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Pictures of REDTT's 2005 Rural Tourism Conference Monday & Tuesday, April 25-26 Mimbres Valley Special Events Center Deming, N.M. "Making Tracks Along the Border" The purpose of the REDTT annual meeting is to provide education, information and networking opportunities to tourism professionals and volunteers. This two day event includes: FAM tours of the area in which the meeting is being held; workshops on tourism issues including, but not limited to, tracks in "ag" tourism, technology, business, arts, historical preservation and more; keynote speakers; food; and fun!!! Please enjoy the following pictures taken by John McClure and July McClure of Deming, NM

Old West Country Advisory Council highlighted opening day activities of the Rural Tourism Conference, by having a Region 2 meeting during the first morning of the conference.	REDTT staff, Department of Tourism and Old West Country representatives take time out to poise for a photo. Pictured left to right, George Pintar, REDTT; Mike Cerletti, Cabinet Secretary NM Tourism Department; Dora Dominguez, REDTT; Mike Trumbell, Old West Country; Efrain Villa, NM Tourism Department; Olivia Placencia, Anthony Visitor Center; (front row, left to right) Susan LaFont, Sierra County; Keith LaMay, Old West Country; and Sally Haigler, Socorro Chamber of Commerce.	Dora Dominguez, REDTT Project Director; Lee-Ann Evans, REDTT Accounting Technician; and Jean N. Pintar, Luna County volunteer; work to register conference attendees.
Dora Dominguez, REDTT Project Director.	Deb Franzoy, Deputy Director, REDTT	Allison Southworth, REDTT Project Coordinator and Hospitality and Customer Service Trainer.
Allen Rosenberg, Luna CTC Chair, worked as a familiarization tour guide for conference attendees making the trek to Columbus, NM and Palomas, Mexico.	Frank Chiprich, Deming Historic Landmark Commission, worked as a familiarization tour guide for conference attendees touring historical downtown Deming.	Janet Krish, New Mexico State Parks.
	Deming High School ROTC presentation of colors as part of the annual conference banquet opening.	Bridget Kelley, Deming Luna County Chamber of Commerce and friend
Luna County Film Office conference trade show booth.	Kelly Goodpasture, Southwest Dairy Farmers, has a great "milk" smile!	Christy Tafoya, NM State Parks, takes time to visit with a conference attendee.
Bill McCamley, New Mexico Rural Response Council and Dona Ana County Commission Chairman.	Ken Shultz and Rick Shoudt, Lamar Outdoor Advertising	NMDA staff members, Doug Rains and (?)
Mona Medina, NM Tourism Department takes a moment to visit with a conference attendee.	Deb Franzoy, REDTT Deputy Director, assists and models donated door prize items.	Allison Southworth, REDTT, (pictured center) assists with providing information during the conference tradeshow.
Big Red, NM Tourism Department's traveling visitor center took up residence at this year's rural tourism conference.	Sam Baca, Mayor of Deming and Dona Irwin, NM State Senator, Deming were among the elected dignitaries who attended the Monday evening banquet.	Mayor Baca and Suzanne D'Avalon, County of Deming, take a moment to poise for photos during the conference tradeshow.
Ronald McDonald was also on hand for the conference opening day festivities.	Pictured left to right: Gino Lujan, Guadalupe County Extension Agent and Ron Lamb, Grant County Extension Agent, spent time visiting with conference attendees prior to the conference workshops.	A. Dennis Armijo, County of Luna Chairman, District One, helped to officially welcome conference attendees on behalf of the County of Luna.
Dora Dominguez, REDTT Project Director, served as the conference mistress of ceremonies.	Workshop presenters and keynote presenters were presented with a hand painted bottle of wine provided by St. Clair Vineyard and Wine Tasting Room.	Deming Mayor Sam Baca.
The Great American Duck Race of Deming Inc. delighted conference attendees by staging a mini-duck race event.	For one buck a duck participants could rent a racing duck.	All proceeds were distributed as prize money paid the winning duck racer.
Armando Martinez, Pancho Villa State Park, park dedication ceremony. The dedication was held to coincide with the annual conference familiarization tour, which included Pancho Villa State Park, located in Columbus, NM.	New Mexico State park officials and invited guest look on during the park dedication ceremony.	Left to right: Armando Martinez, Brian Howtin, both of Pancho Villa State Park, and a ceremony guest.
Rock Hound State Park sign points the way for one of three familiarization tours organized for the conference.	Charlie Siepel, Cooperative Extension Southern District Director, toured and served as the bus driver for the St. Clair Vineyard and Wine Tasting Room tour.	Conference attendees on tour of the St. Clair Vineyard wine barrel storage operation.
Deming Mariachi, a performing group from the Hofacket Mid High School under the direction of Albert Valverde.		Banquet center pieces were designed and set up by members of the Luna REDTT Tourism Council, County of Luna Chamber of Commerce and County of Luna employees. Settings were a depiction of the local heritage found in Luna County, inclusive of the railroad, agriculture, ranching and military history
Parish Collins, Real Time Sites, receives sponsorship appreciation plaque from Deb Franzoy, REDTT Deputy Director.	Rheganne Foster, County of Luna (seated center) takes time to network during the conference luncheon event.	Luis Ruiz, McDonald's, receives sponsorship appreciation plaque from Deb Franzoy, REDTT Deputy Director.
