Lt. Governor Skillman Announces Indiana Summer of Savings

Encourages Hoosiers to Sign Up for Exclusive Travel Discounts

INDIANAPOLIS (May 7, 2010) – Lt. Governor Becky Skillman announced today that the Indiana Office of Tourism Development will offer exclusive, limited daily discounts to destination hotels, premier golf courses, concert venues, sporting events and attractions May 7–14, during Visit Indiana Week, through its social media channels. Visitors can go to IndianaSummer.com  and choose up to three different ways to be notified of these great deals: Facebook, Twitter and e-mail.

The first exclusive discount, unveiled today at White River State Park, is a 60 percent savings on White River State Park passes. The discounted passes are $24 for an adult pass and $18 for a child’s pass, available to the first 64 respondents, limit two passes per customer. The White River State Park pass includes gate admission to six attractions:  Indianapolis Zoo, Victory Field, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Indiana State Museum, the IMAX Theatre and the NCAA Hall of Champions. More information is available at IndianaSummer.com.

“With so much to do right here in the state, we want to encourage everyone to get out and explore Indiana this summer,” said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. “Our attractions are already well-known for their affordability and great value. With these special savings, Indiana is an even better deal for Hoosiers.” 

The exclusive discounts for May 10–14 will be announced daily at 11 a.m. Eastern Time through Facebook, Twitter and e-mail.  They will include such offers as:

·         An unbelievable discount for the first 25 callers for a luxury hotel offer;

·         Amish hospitality at a steep savings for the first 15 callers;

·         50 percent off a round of golf at a championship course for the first 25 callers;

·         Baseball fans receive additional value for the first 50 callers;

·         Swimmers receive 50 percent off savings for the first 50 callers.

In addition to the special offers, the Indiana tourism office offers more than 200 everyday discounts to Indiana hotels, attractions and restaurants on its website, VisitIndiana.com.  These discounts include:

·         $7 off  Holiday World admission in May; $5 off Holiday World admission in June;

·         Free children’s admission at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis with purchase of an adult admission in May;

·         $2 off Conner Prairie admission;

·         $2 off Marengo Cave admission;

·         $159 Hampton Inn Indianapolis Downtown, Talk with Animals Package.  Includes stay and two adult and two children’s tickets to the Indianapolis Zoo.

·         $199 Foursome and Filet Package at French Lick Resort.  Includes stay, one round of golf at The Donald Ross Course and an entrée at Hagen’s Club House Restaurant.

The Indiana Office of Tourism Development has more than 2,000 fans on Facebook, more than 4,200 followers on Twitter and 50,000 subscribers to its monthly e-mail program.

The tourism office has been consistently recognized by Gammet Interactive, a tourism marketing technology firm, as one of the top 10 state tourism offices for its social media efforts. In addition, the tourism office received a Gold Award from a national organization, Marketing Sherpa, for its consumer email marketing program.

“We have utilized our social media tools as a cost-effective way to stretch our dollars,” said Amy Vaughan, Director of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. “Best of all, it helps us get our message directly to consumers.”

More than 62 million visitors come to Indiana each year, generating than $10 billion in visitor spending each year.

-30-

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman oversees the Indiana Office of Tourism Development.  Amy Vaughan serves as the agency’s director.

Arts Trail Under Development Seven counties in Southern Indiana including Franklin County will begin working on a new Arts Trail that will highlight the unique arts culture and heritage of this region. Counties involved include: Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings and Ripley Counties. This project recently received the support of the Indiana Artisans Project by receiving a $10,000 grant. Madison Area CVB is serving as the coordinator for this project. A guide book will be available that will highlight participating artists. If you or a friend is an artist and would like to participate in this trail please contact the Welcome Center in your county.

