North Dakota 'Tourism Department

NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2009

Contact: Don Canton or Jody Link
701.328.2200
Kim Schmidt
701.328-2532

NORTH DAKOTA TOURISM PARTNERS WITH AAA NORTH DAKOTA
FOR 2009 GOVERNOR’S PHOTO CONTEST
Culture and heritage category added

BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota Tourism Director Sara Otte Coleman and AAA Regional President Mark Grieb kicked off the sixth annual North Dakota Governor’s Photo Contest today by announcing a strategic partnership between the North Dakota Tourism Division and AAA North Dakota.

AAA, North America’s largest leisure travel organization and one of the world’s largest travel publishers, will provide a $1,500 sponsorship to the 2009 North Dakota Governor’s Photo Contest. The partnership with AAA brings about some exciting changes for this year’s contest:
The sponsorship funding will boost the photo contest’s cash prize money, helping to double it from $100 to $200 per winning photo.
Winning photographs will be eligible for display in AAA North Dakota branch offices and may be printed in AAA regional publications.
A new “best of show” photo will be selected from the winning photographs, and the photographer will receive an additional $300 cash prize and a free, one-year membership to AAA.

Launched in 2004, the North Dakota Governor’s Photo Contest encourages North Dakota amateur photographers to submit photos, capturing the unique things to see and do in North Dakota. Winning photos are used in North Dakota Tourism’s marketing materials and newsletters.

“This partnership with AAA North Dakota is a great opportunity to promote North Dakota’s legendary tourism offerings throughout the region and attract more visitors to our great state,” said Hoeven. “AAA’s sponsorship will not only provide enhanced amenities for the selected photographers, but greater exposure for North Dakota’s outstanding landscapes, diverse heritage and historical attractions.”

Regarding AAA’s partnership in the 2009 North Dakota Governor’s Photo Contest, Grieb said, “AAA is proud to help Governor Hoeven and the people of North Dakota promote this legendary state as a great place to visit.”

Another development with the 2009 photo contest is the addition of a new contest category: culture and heritage.

“It’s very fitting that we add this new category to the photo contest, as culture and heritage are the backbone of North Dakota’s Legendary brand,” said Otte Coleman. “It’s also very timely, as we just released our new Culture and Heritage Trail Guide.”

The new Culture and Heritage Trail Guide is a 40-page guide featuring attractions and maps to promote the culture and heritage themes Heritage & Heroes, Arts & Entertainment, Lewis & Clark, Wildlife & Wonders, and Farms, Ranches & Gardens.

Contest rules:
The deadline to submit photos is September 10, 2009.

Photographs will be judged on their ability to showcase North Dakota as a Legendary destination in the following categories: scenery; people; outdoor adventure; attractions; events; wildlife; and culture and heritage. Entries will be judged on originality, interest of the subject matter, visual appearance and consistency with the category theme. Photo entries should be taken within the last three years.

Photographs must be submitted on a disk and 5x7 or 8x10 print. Prints need not be mounted or framed. The back of the photo and disk must be labeled with the entrant's name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, contest category and title of photo, and location and date the photo was taken.

Only color photographs are eligible and photographs cannot be digitally altered. There is no limit to the number of entries allowed per photographer.

Entries should be mailed to North Dakota Department of Commerce. Tourism Division, Attention Heather LeMoine, at P.O. Box 2057, Bismarck, ND 58502-2057. AAA branch offices in Fargo, Bismarck and Minot will also accept entries, Entered photographs may not be returned. Electronic submissions are not accepted at this time.

North Dakota Tourism will retain exclusive ownership rights to all winning photographs for use in the 2010 North Dakota Travel Guide, Hunting and Fishing Guide, Culture and Heritage Trail Guide, and on the Tourism Division's Web site.

Complete contest rules can be found on the Tourism Division Web site at www.NDtourism.com. For more information, contact the Tourism Division at 701-328-2525.

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North Dakota received two legendary designations in 2008 – most affordable (AAA) and friendliest (Cambridge University).