In this issue...

• Features
  • Phase III of RiverScape MetroPark Officially Opens
  • Feel the Need for Speed? Participate in the US Air Force Marathon
  • Dayton Hosts Vectren Dayton Air Show and National Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies
  • CUSA Kids Kick-off Dayton Soccer Tournament
  • Check Out the Buzz, Social Media!
• President’s Corner
• Fast Facts
• Help Us Welcome These Groups
• On The Road

Riverscape Pavilion
Bike Hub

Features

Phase III of RiverScape MetroPark Officially Opens

The already popular RiverScape MetroPark located along the banks of the Great Miami River in downtown Dayton has become even better! The exciting 1.7acre addition is complete and officially opened June 28th. The striking new, white-roofed pavilion, a visual highlight of the expansion, covers a stage and area that can seat up to 1,100 and will be used in the summer for festivals and community events as well as enjoyed by dog walkers, bikers and folks visiting the downtown park. In the winter, the 17,346 square-foot space will be turned into an ice rink that is nearly 50% larger than its predecessor. The new rink will offer more hours and more rental equipment.

The third phase of RiverScape also includes facilities that Five Rivers MetroParks hopes will draw more recreational users to the park and the many miles of connected recreational trails along the river corridor. A new Bike Hub structure offers rentals of pedal boats, roller blades and bikes---including tandems and child carriers. It has public restrooms, bike racks, an outside tire pump, cycling accessories for sale and coin-operated lockers. Inside, the hub offers secure bike parking, lockers, and shower and bathroom and changing facilities for up to 40 bike commuters. Commuters can become a member with a swipe card to the locked facility for $40 a season (fall and winter are combined for one price).

Hungry? New food concessions—Skyline at the Fountains and Skyline at the Hub run by the folks from Brown Street’s Skyline Chili offer salads, wraps, cold treats, sandwiches, as well as Skyline favorites such as cheese coneys.

Approximately $380,000 spent on landscaping features 2,600 new permanent plants in the park, not to mention the additional hanging baskets, floral containers and scattered annuals and lush tropicals.

The $6.2 million RiverScape expansion is an important addition to downtown. At the official opening ceremony, U.S. Representative Mike Turner (R-Centerville), who helped secure more than $4.7 million in federal funding for the project, said it was important for everyone to “stop and marvel for a minute” over how far the downtown has come since the mid-1990s, including the building of Fifth Third Field where the Dayton Dragons play baseball, the Schuster Performing Arts Center, and the three phases of RiverScape. “Though we’ve had difficult times in the national economy, we know we’re still looking forward,” Turner said.

USAF Marathon

Feel the Need for Speed? Participate in the US Air Force Marathon

The first official marathon was held on September 20, 1997, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Air Force. Subsequent marathons have been held the third Saturday in September in celebration of the U.S. Air Force. The 2010 Air Force Marathon, the 14th annual, will be held on September 18, 2010, which is the 63rd anniversary to the day of the formation of the Air Force.

To commemorate Dayton’s rich history in flight, each year one aircraft is chosen to be highlighted during the marathon and on the unique finisher's medal presented to each race participant. In 2010, the USAF Marathon will feature the B-52. For more than 40 years B-52 Stratofortresses have been the backbone of the manned strategic bomber force for the United States.

The Marathon course is a 26.2-mile run that traverses historical places on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, including the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the Air Force Institute of Technology, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, the Wright-Patterson AFB flight line, Huffman Prairie Flying Field, and the Wright Brothers Memorial Monument. The USAF Marathon course is certified by the USA Track and Field Association and is a Boston Qualifier.

The race has grown over the years to nearly 10,000 participants in 2009. All levels of runners participate from around the world in the Marathon, wheelchair, half marathon, 10K, and 5K races. For more information and to register visit www.usafmarathon.com.

Vectren Dayton Air Show

Dayton Hosts Vectren Dayton Air Show and National Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies

All eyes were on the skies Saturday July 17 and Sunday July 18 when Dayton hosted the Vectren Dayton Air Show on the grounds of the Dayton International Airport. The Vectren Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger is one of America’s premier air shows. Headliners at the 2010 Show included the US Navy Blue Angels, Team Fastrax Skydiving, B-17s Sentimental Journey and the Hollywood Memphis Belle with pyrotechnics, AD-5 Skyraider, AeroShell Aerobatic Team, Franklin Pirated Skies Wing Walking, world record aerobatic champion Greg Poe, U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon demonstration, U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III demonstration, F-18 Super Hornet demonstration, Sean D Tucker renowned aerobatic pilot, a School Time Jet Bus and the Wright B Flyer among other demonstrations. Acres of static displays were available for the audience to explore.

