I started my NTA Board service in 2024. I wanted to dive in, participate, and be engaged with more aspects of the association. This led me to attend Tourism Cares’ Meaningful Travel Summit in Eugene, Oregon. (Tourism Cares is the official nonprofit of NTA.) After a few days of learning about sustainable tourism and meaningful travel, engaging with fellow participants, and exploring Eugene, we were asked to make a commitment. A Tourism Cares commitment is a pledge to take action, make a change, or drive an initiative forward that will make a positive impact for the people and places of travel.
I struggled with my commitment, though. As a non-retail tour operator, I couldn’t, for example, implement a policy against using plastic water bottles. I wanted to pick something that was more meaningful and could make a real difference. I left the event without making my commitment.
A few weeks later, I happened to meet Patty Janes. Patty is a professor in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Grand Valley State University. After serving on the Tourism Cares board, Patty wanted to start something closer to home in Michigan. Michigan Cares for Tourism (MC4T) was born. After meeting Patty and learning about MC4T, I immediately asked how I could get involved. Patty invited me to join their board of directors.
It felt a little like kismet. I was looking for a way to make my commitment, and then the perfect fit seemed to fall into my lap! MC4T, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a 100% volunteer, 100% give-back partnership where tourism professionals come together to help restore Michigan’s historic, cultural, and natural attractions; learn about a Michigan tourism destination; and network across our industry segments to ultimately enhance the visitor experience. It also helps us become more engaged professionals. MC4T has put on more than 60 events with 5,000-plus volunteers across the state. They have saved an estimated $2 million for attractions and tourism destinations in Michigan, with an estimated nine million Michigan tourists impacted.
I participated in my first two events this year. In the spring, we conducted a half-day clean-up event at the Detroit Zoo in partnership with the Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism. In September, our annual event was at Tawas Point State Park. With almost 150 volunteers in Tawas Point, we completed 16 projects within the park. Volunteers also got to enjoy the area with half-day Fam activities that included kayaking, painting, jewelry making, bike riding, and checking out the town. I invited Dawn Pettus, NTA executive vice president, to join me at the event. Our team painted a pavilion, fixed screens, and re-stained picnic tables. We made a meaningful difference for visitors to Tawas Point State Park.
After I met Patty, I was able to make my Tourism Cares commitment, which is to remain involved with Michigan Cares for Tourism. I’m now able to take the things I’ve learned from Tourism Cares and continue to learn and implement them in a real way in my home state of Michigan. It was my involvement with NTA that led me to make a positive, lasting impact on my community.
Brittany Dykla is the chief financial officer for Brilliant Edventures and serves on the NTA Board of Directors.
Photos submitted by Brittany Dykla
