Dear National Extension Tourism NETwork,
It is with great appreciation and gratitude that I am writing this note – my last note as the 2023-2025 NET Chair. It has been a privilege to serve in this role, and I want to give a shout-out to my fellow Executive Committee members:
- Ann Savage (North Carolina State University Extension), Vice Chair
- April Turner (South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium), Secretary
- Andy Northrop (Michigan State University Extension), Past Chair
I am happy to announce that we will pass the baton to a stellar incoming Executive Committee, when I will become the Past Chair:
- Ann Savage, North Caroline State University Extension: Chair
- Gwynn Stewart, Ohio State University Extension: Vice Chair
- Mercedes Fraser, University of Kentucky Extension: Secretary
My big thank-you also goes to the communications and webinar committees. Working together, the committees regularly engage NET members, our audiences and stakeholders with quarterly newsletters, LinkedIn posts, and quarterly webinars. Additionally, the outdoor recreation and agritourism working groups have become established, and I admire the effort that folks have made to start the working groups and get them off the ground. The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, especially Kristen Devlin, deserves a special thank-you for their ongoing support of NET.
I look forward to our joint conference with the Northeast chapter of Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) in New Hampshire in early October. Under Ann’s leadership, we will continue our strategic plan update work at the in-person Design Team meeting on Oct 7. Nothing beats the invigorating energy that comes with connecting face-to-face at the conference! My special thank-you to the conference planning committee (way to go, Jada and Charlie!) and the awards committee.
As always, feel free to reach out to us via email and stay connected with us on LinkedIn. Please take care!
Sincerely,
Xinyi Qian, Ph.D.
Director, University of Minnesota Tourism Center
Chair, NET