New Indiana Artisan Initiative Press Release - Download the PDF file

Indiana Artisan Submission Form - Download the PDF file

New Agritourism and Farmers Market Press Release - Download the PDF file

PRESS RELEASE

Celebrating Michaela Farm’s Century-Old Barn - The Sisters of St. Francis will mark the 100th anniversary of the completion of their historic brick barn at Michaela Farm with a festive celebration on June 20th.  The Sisters invite the public to join them as they celebrate the farm’s history with an evening of dinner and dance in the barn.  The “7 Sharps” from Dayton will provide tunes from the Big Band era, and a sumptuous dinner will be prepared by the “Grill Guys” from Indianapolis and served up by a host of volunteers.  The dinner will include locally grown produce and farm-raised beefalo entrees.  Participants will learn of the farm’s history – and plans to incorporate wind and solar power in the future along with islandscapes to purify the farm’s waters.

For over a century, the sunrise over Michaela Farm beckoned the Sisters to a new day of prayer, farm chores, caring for the land and educating their students.  Congregational Minister, S. Barbara Piller, fondly reminisces about the farm’s colorful history, “The farm is part of the heritage of the Sisters of St. Francis.  It supported the early Sisters by being their food source.  The Sisters remember the cows on the hills, hearing the mooing and hauling the milk cans back to the dairy every night.  They also remember the onion flavored butter and milk when cows got into the wild onions.  They remember the hogs and the fresh sausage.  They dug potatoes, picked berries and fruits galore.  Many of our Sisters came from the farms in the area and still have the “farm gene” alive and well in them.  We believe that all Franciscans have a fond place in their hearts for all creation.  It behooves us to value that which we have and to use it lightly for the time that it is ours to have it."

According to farm records, in 1854, the new religious community of women acquired 40 acres of land to provide for the orphans and students in their care. At its peak, the farm provided water, meat, dairy products, vegetables and fruit for up to 500 Sisters and students.  Tending to their farm enabled the Sisters to keep the cost of educating students at their sponsored Oldenburg Academy more affordable for many families in the Tri-state area.  Farm production was gradually decreased in the 1970’s.

Piller adds, “From 1854 until the present day, the farm has gone from 40 acres to as many as 500 acres.  Currently there are about 300 acres, consisting of about 100 acres of woods, 100 acres of pastures and 100 acres which are fallow or buildings sites."

Farm business manager, S. Carolyn Hoff, notes, “The towering brick barn on the edge of Oldenburg is the centerpiece of the farm and was built between 1907 and 1909.  The L-shaped structure consists of two sections, each measuring 140 feet long and 40 feet wide.  All the bricks used during its original construction were manufactured in Oldenburg.  At its peak usage, the barn housed 125 dairy cows plus steers. In the spring of 2007 a major renovation was completed on the barn which included a new roof, tuck pointing, barn beetle treatment and a new wood floor."

Farm operations manager, Chris Merkel, added, “Today we house a herd of beefalo in the barn, and through earth-friendly farm practices, we grow fruits, vegetables and herbs for the Sisters’ use, and market our surplus locally.  We are continuing to green the farm as we plan to add wind and solar power, and islandscapes to naturally purify our reservoir and pond."

The Sisters of St. Francis lead by example to nourish themselves and the earth.  For them, eating local, raising their own food and promoting area growers are matters of spirituality. Long before going green, and eating local and organic foods were fashionable; the Sisters were heeding the example of the patron saint of ecology, St. Francis of Assisi.  The story of his life emphasizes seeing himself as a part of the ecosystem, not as its superior.

Consumers who shop and eat mindful of how they nourish their bodies do so for a number of reasons:  better health, concerns about food safety, and efforts to support the local economy.  For the Sisters at Michaela Farm, it’s a matter of spirituality.  Among the rolling hills, these hard-working women continue to tend to 300 acres named for the farm’s first caretaker, Sister Michaela Lindenmeyer.  With continued care and planning, the Sisters hope to be tending to their farm for another century.

The Sisters’ Development Director, Sue Siefert, is leading an event planning committee which includes: Mary Andres Russell; Diane Brueggemann; and Jim Geers of Cincinnati; Greg Weber of Indianapolis; Chris Merkel of Osgood; Kathleen Jeffers, Bill Hillenbrand; S. Judith Werner and Jo Ann Butt of Batesville; and S. Carolyn Hoff, S. Margaret Horney, S. Peg Mayer, and S. Miriam Kaeser of Oldenburg.  For more information about the June 20th Farm Celebration, contact Siefert at 812-933-6460.  Invitations will be mailed in the spring – and volunteers are most welcome.

The Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, Oldenburg, are women of prayer, committed to the Gospel values as lived by St. Francis. From their life in community they are sent to extend the mission of Jesus through their presence and service. Enlivened by a spirit of justice, reconciliation and peace, they collaborate with others in responding to the needs of the world. Since Vatican II opened the doors to the many needs of the world, the Sisters minister in education, parish ministry, social service, healthcare and social justice.   For more information – please visit www.OldenburgFranciscans.org

Sue Siefert
Development Director
812-933-6460

PRESS RELEASE

Collegiate Bass Anglers Association Selects Brookville Lake as Championship Venue.

CBAA Big 10 Championship Returns to Indiana on April 25th/26th.

Plymouth, Indiana (April 1st)  - What started over a decade ago has become the grandfather of collegiate tournament angling and has spurred on a force that has become a brush fire among amateur athletics, collegiate bass fishing! 

The 2009 championship makes its way back to Hoosier waters for consecutive years with Brookeville Lake being selected by student leadership and the CBAA as the championship venue for this year’s title event. The championship was last contested on Indiana waters in 2008 (Lake Maxinkuckee).

“This competition dates back to 1996 when it was first contested on Lake Freeman (IN) where student anglers from Purdue University captured the inaugural Big Ten championship… This event (Big 10) is also considered by historians to be the first national championship of the sport as well.”  Said Troy Heckaman, CBAA Commissioner. 

Brookville Lake  is  one  of  Indiana’s  recreational  jewels as it’s  5260  acres  of  moderately  clear  water and  vast  shoreline offers some of  the best fish  populations  in the state.   Brookeville was impounded in 1974 by the Army Corps of Engineers.    The reservoir is located in Franklin and Union Counties with the dam located just north of Brookville Indiana.  Brookville is renowned for its rich walleye history, but also offers tournament anglers a health populations and opportunities for keeper (14 inch) black bass.  Smallmouth bass, while not quite as numerous as largemouth bass, actually outnumber largemouth below the Fairfield Causeway in the lakes southern reaches.    Local Brookville expert and event volunteer Curt Cox (Gadabout Bass Masters) related that “if the weather holds up for the next couple of weeks, the lake should be right for the smallmouth spawn and things could be really exciting”.  
   
“This event is a true gem of the sport and we try to provide as many opportunities for these student athletes to get on the water and that where we ask for your assistance.  Many of these teams relay and count of volunteer boats to be able to participate in this event and we are in need of a few more volunteer boats to be able to get all of these anglers on the water.  If you and/or your club can assist these young men and women of the Big 10 by being a boat volunteer, please let us  know as soon as possible so that  they can plan accordingly”   Troy Heckaman, CBAA Commissioner.

This year’s field will be headed by the defending Big 10 Champions Purdue University (2008, 2002, 2000, and 1996) and will welcome the return of University of Minnesota anglers to the Big 10 competition.   Former Big Ten Champions Indiana University (2003, 2001, 1998,  1997), University  of Illinois  (2007,  2006), University of Michigan  (1999), and Michigan State University (2004), along with Penn State University, University of Iowa, University of Wisconsin, Ohio State  University,  and Northwestern University, round out the possible contestants for the 2009 title. 

2008 Championship Results

Champion – Purdue; vMichigan State; wWisconsin; xIllinois; yOhio State; zIowa; {Michigan; |Indiana; ë Penn State, Northwestern, and Minnesota did not compete.

Collegiate Bass Anglers Association is excited to bring this event to Franklin County and the Brookville community.  We look forward working with local business and organizations as we build partnerships for the championship in support the student anglers of the Big Ten.  For information on partnership opportunities and the Big10 please contact the CBAA at troy@collegiatebass.org or via phone at 574.780.4390.