The focus on flight continued Air Show weekend when Miles O’Brien, a pilot and former CNN reporter, served as master of ceremonies for the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s annual enshrinement ceremony for new members July 17 at the Dayton Convention Center. O’Brien led the 49th annual ceremony to induct four new members: Alan Bean, lunar module pilot for Apollo 12, man’s second moon landing; Warren G. Grimes, originator of aircraft lighting and inventor of aircraft navigation instruments, the former Urbana manufacturer and founder of Grimes Field Urbana Municipal Airport; Clay Lacy, a pilot and videographer for Hollywood aviation movies including “Top Gun” and “The Right Stuff,” and Noel Wien, a pilot and Arctic flight expert who founded Wien Alaska Airlines. The four joined 203 men and women previously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, which is located at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

MEAD CUSA Cup Soccer Tournament Kicks Off Labor Day Weekend

Millions around the globe caught “soccer fever” watching the exciting World Cup Soccer Tournament, and Dayton will reach its own fever pitch over Labor Day weekend as thousands descend upon the community, a soccer mecca in its own right, for the 31st annual MEAD CUSA Cup Soccer Tournament. “We welcome the annual MEAD CUSA (Centerville United Soccer Association) CUP Youth Soccer Tournament to our community. The Tournament generates significant business for area hotels, motels, restaurants and retail establishments. Sporting events are big business for our community and the MEAD CUSA Cup Youth Soccer Tournament is one of the largest events we're fortunate to host. The numerous players, teams and families, attired in bright soccer gear, can be noticed throughout the area over the holiday weekend" states Jacquelyn Y. Powell, Dayton/Montgomery County CVB President & CEO

Approximately four hundred and seventy youth soccer teams from more than 15 states and Canada constituting over 21,000 people are expected to participate in this Greater Dayton area Labor Day weekend tournament. All games are played within three sites (Dayton NCR Old River Park Fields, Centerville's Oak Grove Park and the Ankeney Soccer Complex in Beavercreek). Semi and Final matches are played at Oak Grove Park and the Ankeney Soccer Complex. The Tournament format calls for three preliminary round games with Semi and Final Matches in each division. Individual and Team trophies will be awarded for 1st and 2nd places. Semi-Final participants will receive individual medals. All U-8 and U-9 teams will receive participation awards.

Dan Monahan, the tournament's director adds, "I'd like to recognize and thank our title sponsor, MEAD Corporation, and the 500 volunteers who ensure the tournament runs smoothly. Without the tremendous support from these groups the tournament would not be possible. For more information on the event please contact the Mead CUSA Cup Soccer Tournament Executive Director, Dan Monahan ()danmonahan@woh.rr.com) at 937-885-7816 or log onto www.meadcupsoccer.com.

Check Out the Buzz, Social Media

Are you on Facebook? Do you Tweet? Enjoy YouTube or Flickr? The buzz of social media continues to grow! The Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau invites you to join the fun. Check-out our Facebook page and become a fan! Post pictures to our Flickr account. Make a video for our YouTube channel; send us a tweet! We encourage you to join the fun, be in on the buzz and keep on top of Dayton/Montgomery County’s many offerings!

Find, Friend, and Follow by clicking on the links at right!

CVB Staff

President/CEO:
Jacquelyn Y. Powell
Director of Marketing & Communications:
Beverly Rose
Director of Sales:
Anna Nash
Controller/Director of Human Resources
Bruce Stricker
Sales Managers:
Mary Bloyd, Ron Eifert, Pierre Le,
Heather Ivers
Convention Services Manager:
Donna Michael
Marketing & Communications Coordinator:
Annie Solomon
Executive Assistant:
Lynn Gathagan
Administrative Assistant:
Dawn Mader
Visitor Information Specialist:
Anita White
Visitor Information:
Foster (Bud) Brown, William Dix, Cecil Jones, Mikell Kloeters, Gwen Lee, Bertha Olgetree, Sarah Seagraves, Martha Tollefson
Dayton Ambassadors:
Betty Clark, Delmar Dunning, Donna Edly, Ina Green, Raymond Green, Bernadine Gregory, Amy Moore, Jane Moore, Carol O’Connell, Cecil Jones, Inge Rhinehelder, John Rhinehelder, Lorna Schoenberger, Linda Shaw, Bonnie Steele, Jean Steele, Alan Twehues, Suzanne Twehues

