Illinois Child Care Bureau News about national nutrition month!

The Illinois Child Care Bureau is a sponsoring agency of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and supports licensed day care home providers and working parents with young children. In their March newsletter there was an article titled "Offer More Cooked Dry Beans or Dry Peas as a Meat Alternate" containing information about cooking with dry peas, lentils and chickpeas. The article featured characters Tase T. Lentil, Dan D. Pea and Chel C. Chickpea and gave home day care providers many excellent ideas for serving dry beans and peas to children. You can view the newsletter here!

Congratulations to Tase T., Dan D., and Chel C. on this national coverage! :)

~Amberly, Event Coordinator

Anticipation

With each new RSVP, every new donation, and all of the fun ideas flying around the office the anticipation is building! Cabaret, the Chamber's Premier Fundraising Event, is only a few short weeks away! We here at the Chamber are working hard to put on another fabulous event with dinner, dancing, silent auction, and verbal auction. So much of the fun is seeing all of the great auction items that have been donated by businesses and members. We are so fortunate to have such generous donors who support us every year. If you haven't made your reservations yet please give me a call @ 509-334-3565. Then dig out your Beatles gear from the 60's and 70's and get ready to have a great time! Debbie~Office Manager

Playing Tourist

I had the opportunity to "play" tourist in La Grande, Oregon a few weekends ago. We had a couple of basketball games to see at Eastern Oregon University and had some time to kill in between. Sound familiar? How many other families are faced with the exact same situation  when coming to Pullman?

I haven't played the tourist in while, despite tourism being my occupation. And I had forgotton how much fun it can be! Just relaxing, discovering new things, being with my family without the usual distractions -- it was a blast. My first stop was to pick up the Visitor Guide. After reading it through, cover to cover (while my son played in the hotel pool) I decided on 3 must see's during our visit. We saw a museum, ate in several great restaurants, and saw wild elk being fed up close and personal.

I can't say enough about a visitor guide being a passport to somewhere new. In Pullman, we live here 24/7 and may think this info unecessary. But for a visitor, having a guide can be the difference between a so-so visit and a great visit. I may have found some things on my own, certainly I would have found the museum. But the dining guide was indispensible. And that was the last weekend for elk feeding for the season, we may have missed that altogether.

So take a look at Pullman's Visitor Guide. If you see any errors, or anything that has been accidentally omitted, please let us know, and we can correct it for next year. And I will trust that if a visitor has it in hand they will enjoy their visit here!

The value of a Chamber of Commerce

Recently I took my five year old grandson to Coeur d'Alene to spend the day.  I was looking forward to a day planned for a young boy and his GrandMarie that might be out of the ordinary and something we'd both remember for quite some time.
My first thought of course, was to go to the CDA Chamber website and search for children's' activities.  I have gone to the lake city each year of my life, so I know there are many fun things to do, however, most of them are to be done in warm sunny weather!
Imagine my disappointment when I found that so many of the places I wanted more information about were not chamber members!  I already knew about Silverwood (which isn't even IN CDA) and Triple Play, but nothing else was listed on their website for children.
I went to Facebook and asked my 'friends' what they would do with a few hours in Coeur d'Alene and received some promising suggestions!  I went back to the chamber directory to search for specific names of places that were suggested, and sure enough.....not chamber members.  This was very disappointing to me for a number of reasons. First, where is the support from the local businesses for what the chamber does for tourism and business advocacy?  Second, why wouldn't a business want to be listed in one place that is searched by visitors everywhere?  How could I find the Kroc Center by a name that I didn't even know?  How would I know the coolest toy store (more about that later!) by the name Figpickles Toy Emporium?  Both of these places completely missed the boat by not belonging to the CDA Chamber, in my opinion.  It took me quite a while to find the names of these two businesses and to get information on them.  With one click on a web directory, I should have been able to find both of these under 'family activities' if they had belonged to the chamber.
My further disappointment has less to do with chamber membership, but more to do with good business.   After searching the web and finding a one page information sheet, with only a phone number listed, I dialed up the number.  It was a Sunday evening, so I was prepared for an answering machine, but hoped to be given some information on where they were located and their hours.  Again, disappointment.  No website information, no voice mail information.  I should have given up there.  While continuing my search for the toy store (and believe me, it was a lot of work to search for) I found that they had a page on Facebook.  I got excited when I saw the photos of the place!  My grandson was going to love it!  I checked on the address and found that their hours included Monday's.  Oh boy!  Finally, I got the information I needed, and while I was still frustrated with their lack of chamber membership, this was going to be a highlight for me and my grandson.
After picking up "G" on Monday morning, we went to a local restaurant for our start to the day: breakfast.  I told him all about our upcoming day with swimming at the Kroc Center and a visit to the coolest toy store ever.  He was so pumped!  He ate most of his breakfast and climbed excitedly back into my van to visit this cool store.  We practically ran to the store front and we were stopped in our tracks as I reached for the front door handle and it doesn't budge.  The door is locked.  The lights are all off.  The sign on the door states their hours.  Monday is listed as closed.  Poop.  This is about the time that I'm fed up with Figpickles Toy Emporium.  I grab my smart phone and give some smart advise to them on their facebook page.  List your hours correctly, update your voice message, and join your local chamber.  I hope they got the message.
Marie~ExDir