Guide lines for planning First Tapping/Fall Tours and other Special Events

 

 

1 – Plan early, for better preparedness.

 

2 – Pick a suitable registration place. Possibly a Town Hall, DNR station, Forest Service Station, churches, etc.

 

3 – The use of nametags makes the event more sociable.

 

4 – Having a few refreshments such as milk, coffee, rolls or doughnuts at the registration point adds to welcoming of the guests.

 

5 – The Association should have a certain amount of dollars set for these events. However, if the people organizing the event figure they need more than the specified amount, they should first obtain permission to exceed the amount from two (2) of the Association’s officers, so there will be no problems later.

 

6 – Where transportation is needed, school buses are cheaper on short trips. On longer trips, charter passenger buses are preferable, because of toilet facilities. Each place visited should have ample room for cars and buses to park and turnaround.

 

7 – Pick places to visit that will be interesting for your guests and not too expensive. Your county extension agents and the local chamber of commerce can be helpful in this area. They may be able to provide literature for the points of interest to be visited.

 

 8 – When it comes to dinner and lunches, pick places that have proven to have good food at a fair price. Meals should be flexible for the attendance numbers.

 

9 – Places to visit should include things that our guests would be interested in seeing and come home with a learning experience or something they might want to compare with their own ideas or equipment, etc.

 

10 – There should be a tour guide on each bus to point out any points of interests along the way.

 

11 – The host of each sugar bush or establishment should give a welcoming speech and a brief history of their place and be prepared to answer questions.

 

12 – Persons hosting the tour stop should try hard to have everything as neat as possible, so as to make the best impression as possible. This will certainly help give maple syrup a good image.

 

13 – These tours are an association event. All monies made shall belong to the association. These tours and events are to promote the Wisconsin maple industry, not private parties.

 

14 – As maple producers, let us leave each placed toured in the same shape and condition as when we came and thank the good people for their efforts in entertaining us!