PRESS
CAA Directors Visit Fort Drum
Pictured: Joan Marks, Mike Farmer, Donna Pohl, Michelle Roden, Gene Spencer
CAA Directors Joan Marks, Mike Farmer and Donna Pohl met with Michelle Roden and Gene Spencer at Fort Drum on Friday, May 28 to explore ways of partnering.
Old Forge is only 75 minutes from Fort Drum. Ask Joan. She drives it daily three seasons and every weekend in winter. A retired colonel, Joan now works as a civilian during the week at Fort Drum and returns to Van Auken's in Thendara to help run the inn. Last fall she attended an incoming new soldier orientation and was shocked no mention was made of Old Forge. "How can that be?" she asked herself. Old Forge is so close. There's so much to do for families and for all different ages." That's when Joan asked if the CAA marketing committee would like to do a site visit to Fort Drum and meet some of the key decision makers. You bet! Fort Drum is the largest employer in Northern New York.
Michelle tells us 500 new soldiers come in per month. When we asked her how big is this potential market she answered, "If everyone is on post- soldiers, dependents and civilian employees- 100,000 people. "But, " she said, "This doesn't happen very often. We're a nation at war. The soldiers are overseas. The market you want to target now are the families and dependents who are here on base, living and waiting for their loved ones to return safely." Fort Drum has a program called Family Readiness Group whose mission is to continuously improve the quality of life for soldiers and their families.
Directors of this program plan day trips, organize multi-day trips or retreats, plan events. The CAA Marketing Committee is excited about the possibilities tapping into this huge market affords. We're looking at buying a brochure rack with a map to install permanently in Gene's building to bran the CAA region as a destination and offering to our membership the possiblity of brochure placement.
A map is necessary because so many on base think Old Forge is at least 3 hours away! We're also looking into the feasibility of becoming a sponsor for some of their programs and activities. A third possibility is buying into Fort Drum's digital interactive machine.called One Source which, with a touch to the screen, gives instant access to any and all programs available for soldiers and families, from health and welfare to area recreation, including lodging, restaurants and attractions.
CAA members, stay tuned for opportunities to promote your business to the Fort Drum community.
