The ROOST team has been busy working on a proactive approach to continue keeping our communities safe as we navigate the ever-changing environment of the pandemic. At this time, we are tightening up our messaging on expectations for travelers in our region. GET UPDATED SIGNAGE To assist businesses with the enforcement of mask expectations for their establishments, we have designed some new “Politely Adirondacks” materials. Additionally, we have added materials focused on being kind to the region’s wonderful and hard-working staff. These new items and more can be downloaded from the Politely Adirondack Toolkit, or you can contact your ROOST representative directly to arrange for pick-up/delivery of new signs. ### This information was designed for an email to marketing partners. If you do not receive these emails, please sign up for our newsletter today using the form at the bottom of this page.

Lake Placid, NY - If you live, work, or volunteer in Lake Placid, you are invited to the third annual Community Day Celebration on Sunday, September 12, 2021 from 1 - 4 p.m. at the North Elba Horse Show Grounds. This event is a celebration of and for the community. It’s a chance to bring people together for a fun afternoon picnic and party, including live music by local musicians Scott Sileo and Jim Cushman; fun and games for all ages; hot dogs, burgers, and other picnic fare — all of it free to attendees. It is also a celebration of our rich legacy of volunteerism. “We are so excited to host this event,” Val Rogers, Community Day Committee Chair, said. “This day is about getting together with our friends, family, and neighbors, and hopefully making some new friends along the way. It’s also a chance to acknowledge the important role that our volunteers play in the community and to thank those who have given their time to help make this the special place that it is. We can’t thank the volunteers of Lake Placid and North Elba enough. It’s been a long, challenging year for everyone, and I think we need this day more than ever.” Please note that all recommended local, state, and CDC guidelines will be followed. Everyone is encouraged to wear a mask. For those unvaccinated, a mask is required. In addition to highlighting current volunteers, this celebration will also share many opportunities available throughout the area. Local organizations are invited to showcase their work and inform the community what they’ve been up to. This year, the following organizations will be on site: Adirondack Film Festival, Adirondack Action, Ausable River Association, Ecumenical Charity Program, Education Opportunity Fund of LPCSD, Family and Community Engagement Center - North Country, Family Forever, Permanency Resource Center, Garden Club of Lake Placid, Homestead Development Corp, John Brown Lives!, Lake Placid/North Elba Historical Society, Lake Placid Center for the Arts, Lake Placid Institute, Lake Placid Outing Club, Lake Placid Police Department, Lake Placid Sinfonietta, Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department, Lions Club, Mercy Care for the Adirondacks, Mirror Lake Watershed, Songs at Mirror Lake, North Country Childcare Coordinating Council, North Country SPCA, NYSEF, Rotary Club of Lake Placid, St. Agnes School and SPARK Enrichment, St. Eustace Episcopal Church, Uihlein Foundation, and Zonta Club of the Adirondacks. Part of the Community Day Celebration is the presentation of the Distinguished Volunteer of the Year award, given in recognition of a lifetime of activity and effort on behalf of the town of North Elba and/or village of Lake Placid. This will begin at 3 p.m. on September 12. “Volunteers are unpaid, but we want every volunteer to know their contributions to the community are recognized and do not go unnoticed,” Bethany Valenze, Lake Placid Regional Marketing Manager for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), said. “Having local organizations on site will allow attendees to learn what amazing work has been done and how they can help in the future. Community Day is a great way to connect volunteers past, present, and future.” The Community Day Celebration is a joint initiative of the Lake Placid / North Elba Community Development Commission and ROOST. For more information, please visit the Lake Placid Community Celebration Facebook page or email lakeplacidcommunityday@gmail.com. The Community Day Celebration is traditionally held the first Sunday after Memorial Day. Event planners hope to return to that tradition for 2022. The Lake Placid / North Elba Development Commission facilitates the implementation of the Lake Placid / North Elba Comprehensive Plan, which was developed in 2014. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York State. ###

