ISLAND AMBASSADORS

$23K of lodging tax revenue for Ambassador program

posted 3/22/2006
The Friday Harbor Lodging Tax Advisory Committee voted to give $23,000 to the Island Ambassador program in this year's lodging tax allocations. Organizer Minnie Knych presented a slide show and brought speakers to sell the lodging tax advisoty committee on the idea of funding the program.

The committee held a special meeting Tuesday, March 21 to discuss the program and asked Knych to present a detailed budget. After the presentation and speeches she gave them a copy of her proposed budget.

It included $5,000 for the manager, $2,000 for paperwork and administrative costs. The number of ambassadors would be reduced from last year's 12 to 8. They would work from July 4 through August 16. They would be paid minimum wage for 20 hours per week.

Fate of Island Ambassador program to be decided Tuesday

posted 3/20/2006
Last year, the Friday Harbor Lodging Tax Advisory Committee allocated $40,000 to underwrite the Island Ambassador program. High school students worked in groups of two or three throughout town to answer visitors' questions. This year, the committee offered $10,000 and a possibility of some additional funds. At a meeting March 17, questions arose about whether any hotel/motel funds should be used on the program this year.

Committee members agreed to hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 21 in town hall to listen to organizer Minnie Knych explain in detail how she will operate the program with the lesser amount of money. The committee has the $10,000 it originally offered plus an additional $13,000.

Last year, the ambassadors answered questions from 6,000 visitors.Hotel/motel tax money is to be used for promotion of tourism.

Knych said she hopes as a result of the the program the San Juan Islands will be branded as "the hospitality islands. " "This program is also planting the seeds to create a systemic change in the overall attitude of our community and young people toward the hospitality industry, " she said. "50% of our working population is employed in a business or occupation that is some how related to tourism. Yet, the attitude toward tourism is not a positive one – especially in our schools. I would like to see us improve that attitude and consequently have a better trained summer work force with excellent customer service skills. "

Victoria, B.C. has an Ambassador program and Anacortes has asked if the Workforce Development Council will help them develop an Ambassador program.

Knych says the bulk of the funds will be spent on wages for the Ambassadors. They are paid for a 20-hour work week with 10 hours of non-paid training per week. The pay rate is $7.63 per hour (the state minimum wage.) There are two reasons they must be paid.

1. Liability. L & I and other taxes are added to the wage thus they are covered for accidents, etc.

2. This is a work training program for them. They are mostly 13 and 14 year olds – who have never had jobs before. They learn the lesson of no show equals no pay and if you don’t have on a clean uniform, and your hair groomed you have to go home for the day.

Last summer, training and support was provided by:

• San Juan Chamber of Commerce
  
  
• San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau
  
  
• San Juan Public Schools
  
  
• San Juan Grange
  
  
• San Juan County Sheriff
  
  
• Port of Friday Harbor
  
  
• San Juan Historical Society
  
  
• San Juan Community Theater
  
  
• San Juan Sheriff’s Dept.
  
  
• San Juan Island Bed & Breakfast Association
  
  
• San Juan Island EMT Association
  
  
• National Park Service
  
  
• Roche Harbor Resort
  
  
• WA State Ferries
  
  
• Highline Community College
  
  
• Whale Museum
  
  
• Windermere Real Estate
  
  
• Northwest WA Workforce Development Council

San Juan Transit provided free bus passes for the Ambassadors who talked to tourists while riding to and from Roche Harbor for duty. WA State Ferries provided a stem-to-stern tour of the ferry, free ferry tickets for Ambassadors and supervision of the crew while they rode the ferry to talk to tourists. On the way to Anacortes, Ambassadors conducted surveys of visitor satisfaction for the Visitor Bureau. On the way back to Friday Harbor, they distributed maps and brochures.

Emily Reed donated Emily’s Guides maps and taught map reading skills, Mike Vouri provided ranger interpretive training, San Juan Community Theater provided training in communication skills. Highline College gave college credit for their work and training. Friday Harbor High School provided a classroom and a van and school credit. Crystal Seas provided a kayak trip and a whale watch trip as training and team building experiences. Ambassadors completed a portfolio at the end of their summer and some of their comments from portfolios are posted below.

