February 1-15, 2012

Community and City of Aztec
join to promote 2012 events
By Katee McClure
Spearheaded by the Aztec Chamber of Commerce, the Community Development Department and business owner Tweeti Blancett, there was a meeting of the minds on January 12, 2012 at the Step Back Inn. The meeting room was packed to capacity.
The purpose of the meeting was for businesses, event planners and the likes to join forces in promoting the many events and festivities that are held in Aztec throughout the year.
Discussions ensued on how they can all work together to promote these events such as cross posting on websites, distributing event flyers and other promotional materials, banners on Main Ave., use of business billboards for advertisement and generally supporting one another in any way possible.
The showing of businesses and other entities was impressive. They included the Aztec Ruins, Sunshine Bakery, Chamber of Commerce, Aztec Museum, Ramsey Realty, Frontier Sports, Safeway, Aztec Trails and Open Spaces, Sutherland Farms, Animas River Blues Festival, Aztec Community Development Dept., Step Back Inn, Aztec Tourism Dept., Four Corners Equine Rescue, Devon Energy and Mr. Electric.
The focus of the discussion, according to Community Development Director Roshana Moojen, was how we can "all benefit from successful events in our city, such as the Animas River Blues Festival and Fiesta Days, whether through an increase in revenue for your business or in the quality of life in our community. In order to continue and grow our successes we all need to work together."
One consensus was that there needs to be a cohesive center of information where announcements of these events can be sent to and then sent out to the public.
The newly formed Aztec Department of Tourism, which is housed in the same building as the Chamber of Commerce, is the best start. They have their own website, www.aztecnm.com, where event notices are placed and a calendar of events is available to all who visit the site. They also have a vast network of information distribution including:
· City of Aztec Information Kiosk
· City of Aztec Chatter (in TALON)
· City of Aztec Visitors Website Calendar
· City of Aztec Social Media
· Aztec Visitor Center Bulletin Board
· City of Aztec Public Bulletin Board
· Aztec Library Bulletin Board & Electronic Board
· Fun and Games Distribution List
· All City Staff Email
· City Commission and City Advisory Board E-mail
· Farmington CVB Website & Calendar
· Farmington Daily Times
· Tri-City Tribune
· TALON
The Chamber of Commerce is also an excellent venue for information. Many people outside the city reference their website before they visit the town or make plans to move here. They also send out monthly newsletters to all members. You must be a member of the Chamber however before your events can be listed.
The City of Aztec has plans in the works to revamp Riverside Park to make it more event friendly and to place two cables over the street areas for hanging banners.
Upcoming Events for 2012 include:
• Aztec Ruins 25th World Heritage Anniversary is Feb. 24. Earth Day is April 21. The Lecture Series starts in May and runs through September
• Safeway Diversity Days May 4th or 5th (we'll keep you posted).
• Sutherland Farms is coordinating with the Ruins for Earth Day. Farm opens in July. They are planning an August fiesta w/ music and a September green chili event w/ music. Late fall they are planning a full moon dinner event, and in October they're planning weekend pumpkin festivals.
• Fiesta Days and Carnival May 31-June 3
• Animal Fiesta Days (sponsored by Four Corners Equine Rescue) June 2.
• 7th Annual Animas River Blues Festival July 14.
• Aztec Highland Games and Celtic Festival October 6-7.
• The Aztec Museum is excited about this being the NM centennial year and looks forward to promoting the city's pioneer history. They are looking to increase their "programming," potentially with music events on the Pioneer Village grounds in the summer.
Also discussed was the possibility of starting up a Main Street Association again. Although the City cannot start this organization, they can certainly help in steering anyone interested in the right direction. Call Roshana Moojen at 330-7605 if you are interested.
Also if you want to be included as a business or event planner in the next "meeting of the minds," contact Chris Duthie, Tourism Supervisor, at 334-9551.

NM VA connects on Facebook
Hundreds of New Mexico’s military veterans are taking advantage of a social media tool to keep abreast of VA programs. After its launch in late 2010, the fan base for the New Mexico VA Health Care System’s (NMVAHCS) Facebook page continues to grow.
The social media page at www.facebook.com/VANewMexico currently has more than 400 “Likes” from fans across the country. Its main purpose is to quickly communicate with veterans and others information about VA programs.
The NMVAHCS Facebook page is part of a nationwide social media push by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA announced in December 2011 that all of its 152 medical centers were actively represented on Facebook, the world’s largest social networking site.
Postings on the page have included topics from inclement weather delays for rural clinics, to flu shot information, to a photo album with pictures of a growers market for veterans.
The NM VA Facebook page also is monitored to ensure that veterans' questions are being answered. Private info is not discussed on the site, but VA staff will contact a veteran personally to talk about concerns raised online. VA clinicians cannot discuss the specific health concerns of individual Veterans on Facebook, but that doesn’t prevent staff from monitoring VA’s sites closely each day—and providing helpful information to Veterans when they can.
You don’t have to have a Facebook account or password to look at the New Mexico VA’s Facebook page. Go to www.facebook .com/VANewMexico to view.

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