Now that spring has arrived, the bleakness of winter is starting to fade. For those of us in the Snow Belt, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. What a relief! My thoughts turn to breezing down the open road as weekend driving trips seem appealing once again. And baseball fans like me take heart that Major League teams will celebrate opening day next week, a sure sign that better weather lies ahead.

In this first spring issue of InSite, take a look at community theater opportunities in the Southeastern states, from the Jenny Wiley Amphitheatre in the highlands of Kentucky to city playhouses in Little Rock, Louisville and Memphis. Another article spotlights the five tourism regions of Maryland, a small state loaded with attractions from the mountains to the seashore.

Wherever you live, take a spring break from your computer and enjoy the great outdoors. You deserve it!

Randy

Wetlands offer Cancun protection and range of ecotourism possibilities

Sarah Willoughby, CTP, CTIS named Executive Director at Greater Wilmington CVB

Historic Newport, RI- Group Tours

Few things unite a community quite as well as local theater. After all, a good production offers a role for everyone, whether through acting, directing, writing, designing sets or selling tickets. Armed with a passionate spirit of volunteerism, the best community theater weaves together the talents and skills of a diverse group of individuals in order to entertain, educate, enrich and inspire the community as well as visitors who become a part of it for an evening.

From the amateur theatricals enjoyed in colonial days to the founding of the first players groups in 1874, America has been passionate about local theater. Community theater has been known by many names throughout the years, including art theater, little theater and amateur theater. According to the American Association of Community Theatre, the current title was coined in 1917 by Louise Burleigh and perhaps best conveys the special sense of community that this beloved art form inspires.

Community theater is alive and well in the Southeast, offering travelers an opportunity to see the locals at their best. Whether taking in a classic drama, roaring comedy or lively musical production, visitors will be charmed by the intimate gatherings of local talent and the glimpse into Southern culture provided by theaters throughout the region.

Although it is one of America's smallest states, Maryland packs in a wide variety of things to do and see, from modern technologies to historical and cultural landmarks, to natural treasures on land and water. Each of the state's five regions is distinctly appealing and together they draw visitors back again and again.

Admittedly I am not a big TV fan. But there are times when "The Tube" becomes a useful educational tool as it relates to marketing and sales.

This past week alone, I went to school on several such events. They involved a dog show, a college student, a golf tournament and a regularly scheduled weekly program. Let me share with you what I took away from each program.

When problem solving gets to be as easy as swimming through molasses, it's not likely due to the intricacies of the problem itself, but to the emotions of the parties involved. This article describes 5 tools to help subordinate emotions to a process that eases and accelerates problem solving.

Tired of doing the same old trips for your group? Are your members complaining they want something new? Maybe it's time to broaden your group's horizons and plan a trip of a lifetime. A trip they wouldn't do themselves - in fact, a trip they wouldn't know how to do themselves.

I'm talking about a trip wrapped around a world event. It could be an event that happens once a year or one that only happens once every ten years like the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany.

Trips revolving around a specific event can bring an excitement and a promotional focal point to your travel program. Such trips should be booked well in advance through a reliable tour operator rather than trying to do it yourself.

One event you may consider for your group trips is The Floriade in the Netherlands. It comes around again in 2012.

You can find more examples on events you may wrap your group trip around in Marty's book How to Plan, Operate and Lead Successful Group Trips.