Happy Spring and a profitable visitor season to all!

The tulip and iris plants have been growing inches a day and the snow is mostly gone from the shelter belts. We’re working outside in long sleeves instead of the three layers of winter! Blessed Spring!!!

We had a super board retreat and meeting at Buffalo Rock Lodge just before Easter. Officers were elected and board positions filled. Thank you to all of you who agreed to support the Association with your time as well as your dues.

The main focus of our association is to market our members in the Bed and Breakfast Industry. We do this by promoting our members on our brochure, through our www.southdakotabb.com web site, through www.bbonline.com/sd/bbisd, and through cooperative advertising with the South Dakota Department of Tourism. The Marketing Committee and the Board have been putting together a marketing plan to promote the INN-Route in South Dakota. You’ve heard about it at our January Conference and have noticed the logo on our 2007 BBISD brochure. But there’s still more. Sara Steever at Steever House is collecting information from our membership on the “Best Kept Secrets” in our areas. It’s each B&B’s responsibility to get that information to Sara. So, when you’re asked for it, assemble it and send it in ASAP! It’s a great marketing opportunity.

Another agenda item at the Retreat was a look at the By-Laws and the need for clarification of the duties of the Board members. A committee has been assembled to address the issue. We’re hoping to have everything put together and the By-Laws along with the suggested revisions to our entire membership before our Annual Meeting in January. At that meeting, we’ll vote on the changes recommended.

Our guests have been enjoying recipes from the new cookbook. We sure like the variety that it’s added to our menus. Hope you’ve had an opportunity to try them, too.

We had guests last week who had difficulty finding our home. We had e-mailed them their confirmation as well as a map. It turned out that they were able to print only 1/2 of the map. We were so glad they told us. It made us aware that written directions as well as a map are necessary when directing guests to our home. BBISD needs your direction as well. We value your ideas and opinions so contact us with your suggestions.

The BBISD Board will be holding its Fall meeting as a Conference Call. Watch your e-mail for the time and date.

BBISD has put advertising in place for the coming Tourism Season. Our best wishes to you on a successful year.