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<DIV>Dan Shilling, an advocate of place-based tourism involving a community's<BR>heritage and identity, will be the keynote luncheon speaker at the 2011<BR>Oregon Heritage Conference. The conference, which has the theme of "A<BR>Blockbuster Community: Heritage, Authenticity and Vision," will take<BR>place April 7-9 in Astoria.</DIV>
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<DIV>Shilling will introduce basic strategies for engaging the tourism<BR>industry and the general public. He also will show how heritage<BR>organizations and individuals can be more constructively involved with<BR>the tourism industry and the community, as well as outline best<BR>practices for producing success in those efforts.</DIV>
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<DIV>Shilling directed a project on place-based tourism from 2004-07, which<BR>resulted in the book, "Civic Tourism: The Poetry and Politics of Place."<BR>A former director of the Arizona Humanities Council, Shilling has<BR>received the Arizona Office of Tourism's "Person of the Year" award. He<BR>is currently completing a book on the cultural dimensions of<BR>sustainability. </DIV>
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<DIV>The Oregon Heritage Conference informs and inspires Oregonians involved<BR>in the state’s cultural heritage efforts. Attendees include community<BR>leaders, staff and volunteers from historical societies, museums, Main<BR>Street projects, city and county landmark preservation commissions,<BR>historic cemeteries, ethnic organizations, preservation organizations,<BR>schools, humanities groups, the tourism industry, economic development,<BR>history buffs and professional historians, youth, and local, tribal,<BR>state and federal governments.</DIV>
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<DIV>More information about the programs at this year's conference is<BR>available at <BR><A href="http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OHC/Conference_program.shtml">http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OHC/Conference_program.shtml</A> <BR>Registration information will be available at the end of January. For<BR>additional information, contact Kyle Jansson at 503-986-0673 or<BR><A href="mailto:heritage.info@state.or.us">heritage.info@state.or.us</A> <BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>