Bloomingdale, NY – On Saturday, September 4, 2021, the St. Armand Youth Task Force is introducing the first annual Bloomingdale Block Party. This carnival-like event is being held as a fun get-together for community members and to raise money for local non-profit organizations. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. join the festivities, with live music, carnival games, face painting, food, and more. Activities will be held at the Youth Field (15 Roosevelt Street), behind the Bloomingdale Fire Department. “The St. Armand Youth Task Force is very excited to be hosting the Bloomingdale Block Party,” Davina Winemiller, Town of St. Armand Supervisor, said. “We hope to make it an annual event the community can look forward to each year. This year, we are all excited for the carnival games and food, plus the Adirondack Idol Karaoke Contest and live music.” Trophies will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the Adirondack Idol Contest for three categories: kids, teens, and adults. Carnival games and food are not the only thing on the schedule. Special guests will be visiting as well. “We have several very special guests who will be visiting, and handing out balloons and candy,” Winemiller said. “Batman, Darth Vader, The Mandalorian and Baby Grogu, Peter Rabbit, Beauty and the Beast, and Saranac Lake Winter Carnival King Joe and Queen Nancy will all make an appearance. Santa and Mrs. Claus are even taking a break from their busy schedule at the North Pole to stop by for a bit.” Details will continue to be announced. Please see the Bloomingdale Block Party Facebook event for the most up-to-date information. The St. Armand Youth Task Force is a group of civic minded volunteers who have joined forces to create and expand youth sports programs and activities in the town of St. Armand. They are currently fundraising to install a new youth sports building in Bloomingdale. The new building will be an ice hockey rink and ice skating oval in the winter months and a basketball court and rollerblading oval in the summer months. ###

Mark your calendars! You’re invited to join us for the Travel Unity Summit on November 5-6, 2021 in the Adirondacks. Travel Unity is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training for organizations in the travel industry. The in-person conference will take place at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid, November 5-6, 2021. Why attend? The Travel Unity Summit will focus on why diversity is key to a region's sustainability, and how we can attract a more diverse travelers. Who should attend? Business owners, frontline workers, community leaders, and anyone who is interested in creating a vibrant future for the Adirondack region. Save on registration: ROOST is proud to host and sponsor the 2021 Travel Unity Summit and we want to help you save on registration! About Travel Unity: Founded in 2016, Travel Unity is a 501(c)(3) focused on increasing diversity in the world of travel through individual and community empowerment. For the travel industry, Travel Unity provides certification, training, workshops, DEI audits, and other services around DEI. For individuals, Travel Unity provides educational opportunities to youth, people with disabilities, and other under-represented groups to learn about travel as a means of personal and professional development. Register Now for Travel Unity 2021

Lake Placid, NY – Travel Unity will host its 2021 Summit both online and in-person, with virtual sessions taking place October 27 - 29, 2021, and live sessions in Lake Placid, NY on November 5 - 6, 2021. This year’s theme is “How to Practice Applied DEI.” “The Summit will focus on why diversity is key to a region's sustainability, and how we can attract and welcome more diverse travelers,” said Mary Jane Lawrence, Chief Operating Officer at the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST). “We encourage business owners, frontline staff, and anyone interested in fostering vibrant communities to join us for the conference." Topics for this year’s Summit include “Travel Media, Sustainability, and DEI,” "Tourism and Communities,” and “The Tour Industry and DEI.” “Travel Unity’s philosophy has always been about going beyond performative statements and reactive, short-term initiatives,” said Roni Weiss, the Executive Director of Travel Unity. “This year’s Summit will be wholly focused on how to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into the day-to-day of both organizations and individual professional roles.” “After welcoming over 475 virtual attendees from around the globe for last year’s Summit, it was clear that there was a desire within the industry to hold deeper conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Romey Louangvilay, President of Travel Unity’s Board of Directors. “We are also excited to be able to hold our first in-person event since 2019, thanks to the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, this year’s Hosting Sponsor, which will bring us back to the Adirondacks, where we held 2018’s Summit.” MMGY Global is supporting the event as a Silver Sponsor. Bronze Sponsors are the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Cayuga County Tourism. Visit Rochester, North America Tour Hub, and Yonder are also sponsors. Travel Unity is also pleased to welcome the support of ITMI, RISE Travel Institute, Tourism Cares, Tourism Diversity Matters, Wanderful, and Women in Travel. Virtual speakers include Lebawit Lily Girma (Skift), Danny Guerrero (MMGY Global), David Holder (Clarity of Place), Kelley Louise (Impact Travel Alliance), and Greg Takehara (Tourism Cares). Speakers in Lake Placid will include Linda Ayares, Nicky Hylton-Patterson (Adirondack Diversity Initiative), Karen Kuhl (Cayuga County Tourism), and Romey Louangvilay (ELMNTL). Tickets can be purchased by visiting: https://bit.ly/TUSummit2021 For more information about Travel Unity and to donate funds to the nonprofit’s programs, visit www.TravelUnity.org. About Travel Unity Founded in 2016, Travel Unity is a 501(c)(3) focused on increasing diversity in the world of travel through individual and community empowerment. For the travel industry, Travel Unity provides certification, training, workshops, DEI audits, and other services around DEI. For individuals, Travel Unity provides educational opportunities to youth, people with disabilities, and other under-represented groups to learn about travel as a means of personal and professional development. About ROOST The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York State. In October 2020, ROOST announced the organization was selected to participate in a diversity, equity, and inclusion pilot program with Travel Unity. ###