America's Byways®
Bulletin

October 2007 / Vol. 4 No. 5

WHAT'S NEW

What's News - Byways.org in the News!

Great things are happening on our America's Byways, and the media is noticing! The following outlets helped us spread the America's Byways word this fall:

• Web: Nascar.com, MiamiHerald.com, MSNBC.com
• Wires: AP, Scripps, Emediawire
• TV News: WCSH-TV Portland, ME, Fox News, CBS-13 Sacramento
• Newspapers: USA Today, Boston Herald , Newsday (Long Island NY), Seattle Times, Baltimore Sun, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Houston Chronicle, Daytona Beach News Journal, Anchorage Daily News, Billings Gazette, Sioux City Journal - and many more!

Check on byways.org and make sure your byway info is current and the photos are engaging.

GREAT IDEAS

PR101 Workshops in Idaho

As part of the Public Awareness Initiative, the America's Byways Resource Center and Development Counsellors International (DCI) put together a series of Public Relations 101, or PR101, workshops. Chris Kuykendall from Clearwater County Economic Development made arrangements for the training in Orofino, Idaho . She told us, "The Workshop PR101 was a big hit and folks seemed to really appreciate the info and training opportunity. THANKS for bringing it to us. We had the Northwest Passage Scenic, International Selkirk Loop, White Pine Scenic, Gold Rush Historic, and Elk River Back Country byways represented."

ON THE WEB

New Features on Byways.org!

News on your byways is coming to us now more than ever, and www.byways.org is making it even easier for our web users to stay current! Thanks to Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, visitors to the site can now have our frequently updated news sent via subscription to their browser or feed reader. Don't worry about losing visitors - they will still visit the site. A feed reader or browser does not replace the website but simply redirects the subscriber back to the original source - byways.org! Want to know more about RSS feeds, browsers and feed readers? Click here for helpful information.

In other exciting byways.org news, we have launched America's Byways podcasts recorded at May's National Scenic Byways Conference in Baltimore! The episodes, featuring Tom Bodett and produced by Ben Manilla Productions, are also available for RSS subscription. Listen to these interesting tales today by clicking on http://www.byways.org/press/news/podcasts!

Activity & Feature Stories for America's Byways

We mentioned in the last America's Byways Bulletin that we are in the process of building up our America's Byways Activities and Feature Stories. You received a Byways Blast with a schedule of upcoming activity stories and features - we hope you sent us some ideas! Byway leaders whose America's Byways have been identified as having these activities will be contacted directly by their NSBO researcher for story-writing purposes. If you are not contacted by a researcher and you feel your byway has something to share, please feel free to do so! We want to include as much information for the traveler as possible!

The following activities and features will be focused on in the coming months:

• Activities: Golfing, Snowmobiling, and Historic Encounters
• Features: Food on the Byways, Winter Traditions

If you already have this information up on your own site, we don't want to make you do it twice. Simply send us or point us to your information, and we will adapt it to our style for byways.org consistency purposes. We only ask that you review the text to make sure we have our facts straight, and we will link to any additional information you have on your byway's individual website.

Renewal of CCR.gov Status

Don't forget! Central Contractor Registry (CCR) requires that you renew or update your CCR.gov profile once every 365 days to maintain an active status. This is very important if you plan to apply for ANY grant opportunity through Grants.gov, not just National Scenic Byways Program funds.

Start the process here: https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/scripts/index.html. Click "Update/Renew" on the menu on the left. To renew or update your CCR profile, you will need two pieces of information:

1. Your organization's DUNS number
2. The Trading Partner Identification Number (TPIN) associated with your organization's CCR profile

Once you are in the system, you will be able to go through all of your CCR registration information page by page, validating or saving it as you go. When this is completed, your registration will be renewed, taking about 24-48 hours to become effective.

If you have lost your TPIN, you can request a new one through the CCR.gov website here: https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/scripts/index.html. Hint: Have your DUNS number ready. Please note that this TPIN request letter is confidential and will be sent via U.S. Mail to the person named as the Point of Contact (POC) for the organization. If you are not the POC, please contact that person or CCR customer service for help in obtaining the TPIN letter. Requests for this letter are restricted to one per 7-day period.

