SLAA NEWSLETTER April/May 2016
President’s Corner
Well, as summer gives its last couple of gasps and the leaves actually start turning, fall begins. I’ve smelled bonfires on the wind and enjoyed the few crisp mornings and am looking forward to sweaters, boots, and the rapidly approaching holiday season. I’ve yet to start my Christmas shopping, but more on that later…
Mark Your Calendar for Our Next Meeting on May 18th! Bi-State Summer Kick-Off
Join us Wednesday, May 18th, at Eckert’s Belleville, for the Saint Louis Attractions Association’s May Meeting. Representatives from ILLINOISouth and Explore St. Louis will provide updates on summer advertising activities, promotions, events, and more. Guests will get to enjoy Eckert’s famous food family-style, and will also have time to check out the venue and gift shop. We hope to see you there!
Please note that this meeting will be in the indoor restaurant at Eckert’s location in BELLEVILLE.
Thank You to Our May Meeting Host
Scholarship Applications Available Online for 2016 School Year
Scholarship applications are now available online for the 2016 Saint Louis Attractions Association Carole Moody Scholarship. The scholarship is open to any undergraduate college student or high school senior entering college majoring in a field that could contribute to the tourism/hospitality industry and maintain a 3.0 or B grade point average. In addition, the student must have accomplished one of the following:
- Work in the industry for SLAA member
- Completed an internship with a SLAA member
- Be a current member of SLAA (student memberships are available)
- Be a family member of a SLAA member
- Belong to a hospitality organization
Each July at the SLAA luncheon meeting, one or more students are awarded a scholarship in the amount of at least $1,000. One or more students may be awarded an Honorable Mention Award in the amount of $500.
Applications will be sent to more than 90 area high schools and colleges. Please note that the deadline to apply for the scholarship is June 10, 2016.
Click here for additional information or contact the Scholarship Committee Chairman, Jennifer Hollenkamp, at jhollenkamp@explorestlouis.com or (314) 992-0642.
Thank You!
The Saint Louis Science Center and Starlite Events hosted a great networking meeting for us last month. Guests were able to enjoy a delicious lunch that started with passed chicken & waffles and only got more fun from there. The Science Center updated everyone on their most recent exhibits, marketing campaigns, and what we can expect from them this summer. After lunch, a networking BINGO game was played to help everyone mix & mingle to meet new faces. The meeting was a lot of fun and a great success!
We want to thank the Saint Louis Science Center for the great venue and meeting space. Also, a big thank you goes to Starlite Events for the wonderful menu of appetizers, lunch and dessert.
Thank You to Our March Meeting Hosts
Featured Attraction – STAGES St. Louis
STAGES St. Louis is the region’s foremost not-for-profit company committed to preserving and advancing the art form of Musical Theatre through excellence in performance and education. In 2016, STAGES celebrates its 30th Anniversary Season of producing Broadway-quality Musical Theatre in St. Louis, presenting 144 performances May through October to nearly 50,000 patrons through both its Mainstage shows at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood and Theatre for Young Audiences productions held at The Playhouse at Westport Plaza.
INTO THE WOODS
Presented by Triple Threat TEENS of the
STAGES Performing
Arts Academy.
Photo by Peter Wochniak.
This year, STAGES launched its 30th Anniversary Season with several special honors – the Missouri Arts Council named STAGES the “Arts Organization of the Year,” the highest award an arts organization can receive in the state of Missouri. STAGES also received an unprecedented 15 awards from BroadwayWorld St. Louis, as well as five Theatre Circle Awards, both celebrating the spectacular shows and talent in STAGES’ 2015 Season.
In addition to producing Broadway-quality Musical Theatre, STAGES also educates thousands of students each year at its Performing Arts Academy, the region’s only year-round arts school with a comprehensive curriculum run by a professional theatre company. The ever-expanding Academy currently produces six student productions each year using professional quality costumes, lights, sound, and sets, including April’s upcoming production of JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, Jr., performed by one of the Academy’s premiere performance groups, Triple Threats.
The Academy also reaches over 4,000 students through its Outreach and Urban Arts initiative programs, fostered by over 50 school and community partnerships. Through its Access the Arts programming, the Academy provides classes, workshops, and performances opportunities enabling children with physical, cognitive, and developmental challenges, including Down syndrome, visual impairments, and autism, to participate fully in the Musical Theatre arts. Access the Arts is the only program of its kind in the St. Louis region and currently serves more than 350 students annually.
