by Travis Mateer
While I’m not really clear what a publisher of a corporate appendage like the Missoulian actually does, I do appreciate some of Jim Strauss’ tweets, like this one:
Networking in ANY community is very important, and Missoula is no different. Where else can one go to get access to influencers?
Turns out, you can go to the Zootown Arts Community Center. Isn’t that where I have my art studio, you ask? Yes it is. Which is why I am VERY excited to tell readers about the opportunity (May 20-21) to BEAST YOUR BIZ!
I’m not exactly sure how one “beasts” one’s “biz”, but I know someone who does, and that’s the CEO of United Way of Missoula County, Susan Hey Patrick.
Yes, SHP is going to be present this May 20th and 21st to dispense how to BEAST your BIZ. If you aren’t aware of SHP bonafides, here’s some stuff from her bio:
Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, she was a reporter for a daily newspaper and a corporate communications writer for a Fortune 500 company.
Susan is a past president of the board of directors of City Club Missoula, and a past president and current member of Missoula Sunrise Rotary. She is also on the boards of the Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce and the Glacier National Park Conservancy. She is a Montana Ambassador, appointed by the governor to serve as an ambassador for economic development in Montana.
In 2015, Susan chaired a citizens’ committee that worked successfully to pass two bonds totaling $158 million – the largest in Montana history – to improve the facilities and technology at all Missoula County Public Schools.
Reporter, corporate writer, bond peddler. That’s some good shit. And let’s not forget Susan’s role in the 10 Year Plan To End Homelessness.
While the BEASTING goes on later this month at the ZACC, the BOOM making our Zoom Town ZOOM is a clear and present concern for the tourism pushers, who have conjured a new term to create some sympathy-cover for the crisis they’ve helped exacerbate: destination stewardship.
Ridiculous. From the link:
On Monday, City Club Missoula hosted a panel discussion on “Destination Stewardship: How can we keep from “loving Montana to death?” The four guests – all of whom are associated with the tourism industry – said the sudden growth in the numbers of tourists coming to Montana have them scrambling to try to figure out what to do.
Some said that in just a few short years, they’ve had to reverse their focus from pushing for more visitation to trying to advocate for values that are now under threat.
“Today, many (of us) are evolving toward destination stewardship, and (these) organizations begin with a community-first mindset: support creating a thriving tourism economy while protecting and supporting destination assets,” said Racene Friede, Glacier Country Tourism CEO. “This strategy is all about protecting the very qualities that make Western Montana, first and foremost, a wonderful place to live, with the added benefit of being a wonderful place to visit.”
I really enjoy the work done in the realm of language. It’s not just funny to me, but a nearly endless stream of material to chew up and spit out.
Thanks for reading!