Amador County – Members of the Jackson Revitalization Committee and Jackson businesses attended a “Shop Jackson” workshop Wednesday, the “kickoff” of a partnership between the city, local businesses and the Jackson Rancheria. About 60 people attended, and heard about the promotion for businesses around Jackson, in print advertising in the Jackson Rancheria Casino Hotel & Conference Center’s monthly magazine. Mayor Connie Gonsalves said $45 dollars buys a 2-quarter membership, which includes a listing in Arrow Magazine, sent monthly to 100,000 members of the Rancheria’s Dreamcatcher’s Club. Robert Mees, lead volunteer of the program, said listings could include special offers and Dreamcatcher’s Club members-only discounts. Mees said the initial campaign runs from August 1st through January 31st, 2010, in two 3-month blocks. All businesses inside Jackson city limits eligible, and Mees said it is an effective way to develop an ongoing relationship with the Rancheria and the Dreamcatcher’s Club. Gonsalves said the club has 500,000 active, card-carrying members. 300,000 of the club members visit the Rancheria each month. Among the membership are 26,000 local club members from Amador and Calaveras counties. Business owners lauded the campaign, including Janie Williams of the Kitchen Store, who called it “genius.” Gonsalves said it was the idea of Councilman Wayne Garibaldi, also a Jackson Revitalization Committee member. Garibaldi said a lot of people talked about ideas to bring people to town in value-conscious times. President of Bank of Amador, Garibaldi said he took a banker’s approach to the idea of the Dreamcatcher’s Club, with all its members passing through town to the Rancheria. He took the idea of a partnership to Jackson Casino CEO Rich Hoffman, also a JRC member, and the rest is history in the making. Hoffman said “our hope is to use a cooperative approach and cause some excitement and some cross pollination,” to help local businesses. He said tourist spot benefit from the added traffic was “gravy” on the top. The Arrow Magazine will publish 6 maps of Jackson businesses, with a short listing of the special offers for Dreamcatcher’s members. District 1 Supervisor John Plasse, a JRC member, and Councilman Pat Crew said it was a very positive approach to helping city business. Plasse called it “solution-oriented,” and Crew, owner of Jackson Tire Service, said the 26,000 club members from Amador and Calaveras were “the guys I’m looking for. I can’t reach them for $45 dollars.” The JRC next meets 6 p.m. June 11th at the Jackson Civic Center. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.