Ambassadors earned rewards for achievement. These were donated by local businesses. Rewards included:

• Free Bowling passes @ Paradise Lanes
  
  
• Free movie passes from Palace Theater
  
  
• Free swim passes @ San Juan Fitness
  
  
• Tickets to the Flight Museum
  
  
• A 5 gallon tub of bubble gum Ice Cream to share with each other.
  
  
• Whale watch trips on San Juan Excursions

Some quotes from Ambassador portfolios:

My favorite part of the training was the bed and breakfast tour. That was also the first time I had ever visited a bed and breakfast, I had no idea what they were like. Brooke Jangard

The most interesting thing I did this summer was talk to 30 visitors from California who had arrived on the 12:15 ferry and wanted to catch the 1:00 PM boat back. I convinced them to stay till the 5:00 PM boat. - Landis Pederson

Training was the highlight of my summer! Waking up early is never something to look forward to, but excitement wakes you up in a heart beat”. - Angela Gossom

During the summer, I got better at my opening lines and body language, which were not at all welcoming at the beginning. - Alaina Schultz

I learned that people respect you more when you are dressed up and clean and neat. - Riley Eltrich

My favorite part of training was the Whale Watch trip. I suspected the Whale Watching organizations were secretly hurting and killing innocent, unsuspecting whales. I learned that they do not use anything harmful to the whales. After I was put at ease, I had fun learning about our fellow watchers from the Carolina’s and other places I had only dreamed of. - Heaven DeLaZerda

The most rewarding part of the job was the feeling I had after I had just helped a visiting family and could see I had made their trip better. - Ron Groseclose

The businesses in Friday Harbor benefited because we helped people find places and I think we sent them more business… Because of the Ambassador program, I know more about my island and how much we depend on tourism here. - Ursula Stegman

I learned that we have 20 B&B’s and how they’re different from hotels, I learned of many shops and stores that I thought we didn’t have, and I learned there is way more then one Whale Watching Tour Boat. - Angela Gossom

After the noon ferry crowd dispersed, I noticed four folks downtown looking over their map and asked if I could help.

Turns out they were from Israel and said they had been given all the information they needed from some young people in blue shirts at the ferry dock. We have traveled all over your country,’ they said, ‘and this was the nicest welcome we've gotten from any town or city. You should be proud of them.

Oh, yeah, just as proud as I can be... - 2005 Coordinator, Jeff Vanderford.

Ambassadors impress Lions

Island Ambassador Program Coordinator Jeff Vanderford, Bettye Hendrickson and Minnie Knych look on as the Island Ambassadors enjoy their pizza party. The Ambassador program was Knych's idea.

posted 08/17/05
The Island Ambassadors were treated to an end of season pizza party by new resident and new owner of The Boardwalk Bookstore, Bettye Hendrickson. Before the party, the students received a standing ovation at the San Juan Lion's Club Tuesday's weekly luncheon. They were thanked for their skillful assistance this summer with visitors and locals. Bettye Hendrickson was so impressed with the helpful attitude, friendliness and courtesy of the Island Ambassadors.

Ambassadors show the way

Island Ambassador Landis Pederson gives directions to a visitor to Friday Harbor.

posted 08/09/05
The most common question Island Ambassador Ron Groseclose has been asked this summer is "Do you really live here?" The Friday Harbor teen is one of a dozen students who are spending their summer answering questions from visitors. They earn school credit, $1500 stipend and gain valuable job skills while helping visitors find such things as public restrooms, shuttle buses, the Whale Museum and wheelchairs.

The Ambassadors wear bright blue shirts, white pants, name tags and carry cellphones. The program is the brainchild of Minnie Knych. The Town of Friday Harbor financed this year's pilot program with funds from the hotel/motel tax. Knych hopes to expand the program to Orcas Island next year.