Spring Break Camp in the
STAGES Performing Arts Academy.
Photo by Peter Wochniak.
STAGES’ 2016 Anniversary Season begins with the Mid-Western premiere of the mad-cap romantic musical comedy direct from Broadway, IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU (June 3 – July 3). The season continues with one of STAGES’ most frequently requested return shows, the five-time Tony winner, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (July 22 – August 21). Audiences will rejoice for the seaon’s grand finale, SISTER ACT (September 9 – October 9), an uplifting and miraculous tale of self-discovery and finding one’s true calling. The celebration kicks off June 3rd and continues through October 9, 2016. In addition, the 2016 Season Theatre for Young Audiences production will feature the whimsical family adventure, Disney’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND (June 15 – July 3).
Single tickets are on sale now and subscriptions are still available! For tickets call the STAGES Box Office at (314) 821-2407 or visit StagesStLouis.org.
| Robert G. Reim Theatre 111 S. Geyer Rd. Kirkwood, MO 63122 |
The Playhouse at Westport Plaza 635 West Port Plaza St. Louis, MO 63146 |
Welcome New Members!
Allied: DDI Media
Contact: Kurt Schumer
St. Louis-based DDI Media is your one-stop resource for billboard advertising throughout the Midwest. We have more than 1,100 billboard faces that will provide repeated exposure of your message to the audiences you need to reach. You can count on DDI Media for superior outdoor locations, effective design and affordable production, backed by a truly excellent service team.
Attraction: Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
Contact: Julie Northrip
The Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is operated by the National Park Service. Visitors can tour the historic White Haven House, view a film on the legacy of Grant, and visit exhibits on Ulysses Grant and Julia Dent Grant.
A Note From the Public Affairs Committee
Did you know SLAA is on Facebook? Like our page to follow updates from SLAA, committee updates, member spotlights, and other happenings in and around St. Louis. Find us at “Saint Louis Attractions Association.” Members and guests are invited to post pictures from meetings, tag us, and share our posts with others. Facebook is another great networking tool to build your contacts from SLAA and learn more about us.
Have an idea for the Public Affairs committee? Would you like to learn more about certain topics in Public Affairs? Email Jessica Utterback at jessica.utterback@howlatthemoon.com.
Thank You Dan Rosen!
On behalf of the Saint Louis Attractions Association, we extend our deepest congratulations to Dan Rosen on his exceptional career as President of the St. Louis Town Planner and everything he has contributed to SLAA. Throughout the years, Dan and the Town Planner have made very generous annual contributions to the Carole Moody Scholarship program, which has allowed SLAA to recognize 33 students and award over $26,000 in scholarship funds. Dan has always been a great leader in the tourism and hospitality industry and we wish him all the best in his retirement.
Sponsor a Meeting
Friendly reminder to get your meeting sponsorship month secured while dates are still available: May, July, September, and November (Silent Auction).
For only $200, you can sponsor a SLAA membership meeting, and get the word out about your business or promote your upcoming events. This could be a great opportunity to update fellow SLAA members about something new, promote your business to fellow members, share upcoming events, explanation of your organization, and more! Sponsorship of a SLAA meeting includes:
- The opportunity to greet incoming guests at the door
- Four minutes to speak at the meeting about your organization
- A reserved table to distribute your organization’s materials
- The opportunity to distribute your organization’s materials on each individual table
- Recognition as a sponsor on email meeting notices
- Recognition in the bi-monthly newsletter
Click here to download the sponsorship agreement form. Still have questions? Contact the SLAA office at (314) 416-2233 or info@stlattractions.org for additional information.
Submit Your Nomination for the 2016 Spirit of St. Louis Awards!
Nominations for the Spirit of St. Louis Awards are accepted year-round. The purpose of the Spirit of St. Louis Awards is to honor those members of the attractions and hospitality industry who go the extra mile and put forth exemplary effort in helping to further the goals and objectives of the industry and the Saint Louis Attractions Association. The Association recognizes these noteworthy achievements each year at the January meeting.
Eligible nominees may have served in any of a variety of positions, ranging from front-line service to management, at an attraction, hotel, restaurant, or with any other associated or affiliated industry. Both members and non-members of SLAA are eligible to receive awards; however, nominations must be submitted by a SLAA member. You are welcome to make unlimited nominations.
Click here for more information and to submit your nomination.
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