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Meet the 2008 "Wonders Committee" |
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"The Best Towns Committee (L-R Front Row: Gary Knowles, Jessica Doyle, Mike Peroutka;
Second Row: Betty Stark, Mary Bergin; Third Row: Martin Hintz, Rick Murphy. Not Pictured: Dennis McCann)
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The Wonders of Wisconsin Finalists Selection Committee |
This committee was invited to participate by Gary Knowles who initiated the Wonders of Wisconsin discussion with travel writers Mary Bergin and Betty Stark in December 2006. He followed up over the next several weeks to develop the concept.
Committee members were chosen based on several criteria: |
- They had to be long time Wisconsin residents who have traveled the state;
- They must have extensive personal knowledge of Wisconsin gained firsthand by visiting a wide variety of places, attractions, accommodations and events;
- They must have a significant record of communicating and/or publishing in various media the positive aspects of Wisconsin people and destinations;
- They must have previously demonstrated interest in sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for Wisconsin;
- They must have a willingness to lend their expertise to the effort, be willing to spend some time reviewing nominations and have a strong desire to make this an enjoyable project for all.
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The Committee’s responsibilities included reviewing the nominations, establishing, combining and refining categories, moving nominations into appropriate categories and suggesting additional nominees.
Knowles met with Wisconsin Department of Tourism staff who liked the concept and agreed to assist on the selection committee.
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- Mary Bergin –Madison - “Roads Traveled” weekly column: Midwest Features Syndicate- Author: Sidetracked in Wisconsin; Board of Directors, Midwest Travel Writers Association
- Jessica Doyle – Madison - Wisconsin’s First Lady; Syndicated statewide weekly travel feature: Where’s Jessica?! ; Educator
- Martin Hintz – Milwaukee – Travel Writer, Guidebooks: Wisconsin Off the Beaten Path-Wisconsin Family Adventure Guide; Hiking Wisconsin; Backroads of Wisconsin; Got Murder; Past President: Society of American Travel Writers; Chair of the SATW Freelance Council
- Gary Knowles – Madison - Travel Editor-The Shepherd Express (Milwaukee) – Author: The Great Wisconsin Touring Book – Sites Coordinator: Midwest Travel Writers Association; OpenAir Tours - auto tour co-founder & co-director
- Dennis McCann – Bayfield/Madison - travel writer, recently retired after some 20+ years as travel columnist for the Milwaukee Journal – Sentinel; author of books Rough Stuff (golf columns, 2007), The Wisconsin Story, 150 Stories/150 Years (1998) and Dennis McCann Takes you for a Ride (1990)
- Rick Murphy – Madison - Producer & Host of The Rick Murphy Show on WIBA-AM 1310 in Madison – Travel, events, entertainment and the arts from Wisconsin & beyond
- Mike Peroutka – Green Bay - information technology specialist, website and survey developer, lifetime Wisconsin travel fan, OpenAir Tours -auto-tour co-founder & co-director
- Betty Stark – Portage - Travel Writer & syndicated Columnist “Traveler’s Tales”; Editor of travel newsletters; freelance writer.
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