Island Ambassador Coordinator Jeff Vanderford updated the town council on the program during their August 2, 2005 meeting. The students spent a few weeks learning communication skills, grooming tips and information about the island. Brent Snow of Roche Harbor spent a day giving them an indepth tour of the resort. Mike Vouri gave the teens tours of English Camp and filled them in on island history. Dan Ward took the students on a tour of the island in his shuttle van.

The San Juan Historical Museum and the Whale Museum participated in the training sessions. The students also went kayaking and whale watching.

Washington State Ferries is very supportive of the program, according to Vanderford. The teens were given complete tours of the ferries including the engine room. They have security passes and WSF has provided tickets for the Ambassadors riding the ferry.

Vanderford said more than 160 surveys have been completed by visitors. The data will be compiled and San Juan Islands Visitor Bureau Director Deborah Hopkins will present a report in September to the council.

The Ambassador program will end August 19 so the students can get ready for school. During their last few days, they will have one more piece of information to hand out - brochures about the San Juan County Fair which runs from August 17 to 20.

Island Ambassadors begin training

posted 05/26/05
The first group of San Juan Island Ambassadors - Heaven DeLazerda, Riley Eltrich, Stephen Garfield, Angela Gossom, Ron Groseclose, Lizzy Guard, Hudson Hawkins, Brooke Jangard, Ursula Stegman, Flynn McGilvrey, Theo Pratt, Landis Pederson, Alaina Schultz and Mollie Taylor - are learning island history and developing customer service skills. They will spend the summer assisting tourists visiting San Juan Island. "We want tourists to feel glad they came, stay longer, experience all we have to offer and, most important, come back," Program Coordinator Jeff VanDerford said.

The high school students will work in teams on ferries, at Roche Harbor, Friday Harbor, American and English Camp. They will be paid, receive school credit and gain real-world work experience in the tourism industry.

Minnie Knych of the Northwest Workforce Development Council developed the idea this past winter and garnered support from the business community. The Town of Friday Harbor agreed to use some of the hotel/motel tax revenue to help pay for the program. "This is a pioneer group," said Knych. "As such, they will be setting the standard for all future Ambassadors to come."

Knych: Island Ambassadors
are a Win-WIn-Win

posted 02/14/05
Where's a good place to eat? What is there to do on San Juan Island? Where are the restrooms? What time do the whales go by? Visitors to Friday Harbor next summer will be able to easily find the answers to most of those questions if the Island Ambassador program works out as planned. Minnie Knych of Northwest Workforce is spearheading the development of the program which will include eight to 10 high school students trained in island history and customer service.

The students will greet visitors,provide information and distribute maps. "The goal is 100 percent customer satisfaction," Knych said.

Highly motivated students chosen for the program, will attend classes and go on field trips to learn about the islands and about customer service. Mike Vouri at the National Historic Parks - American and English Camp has offered to give the students Park Service training. San Juan Historical Society will educate the ambassadors about the history of the island. Kayaking and whale watching trips will produce hands-on experience for the students.

By completing the program, students will receive lifelong career skills, customer service training, school credit and possibly a scholarship/stipend. Knych says the San Juan Island School District will provide a classroom for the program this summer. In Spring 2006, a class on exploring careers in the hospitality industry, will be offered as part of the high school curriculum.

Knych said, visitors will receive information and educaton about the islands. If they have a good time on the islands, they will tell other people and perhaps return for another visit.

Businesses will benefit from having better educated consumers and satisfied customers who will return. Island Ambassadors will gather feedback from the visitors. The good and bad will be passed on to individual businesses.

Knych and Jim Carroll plan to present the idea to the Friday Harbor Town Council within the next few weeks. The Town collects 4 percent hotel/motel tax which can only be used for promotion of tourism. Knych hopes funding might be available for the program. For more information email Knych at knych@rockisland.com>

SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008

news @sanjuanislander.com

ABOUT US | ADVERTISING INFO | CONTACT INFORMATION |