Dr. Jerry Schickedanz, Dean NMSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics, officiated a welcome on behalf of New Mexico State University.	Palma's Italian Grill employees dressed in Harvey Hotel nostalgic aprons and railroad conductor caps at the evening banquet event.	Deb Franzoy, REDTT Deputy Director, presents Dean Schickedanz with a sponsorship appreciation plaque during the awards banquet.
Sonia Arteche, Great American Duck Races, receives a appreciation plaque from Deb Franzoy, REDTT Deputy Director.	Barbara Wesley, Cibola County Tourism Council, received a 2005 Spirit of REDTT Award on behalf of REDTT presented by Deb Franzoy. (Award note: The Spirit of REDTT Award is really an acknowledgment by REDTT of the talented community advocates we have throughout New Mexico's rural communities.)	Rheganne Foster, County of Luna, received a 2005 Spirit of REDTT Award presented by Deb Franzoy.
Deb Franzoy and Dora Dominguez together present Tom Dean, Socorro County, with a 2005 Spirit of REDTT Award.	Conference featured keynote presenter, Roger Brooks, CEO and founding member of the award-winning Destination Development, Inc., Roger has worked in the tourism industry for more than 20 years and has become one of the most recognized experts in the field of tourism, consumer trends, marketing and attractions development in the country.	Roger Brooks takes center stage during the conference to facilitate his workshop titled, "The 10 Immutable Rules of Successful Tourism."
Painting by Andres Giron, Catron County Artist and Catron County Chamber of Commerce President, was a featured door prize item provided by REDTT partner counties.	Candy Sweetser, General Manager, KDEM 94.3 FM and KOTS 1230 AM, receives a sponsorship appreciation plaque on behalf of REDTT presented by Deb Franzoy.	Donated door prize items on display.
Roger Burnett, Historical Society for Southeast NM and Chaves Tourism Council President awaits the start of the first track of workshops.	George Pintar, REDTT's newest team member.	Veronica Barnes was a volunteer moderator from Kiwanis Club of Deming, New Mexico.
Doug Rains, NMDA Marketing Director, receives a sponsorship appreciation plaque on behalf of REDTT presented by Deb Franzoy.	Roger Brooks, conference keynote presenter, receives an appreciation plaque presented by Dora Dominguez.	Who is this handsome feller? Does anyone know? Please email me at debfranzoy@nmsu.edu
Dr. James Kadlecek, Executive Director, New Mexico Rural Response Council (NMRRC), helped facilitate conference workshop titled, "So, Where's The Money?"	St. Clair Winery custom painted wine bottles were provided as the 2005 Conference workshop presenter gifts.	Left to right: James Duffy, CES Chaves County and Dean Jerry Schickedanz enjoy time made available to network with each other.
Dean Jerry Schickedanz shares a moment of levity with Gino Lujan, CES Guadalupe County.	New Mexico State University's College of Agriculture and Home Economics Dean, Dr. Jerry Schickedanz	Barbara Hubbard, Executive Director of the American Collegiate Talent Showcase, takes time during workshop break to place a call. Hubbard facilitated the conference workshop titled, "Booking Entertainers To Your Event."
Can't get any better for Ron Lamb who listens in with a look of surprise, as his extension counterparts exchange information.	Pictured left to right: Dean Schickedanz, Gino Lujan, Guadalupe County, Ron Lamb, Grant County, Phil Hibner, Luna County and James Duffy, Chaves County.	Gino Lujan, Guadalupe County, during the conference tradeshow event.
Alvin Dominguez, P.E. - District I Engineer, NM Department of Transportation, facilitated the workshop titled, "Getting Your Sign on the Highway - It Can Be Done!"	Foreground: Mona Medina, NM Tourism Department, addresses the topic of identifying funding sources during the "So, Where's The Money?" workshop (background) Dr. James Kadlecek, NMRRC.	Anna Lyles, Owner, Mesilla Valley Maze, facilitating the "School Tours: Beefing Up the Bottom Line," conference workshop.
Mike Cerletti, Cabinet Secretary, NM Tourism Department, addressed conference attendees as part of the conference closing comments.	George Pintar, REDTT, presents, Christie Tafoya, State Archaeologist, NM State Parks, with a workshop presenter appreciation gift.	Deb Franzoy presents Mike Trumbull, Old West County Board President, with a sponsor appreciation plaque.
Dora Dominguez with Bernice Ritch from Cuchillo, New Mexico.	Dora Dominguez with Jimmie Dee Fox, Old Fort Days Rodeo, Ft. Sumner, NM and DeBaca County Tourism Council President.	REDTT Project Director, Dora Dominguez, takes time to discuss tourism project ideas with conference attendee.
Palma's Italian Grill serving crew. Thank you Palma!	Fancy Fixin's, Deming, NM, and its owners Faye Hyatt (left) and Connie Johnson (right) at work preparing Tuesday's luncheon. Thank you Fancy Fixin's! Back to picture list	Adios, amigo's, see you next year at the 2006 Rural Tourism Conference. For more information about that, click here. Please contact Deb Franzoy at debfranzoy@nmsu.edu with corrections to this page. Thanks!