Dear WH&LA Lodging Member in the Eagle River area:
 
We learned last week that the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce formally supported a waiver request by the Northland Pines School District to the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for an exemption to the state requirement that K-12 public schools start no earlier than September 1st. This waiver would enable the school district to start school as early in August as they wish, regardless of the impact on tourism in the Northwoods area.
 
The WH&LA has been supporting the protection of this state law, which in turn protects your summer season, for many years, and were quite surprised to hear of the Chamber's action. We also have learned that they have heard very few concerns about their actions raised by the area tourism industry.
 
If you feel that the current September 1 or later School Start Date remains important to tourism in your area and to your property, we have learned that the Chamber is putting this issue on the agenda again for their January 31 meeting, meaning you still have an opportunity for your voice to be heard. Contact the Chamber at info@eagleriver.org   right away to express your thoughts.
 
As noted in our Capitol Insider last week, there is a growing effort to carve out exemptions to the School Start Date across the state, so it is important to also let your state legislators know that retaining the current September 1 School Start Date is critical to the Northwoods tourism industry.  Contact the following legislators from your area to let them know your thoughts about stopping any legislative efforts to remove the Start Date:
 
Senator Tom Tiffany (sen.tiffany@legis.wisconsin.gov)
Representative Rob Swearingen (rep.swearingen@legis.wisconsin.gov)
Representative Jeff Mursau (rep.mursau@legis.wisconsin.gov)
Representative May Felzkowski (rep.felzkowski@legis.wisconsin.gov)
 
Thank you for your attention and action needed yet this week!
 
Best,

Trisha Pugal, CAE
President, CEO
Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association
pugal@wisconsinlodging.org
262/782-2851