Barbara Young, of Poplar Creek Bed & Breakfast in Grand Marais, received the 2011 Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Associations’ Volunteer of the Year award. B&B Association President Shannon McKeeth presents the award to Barbara (left) at the 2012 Explore Minnesota Tourism Convention in Rochester, Minn. on Jan. 25.
The Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Association has awarded Barbara Young the 2011 Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Associations’ Volunteer of the Year award. Barbara accepted her award from President Shannon McKeeth at the 2012 Explore Minnesota Tourism Convention in Rochester, Minn. on Jan. 25.
Barbara and her husband Ted were one of the original 13 members of the Minnesota Historic B & B Association. They own and operate Poplar Creek Bed & Breakfast in Grand Marais. In the organization’s history, she has served in almost every volunteer capacity, including as a board member and president.
Barbara has studied and offered remedies for bylaw changes. She encouraged new vendor members for the MBBA, always wanting to make things easier for innkeepers and keep the budget in line and make choices that would make dues as low as possible for members. She has acted with compassion and understanding for all MBBA members and has done it selflessly.
Barbara has not only promoted the community of Grand Marais but led cooperative efforts in marketing the Gunflint Trail. Her packaging efforts go beyond her own and Ted’s enterprise as she makes efforts for promoting the area even when their own property because of its size or definition is being excluded by others.
Creatively she has invented Yurt Expeditions and dog sledding trail packages. And her packaging and promotion efforts have gained the industry and our state exposure on a national level in publications such as National Geographic and Midwest Living.
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