Northern Forest Tourism Network
Collaborating to Create a World Class Destination – Join Us!Rural Destination Tourism – Who
RDT Network Structure: This initiative has been evolving since 2007, and currently is structured as follows.
A growing set of Network Projects, of various scales, innovates and implements tourism projects. The focus at this action-research level is primarily on collaborative product development and marketing for rural destinations. These Network Projects plan and fund their own work, and each project or set of projects is stewarded by a local, involved network weaver. Some of these projects were ongoing prior to the RDT initiative, others got started as parallel but separate efforts, and still others got off the ground as part of the initiative. Current Network Projects include Franklin County Tourism Network, Maine Woods Discovery Program, and Maine Woods Consortium in Maine; Northern New Hampshire Branding Project in New Hampshire; and Northeast Kingdom Geotourism Project in Vermont.
The Northern Forest Tourism Network serves to cross-fertilize among these Network Projects, and to cultivate a regional sensibility to position the Northern Forest as a world-class tourism destination, composed of numerous excellent rural destinations. A Steering Committee with representation from each state guides this regional network, sharing information through an e-newsletter, convening network participants, and developing an agenda to move the regional effort forward. Current Steering Committee members are Kate Williams, Northern Forest Canoe Trail (regional); Shaunacy Cobb, Maine Woods Consortium (Maine); Samantha Kenney, Northern New Hampshire Branding Project (New Hampshire); and Gloria Bruce, Northeast Kingdom Travel and Tourism Association (Vermont). Both the Adirondack North Country Association and the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council are newly engaged partners whose roles will emerge in the next couple of months.
A Northern Forest Network Steward coordinates the Northern Forest Tourism Network, and weaves the engagement of the established and emerging Network Projects. Current steward is Kate Williams, Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
A Core Team of the creators of the RDT model serves in an advisory capacity, and focuses on strategy and fund development for the regional work. Current Core Team members are Warren Cook, Saddleback Maine and Maine Network Partners; Bruce Hazard, Mountain Counties Heritage; Bo Norris, Environmental Funders Network and Maine Network Partners; Rob Riley, Northern Forest Center; and Kate Williams, Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
