After several months of applying, waiting and then finally getting approval Siouxsan Eisen was sworn in April 30 as the representative for the Kearney area of the Clay County Tourism Board.

Eisen said it was a long process but that she was glad that one of Kearney’s own would be representing the town.

“I do believe that each town should have their own representative,” Eisen said. “Even though the board keeps all of Clay County in mind, it’s hard for them to know all of the events and unique things about each town. I am just really grateful to have the opportunity to represent Kearney.”

Eisen was especially pleased to be able to share with the board about Kearney’s new amphitheater and the special events that are planned, like the recent Mr. Stinky Feet concert that brought hundreds of children and their families to Kearney.

“The board was unaware that the amphitheater was already finished,” Eisen said. “Without an individual town representative things like that would go unseen and unheard, and that’s something that puts everyone at a disadvantage.”

Another disadvantage that Eisen saw was that more people haven’t been involved in area tourism, which has the potential to bring in billions of dollars to Missouri each year, according to the Missouri Division of Tourism.

“Each town has their own history, unique shops and attractions,” Eisen said. “There are plenty of other options for tourists, so we need to work together to promote Clay County. The first thing people should know is that our meetings are open and they are welcome.

“It’s interesting to see how we make Clay County stand out on the radar and see what efforts are made to make that bus driving through stop and notice each of our towns.”

Eisen said she was appreciative of the board’s efforts to include Kearney in the board’s discussions on tourism before her appointment. She is particularly grateful for, Board President Jeff Samborski and County Liaison Leslie Ensign efforts.

“I’m grateful to the board that they took the initiative,” Eisen said. “It’s nice to learn about all of the things the board is doing and be able to see firsthand their level of commitment.”

To some, tourism may seem all about boring museums but Tracey Berry, communications officer for the Missouri Division of Tourism, said that in the northwest region of Missouri, Clay County was second only to Jackson County in the amount of money that tourists spent each year, money that’s spent at area casinos, theme parks, historic sites, restaurants and retail stores. Of the attractions that Clay County has to offer, many are located in or near Kearney, making it a great tourist destination and an excellent opportunity for area businesses owners to accommodate the tourists.

While Eisen works hard as the executive director of the Kearney Chamber of Commerce and is busy with various activities, she said it was still her goal to be the best representative for Kearney that she could be and bring as much tourism money to Kearney that she could.

“I hope to be the best representative that I can be for Kearney,” Eisen said. “It’s my goal to bring new ideas and be an active participant.

THE DETAILS:

For more information about the Clay County Tourism Board, call 407-3600.

Staff writer Carrie Alexander can be reached at 628-6010 or carriealexander@npgco.com.

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