Board of Trustees

Chairman
Vail Miller Jr., CEO, Heidelberg Distributing Company
Vice Chairman
Brady Kress, President & CEO, Dayton History
Treasurer
Mark Meister, President & CEO, Dayton Society of Natural History
Secretary
Toni Kennedy, General Manager Dayton Marriott Hotel
At Large
Larry Wheeler
Ex-Officio
Cathy Peterson, Montgomery County
General Counsel Ex-Officio
Alan Schaeffer, Pickrel, Schaeffer & Ebeling
President/CEO & Ex-Officio
Jacquelyn Y. Powell
Immediate Past Chair
Ray Keyton, President & CEO, AAA Miami Valley
Bill Castro, Owner, El Meson Restaurant
Janice Driesbach, Director & CEO, Dayton Art Institute
Don Griffin
Sandy Gudorf, President, Downtown Dayton Partnership
Brian McKenzie, General Manager, Holiday Inn Express Huber Heights
Ron Monte, General Manager, Holiday Inn Dayton Mall
Idotha Bootsie Neal, President, Wright Dunbar, Inc.
Ken Neufeld, President & CEO, Victoria Theatre Association
Maureen Patterson, VP, Stakeholder Relations, Dayton Development Coalition
Dennis Percy, Director Major Gifts, United Way of the Greater Dayton Area (ex-officio)
Nancy Robie, Director of Business Development, Grandview Medical Center/Kettering Health Network (ex-officio)
Jenell Ross, Dealer Operator/VP, Bob Ross Dealerships
Brian Sharp, General Manager, Banana Republic
Barbara Stonerock, Director of Community Relations, The Dayton Foundation
Dr. Peter Titlebaum, Assoc. Professor Department of Health & Sport Science,
University of Dayton
Janet Wood, General Manager, Red Roof Inn Dayton North

Sections/Features

A Few Fun Dates-Fast Facts

Below are some fast facts and a sampling of activities you can enjoy in Dayton/Montgomery County in the coming weeks

• The Bureau was proud to recognize five outstanding event planners as “Community Ambassadors” at the CVB’s annual National Tourism Week Community Ambassador Awards Breakfast in May. The Community Ambassador Award Winners were presented with a leather flight jacket to underscore Dayton’s branding as the Birthplace of Aviation. The winners are Don Leis, International Flying Farmers; Dan Monahan, MEAD CUSA Cup Soccer Tournament; Ron Nankervis, Winter Guard International Sport of the Arts; Tim O’Connell, UD Arena NCAA events and Barb Pelfrey, various Masonic groups.
• Watch FOX TV 45 and ABC TV 22 for monthly “on location” segments with reporter Rhonda Moore and CVB President/CEO Jacquie Powell as they highlight groups/events meeting in Dayton/Montgomery County.
• CONGRATULATIONS Dayton for achieving national Bike Friendly Status! Get out and bike our many bikeways. Drive Less, Live More!
• May thee luck ‘o the Irish be with yee! Mark your calendars now for the ninth annual Dayton Celtic Festival featuring live music and dance on three stages. Celtic arts and language, cultural demonstrations, children’s activities, food, beverage, and more July 30-August 1st at RiverScape MetroPark in downtown Dayton.
• The Dayton African-American Cultural Festival, a one day family event will feature an African Village, a pavilion of paintings, live R&B Gospel and jazz performances, Saturday August 28 at RiverScape MetroPark in downtown Dayton.
• Ole! Enjoy the annual celebration of Hispanic culture and the Hispanic Heritage Festival Saturday, September 11 at RiverScape MetroPark in downtown Dayton.
• The national traveling exhibition Modern Masters from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, opened July 24 at The Dayton Art Institute and explores the development of American abstract art in the postwar era. The exhibition will be on view at The Dayton Art Institute through October 10. Modern Masters features 43 key paintings and sculptures by 31 of the most celebrated artists who came to maturity in the 1950s. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (60+) and students (18+ w/ID), $6 for youth (ages 7-18), and free for museum members and children ages 6 & under. Free Third Thursdays, introduced as part of the museum’s 90th Anniversary, will offer free admission to Modern Masters on August 19 and September 16. Call 937-223-5277 www.daytonartinstitute.org/modernmasters.
• The MVRA is kicking off Summer Restaurant Week at White Allen European Auto July 21, 2010 with a Sneak Peek to Restaurant Week. Summer Restaurant Week is July 25 - 30, with numerous restaurants offering 3 course meals for $20.10! To see a list of participating restaurants and menu options visit www.dineoutdayton.org
• Celebrate Celtic heritage through music, dance, cultural demonstrations, and food at the Dayton Celtic Festival July 30 - August 1. This free event is being held at the new RiverScape MetroPark in downtown Dayton! Call 937-372-9788 for more information.
• Surf’s Up! Check out the August 14th Surf Ohio Festiki 2010 at Old River Park. This 2nd annual family-friendly event is a celebration of classic surf, tiki and hot rod culture. Food, music and entertainment 2-10pm www.festiki.com
• Bike with a National Park Ranger! Join a Ranger on historic bike tours of various aviation sites on July 25 August 8 or August 22. Call 937-425-0008 or visit www.nps.gov/daav for more information.
• The 27th Annual Germanfest Picnic will take place August 13-15th at Carillon Historical Park. Visit www.daytongermanclub.org for more information.
• Vroom! Check out the Trans Am Nationals August 27-29 at the Dayton Marriott. Free. Call 937-667-4232 or visit www.78ta.com/nats for more information.
• Be sure to attend the Montgomery County Fair, September 1-3, which features animals, exciting shows and exhibits, rides, antiques, food and much more! Visit www.montcofair.com for more details.
• Don’t miss the FREE Giant Scale RC Model Aircraft Air Show September 3-5 at the National Museum of the USAF. See daring acrobatics performed by model jets, helicopters and war birds during a 3-day air show. Call 937-255-3286 or visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil for more information.
• All of the excitement is in downtown Dayton on Friday, September 10 for Urban Nights. This free event showcases downtown’s dining, nightlife, art, music, retail, urban living and more. Call 937-224-1518 or visit www.downtowndayton.org for more information.
• Get your Greek on September 11-13 at the annual Greek Festival. Enjoy Greek food, music and more on the grounds of the Greek Orthodox Church in downtown Dayton. Free admission. Call 937-224-0601 for more information.
• The Dayton Art Institute’s OKTOBERFEST and annual festival on September 24-26 highlights arts and crafts from approximately 75 vendors, food from over 30 international food vendors, a wide selection of domestic and imported beers, along with continuous live entertainment, as well as family and kids activities. Additionally the museum galleries are open to all visitors. Call 937-223-5277 for more information.

