If you're open to the idea of a gig that may involve emergency cleaning of porta-potty seats at Cheese Days, selling beer tickets at New Glarus Oktoberfest or driving several hours to a hole-in-the-wall bar in Illinois to scout an '80s cover band for consideration for a downtown concert - then you might be ready to hang out with me.
I'm Noreen Rueckert, tourism director for Green County. My side job is organizing the Green County Cheese Days festival, and I also volunteer with Main Street Monroe's Concerts on the Square.
As an employee of Green County, my job - simply put - is to market the area as a destination for visitors. It is entirely possible that you've never seen any of Green County's tourism marketing initiatives, as the goal is to reach beyond county borders to bring visitors here. You may, however, be familiar with the Green County Visitor Guide as it is provided locally as a resource for both residents and visitors.
So why does tourism even matter?
First of all, tourism spending in Green County generates about $40 million per year. Tourism, at the very heart of things, sets the stage for economic development. For example, if a site selector or entrepreneur is interested in an area, their first exposure is likely a call to the chamber of commerce or perhaps a visit to the tourism website. And their first point of contact upon actually arriving? The motel desk clerk, the bed and breakfast host, the bartender or waitress.
Secondly, promoting our Green County communities serves to highlight quality-of-life issues often critical to a relocation decision. Beyond the school system and health care considerations, people want to know what the community is like. How can I be involved as a volunteer, are there special interest groups I can join, what's happening downtown, is this a family-friendly place to be?
Finally, tourists spend money here and then go home. They don't use local resources and taxpayer dollars - they don't end up in court-ordered anger management or place a burden on our human services programs.
You also may not realize that tourism spending helps to offset taxes that you, the local resident, would otherwise pay. Each Wisconsin household would be taxed an additional $640 per year to replace the revenue tourism generates for state and local governments.
Turns out that tourism is economic development. But it's the fun side of economic development.
Undeniably, food is at the forefront when it comes to fun in Green County. Cheese is just naturally fun (think squeaky cheese curds), and then we spice things up with authentic Swiss cuisine and throw in a good, hearty yodel for an extra layer of local flavor. Factor in brewery tours, wine tasting, farm-to-table dining and an outstanding selection of locally owned restaurants with distinctive flavors and specialties - and you've got a noteworthy culinary tourism destination. You might not golf, you might not bike and you might not visit museums, but no matter where you go for a getaway - you're going to eat and drink.
Outdoor recreation is another facet of our destination marketing. As we like to say here in Green County: "Bike first, so you can eat more cheese." In addition, Green County Tourism promotes festivals and events throughout the communities and throughout the seasons. The county-wide calendar of events on greencounty.org is the most visited page on the website.
I'll be here this year with a series of monthly columns. Check back for ideas on being a tourist in your own backyard and a preview of Main Street Monroe's Concerts on the Square. Later, I'll take you behind the scenes with Cheese Days.
- Noreen Rueckert is director for Green County Tourism, executive director for Green County Cheese Days and co-chair of Main Street Monroe's Concerts on the Square. She refuses to name her favorite cheese, but it is rumored to be feta. She has the best office in the county - overlooking Monroe's downtown Square from the tower of the historic Green County Courthouse. She dabbles in photography and graphic design, adores cats and coffee and secretly loves the "Cheese Days Song."
I'm Noreen Rueckert, tourism director for Green County. My side job is organizing the Green County Cheese Days festival, and I also volunteer with Main Street Monroe's Concerts on the Square.
As an employee of Green County, my job - simply put - is to market the area as a destination for visitors. It is entirely possible that you've never seen any of Green County's tourism marketing initiatives, as the goal is to reach beyond county borders to bring visitors here. You may, however, be familiar with the Green County Visitor Guide as it is provided locally as a resource for both residents and visitors.
So why does tourism even matter?
First of all, tourism spending in Green County generates about $40 million per year. Tourism, at the very heart of things, sets the stage for economic development. For example, if a site selector or entrepreneur is interested in an area, their first exposure is likely a call to the chamber of commerce or perhaps a visit to the tourism website. And their first point of contact upon actually arriving? The motel desk clerk, the bed and breakfast host, the bartender or waitress.
Secondly, promoting our Green County communities serves to highlight quality-of-life issues often critical to a relocation decision. Beyond the school system and health care considerations, people want to know what the community is like. How can I be involved as a volunteer, are there special interest groups I can join, what's happening downtown, is this a family-friendly place to be?
Finally, tourists spend money here and then go home. They don't use local resources and taxpayer dollars - they don't end up in court-ordered anger management or place a burden on our human services programs.
You also may not realize that tourism spending helps to offset taxes that you, the local resident, would otherwise pay. Each Wisconsin household would be taxed an additional $640 per year to replace the revenue tourism generates for state and local governments.
Turns out that tourism is economic development. But it's the fun side of economic development.
Undeniably, food is at the forefront when it comes to fun in Green County. Cheese is just naturally fun (think squeaky cheese curds), and then we spice things up with authentic Swiss cuisine and throw in a good, hearty yodel for an extra layer of local flavor. Factor in brewery tours, wine tasting, farm-to-table dining and an outstanding selection of locally owned restaurants with distinctive flavors and specialties - and you've got a noteworthy culinary tourism destination. You might not golf, you might not bike and you might not visit museums, but no matter where you go for a getaway - you're going to eat and drink.
Outdoor recreation is another facet of our destination marketing. As we like to say here in Green County: "Bike first, so you can eat more cheese." In addition, Green County Tourism promotes festivals and events throughout the communities and throughout the seasons. The county-wide calendar of events on greencounty.org is the most visited page on the website.
I'll be here this year with a series of monthly columns. Check back for ideas on being a tourist in your own backyard and a preview of Main Street Monroe's Concerts on the Square. Later, I'll take you behind the scenes with Cheese Days.
- Noreen Rueckert is director for Green County Tourism, executive director for Green County Cheese Days and co-chair of Main Street Monroe's Concerts on the Square. She refuses to name her favorite cheese, but it is rumored to be feta. She has the best office in the county - overlooking Monroe's downtown Square from the tower of the historic Green County Courthouse. She dabbles in photography and graphic design, adores cats and coffee and secretly loves the "Cheese Days Song."
