For the last 10 years or so, various birding groups have been giving
out cards which birders are to leave at places they visit, shop, eat
at, etc telling the owners that birders were there and spent money.  I
always wondered how effective they are.  Well Paula and I found out.
Since the early 1990, when I go to the UP of Michigan, I eat at
Ang-Gio's restaurant at least once over the weekend.  It is a good
Italian resturant.  While eating there Saturday night, we got to
talking with the owner.  When I mentioned we were up there birding, he
got very excited and ran over to the checkout counter.  He came back
with six of these cards which were taped together.  They are cards
from one of Michigan's birding groups and a little different than ones
I have seen.  They had a place for how much was spent.  The owner
proudly showed us that these six cards represented over $1000 in meals
from just the last couple of weeks.  He wanted to know if I had a
card.  I had cards from the Kirtland Bird Club in Cleveland but had
left them home.  Never again!  He made sure to tell me that birders
are always welcome at his place and make sure I tell other birders.  I
doubt if he donates to birder causes but I'll bet he brings up birders
at chamber of commerce/business meetings.  So some progress is being
made to show the business community that birders are an economic
force.

Tom
--
H. Thomas Bartlett
Tiffin, Ohio
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