Screenshots to guide you through this renewal/update process can be found http://www.ccr.gov/Handbook.aspx.

NEWS BRIEFS

Patsy Ramacitti Elected Pilot/CEO of the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission

At the annual meeting of the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC) in September, Iowa MRPC Chair Patsy Ramacitti was elected Pilot/CEO of the National MPRC. Patsy is the first female to head this commission and is "honored to lead this organization forward." Patsy has served as Iowa MPRC Chair since 2001, has been on the Executive Board for the past four years, and has received awards for her substantial contributions to the development and promotion of the Great River Road and accomplishments of the Iowa Commission in support of the MRPC. Congratulations Patsy!

Natchez Trace Parkway Interchange Dedication Honors Devoted Supporter S. A. "Junior" Hancock

From a press release from Bobby King Associates, Inc:

Tupelo, Mississippi's Highway 6/Natchez Trace Parkway interchange was formally dedicated on Friday, Oct. 5, honoring the legacy of S.A. "Junior" Hancock. Sen. Alan Nunnelee unveiled the dedication sign which is located on the east and west sides of the Natchez Trace Parkway (NTP) on Highway 6. Mayor Ed Neelly welcomed Hancock's family, officials and Parkway supporters to the commemoration ceremony. Speakers included Nunnelee, NTP Interim Superintendent Stennis Young, Northern District Transportation Commissioner Bill Minor and Harry Martin, a friend of Hancock's.

"Junior Hancock was a driving force in the completion of the Natchez Trace," said Senator Nunnelee. "Naming this intersection, which is adjacent to his former place of business, will be a way to honor his persistence in that endeavor."

Distinguished Hoosier Award Recipient Grand Marshals Indiana National Road Association Antique Car Tour

Originally from Lebanon, Indiana's The Daily Sun:

It was an announcement even the greatest of announcers couldn't have predicted.

On Saturday, in conjunction with a car tour for which he was the grand marshal, Tom Carnegie received the Distinguished Hoosier Award, one of the state's highest honors. State Rep. Cindy Noe (R-Indianapolis) presented the award on behalf of the State of Indiana and organizers of Saturday's Indiana National Road Association Antique Car Tour. "I never saw it coming," Carnegie said. "It was quite a surprise. All of the sudden, [Noe] popped up and had a big kiss for me and the plaque."

Carnegie is best known for calling 61 Indianapolis 500 races as the public address announcer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"Tom Carnegie is an Indiana treasure," said Noe. "It was my greatest honor to present this award to a man who has made such great contributions and touched the lives of people throughout the state. Certainly, Tom Carnegie is a Distinguished Hoosier."

Read the rest of the article here.

FROM THE ROADS

Gila River Festival on the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway (NM)

Dennis Adams, one of the Byways Specialists from America's Byways Resource Center, sent us this great photo of the Gila River Festival. Frances Land, the byway leader for Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway told him that they were using a busing system to help senior travelers onto the byway. What a cool idea!

Come Closer in Japan!

Kayoko Inoue, the Managing Director of the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) in Japan, sent us this great shot of a man looking through one of the come Closer maps at the US Pavilion at JATA World Travel Fair in Japan. TIA was promoting the "Fly & Drive" program in the U.S. mainland using a rental car. Kayoko remarked that "The National Scenic Byways [Program] is the best target for this promotion." Recently, Kayoko assisted a Japanese TV crew putting together a program featuring the America's Byways in the USA. The TV crew contacted some local America's Byways and went on-site. The show aired in late September, and Kayoko said it was great!

Patricia on Red Rock Scenic Byway (AZ)

Vacations are to get away from work - but when you work for the FHWA National Scenic Byways Program, it's hard to get away from the byways. Thanks to Kathie Knapp, AZ State Byway Coordinator, even though there was MAJOR renovation along Red Rock Scenic Byway, Kathie made sure that the America's Byways signs at the beginning and end of the Byway remained standing. And here's a photo of Patricia to prove it!

Got news?

As always, we look forward to hearing the latest and greatest news from you! If you've got a great picture or some exciting stories and ideas from your byway, let us know by e-mailing pmcnally@byways.org or jldungan@byways.org!