Hi fellow innkeepers, As I write this, we’re receiving a light dusting of snow and the outdoor thermometer is registering +10 degrees, no wind. What a beautiful day for sledding and snow angels.

We had a wonderful turn-out for the BBISD Annual Conference held in January at the K Bar S, just outside of Keystone. A beautiful location, great food and many great ideas were exchanged. Thank you again to the committee for all their fine work. Next year’s conference will be held in the Glacial Lakes area following the South Dakota Tourism Conference.

BBISD has received a gift of four motivational tapes to begin a reference library. The audio tapes, published by PAII, are titled “A Preview of Emerging Lifestyles and Travel Trends”, by Dr. Peter C. Yesawich, "Inn Your Gift Shop”, by T. Wilk & V. Hunsberger, and a set of two tapes “Beyond Guest Service in Cyberspace: B&B Technology Strategies and the Answers You’re Looking For”, by Glen Christopher. If you are interested in “checking out” the tapes, please give me a call or e-mail me and I’ll send your choice (877-922-1716 or ftcrkbnb@nrctv.com). Some of you may recall that Dr. Yesawich was one of the keynote speakers at this year’s SD Tourism Conference. He’s worth the listen. Thank you, Betty & Larry Swick, for sharing these tapes.

Marilyn & Art Oakes have graciously agreed to host the BBISD Board Retreat on March 30 & 31 at Buffalo Rock Lodge. At this meeting we will be discussing the marketing plan for the association, reviewing the by-laws, electing board positions, and taking care of other business. We’re asking attendees to bring a sack lunch. The meeting will start Friday at 12:30 p.m. Mountain Time. We’ll work until around 5 p.m. then stop for dinner (we’ll pick a restaurant – Dutch treat) then reconvene the meeting at 9 a.m., MDT, on Saturday morning. We’ll adjourn at noon and send everyone on their way. The meeting is open to all membership, and we’d appreciate your presence and input. Just let us know your desire to attend. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll be holding the meeting via conference call.

We have quite a few openings available on the BBISD Board, and as they say “Many hands make light work.” We’ve cut down on traveling by doing the conference calls for our meetings. BBISD is picking up the cost, so it costs nothing for a member inn to be included in the call. If you are busy, you’re the one we need. Please consider becoming involved in helping to promote the bed and breakfast industry in South Dakota. Apple Annie's, Flavia's, Vixie's Victorian Villa and the Steever House were all elected to the Board and positions will be determined at the retreat at Buffalo Rock Lodge on March 30 and 31.

We’d like to welcome Talk of the Town (new owners Mary Beth & Dan Sutton, Flandreau), Clark’s Prairie Gold (E. Clark Edwards, Letcher), Vixie’s Victorian Villa (Dennis & Vixie Miller, Rapid City) Smiling Bear (Sam & Linda Brown, Hill City) and Victoria’s Country B&B (Victoria Johnson, Wall) to BBISD. Please stop by these inns if you’re in the area, or give them a call, and let them know that we appreciate them.

Thank you to all of our members for your continued commitment to increasing awareness of the B&B industry in South Dakota. Give us a call or e-mail us with your comments, questions or concerns. Hope to see you in March at the retreat.

Carla & Ron Kaaz, BBISD Chair, Foote Creek B&B, Aberdeen