Texas Plains Trail Roundup 2016 

Presenter Lineup and Schedule Highlights
Wed., JULY 20    Arrive and enjoy your afternoon and evening in Childress, Texas

2:30-4:00    Texas Plains Trail Region Board Meeting. At Childress Event Center, 1100 7th St., NW, Childress TX 79201, (940) 937-4100. Open to the public; please RSVP to info@TexasPlainsTrail.com by July 15.
1:00–5:00 pm    Early arrival registration and exhibitor setup, Large hall, Childress Event Center.
5:30–7:30 pm    Opening Reception, 501 Winery, 109 Ave. E NW, Childress, TX 79201
$85; reception addtl. $25
7:30 pm until—    Dinner and networking at local restaurants on your own.

THURS., JULY 21    TPTR Roundup at Childress Event Center, 1100 7th St., NW, Childress TX 79201
8–9 am    Registration and Welcome Coffee, courtesy of Childress Women’s League (breakfast on your own, at hotels)   
9–9:30 am    Welcome to Childress  
9:30–9:50    “Gone to the Texas Plains Trail.” Travel video promotion for our region, designed by Texas Plains Trail interns and produced by Doug Baum of the Texas Camel Corps; overview of TPTR’s strategic goals for 2016–17 by board president Kristine Olsen (Dalhart) and advocacy chair Suzanne Bellsnyder (Spearman).
9:45–10:30 am    The Red River War Heritage Partners Project: Get on Board! An update by Panhandlle-Plains Historical Museum curator Michael Grauer. You’ve been hearing about the Red River War Partners summit in Old Mobeetie in June 2016, driven by the Panhandle Tourism Marketing Council and Childress museum board member John Preston. Here’s your chance to learn more about the ways your museums, sites, and communities can benefit from—and contribute to—the synergy in drawing visitors to “one of the most significant American wars you’ve never heard of.” Take home lessons and practical goals from this major interpretation/education/marketing initiative as it’s just starting to build up steam.
10:30–10:50 am    Snack & Beverage Break. Sodas, light treats, and a chance to network with friends from all over. Visit exhibit booths.   
10:50–11:50 am    Trail Drives, Rail Lives: Preserving and Celebrating “Linear Resources” in Our Region
With highlights from The Last Stagecoach to Matador (Carol Campbell, Motley County); The Underwood Pullman Car Project (Pam Brink & Cindy Martin, Lubbock County); the Bankhead Highway Tourism (Big Spring, Colorado City); and The Great US 83 Whistle-Stop Tour (Barbara Brannon, TPTR)   
11:50—noon    Restroom and Exhibit Booth Break. Visit exhibit booths. Bring plenty of your own business cards to swap!   
12:00–1:15 pm
Lunch and keynote presentation    “Adventures of a Back-Trailer” with State Historian of Texas Bill O’Neal.
1:15–1:45 pm    Book Fair and Signing by Bill O’Neal and regional authors/publishers.   
1:45–2:30 pm    Getting on Track and Staying There with Local Event Promotions. Lisa Mahler (Borden County), Holle Humphries (Quanah Parker Trail), and Conrad Masterson (Cottle County), and Barbara Brannon (Texas 52-Step Tour) describe successful event strategies and open up discussion on how we can tap into resources for sharing more widely.   
2:30–3:00 pm    Practical Plans for Promoting Events. Fairs, rodeos, farmers’ markets, classic car rallies—events of all sorts draw publicity and participation to our region—but only if we get the word out! We’ll strategize for 2016–17.   
3:00–3:30 pm    Snack and Beverage Break Light treats and more networking. Take one last opportunity to visit exhibitor booths.   
3:30–4:00 pm    Texas through the Lens of Videographer Russell Graves. Wildlife photographer/videographer Russell Graves, head of the Childress EDC, shares some of his favorite adventures and images.   
4:00–4:45 pm    Full Steam Ahead: New Opportunities for TPTR. TTIA Travel Fair Amarillo; Authentic Texas Magazine   
5:00–until    Tour of Childress County Heritage Museum; Dinner and Entertainment at The Main Event, downtown Childress

FRI., July 22     9:30–11:30 am. Workshop: Legislative Advocacy 101. Refreshments served.    INCL.
Register & book hotels at www.TexasPlainsTrail.com/Roundup. info@TexasPlainsTrail.com; 806.747.1997