Help Us Welcome These Groups

A small SAMPLING of groups coming in the next three months. For a complete listing contact Bev Rose at the Dayton/Montgomery County CVB at 937-226-8226

Contact the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau today to learn how the CVB can save you time and money by providing complimentary assistance to bring your next social or business group’s event to Dayton, The Birthplace of Aviation!

On The Road

Here’s a sampling of where Bureau staff is headed in our ongoing effort to bring business to Dayton/Montgomery County.

Jacquelyn Y. Powell
President/CEO
Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau

President’s Corner

Conventions, travel and tourism are big business for Dayton/Montgomery County! Every two years the CVB partners with the Ohio Department of Development’s Tourism Division on an integrated consumer-based research study conducted by renowned and respected Longwoods International and Tourism Economics. The CVB is one of 53 county/city convention & visitors bureaus, cities and economic development boards that take part in the study.

Data just released detailing the economic impact of travel and tourism in Dayton/Montgomery County for 2009 shows that Dayton/Montgomery County’s travel and tourism industry---

• Contributed more than $39 million in local taxes
• Generated $1.5 billion in sales for local businesses
• Sustained nearly 20,000 local jobs in 2009.

These significant visitor spending, tax and employment figures are essential factors to consider when evaluating the importance of travel and tourism to Montgomery County’s economy. Travel and tourism bring outside dollars into our community. It is also important to consider the indirect benefits that result from this important industry. By improving the quality of our lives, travel and tourism not only plays an important role in economic development but also makes our community more conducive for new business development and recruitment.

The Bureau is proud of our local hospitality partners---hotels, meeting venues, attractions, restaurants, and more---who help make our community such a great place to host conventions and events, and to visit. Together we truly make a significant impact on our area’s economic vitality. We encourage you, our readers, to help us increase and broaden the positive economic impact by reflecting on the various social, civic, professional, religious, military or sporting organizations to which you belong, and then notifying the CVB of any conventions, meetings, events or tournaments that those organizations might host. We would be delighted to bring those events to Dayton/Montgomery County. Our services are free and our professional, knowledgeable staff handles the work. Call us today at 937-226-8281.

Jacquie Powell

Contact the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau today for your free Destination Dayton Visitors Guide. 937-226-8211 or 800-221-8235 or www.daytoncvb.com

Copyright © 2009 Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved.
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