Pictured:
State Senator Mary Lou Rath and Genesee County Chamber of Commerce President Lynn Freeman watch as Linda Blanchet, Executive Director of GO ART!, posts an event on the new online Genesee County community calendar.

As part of Genesee County’s Comprehensive Plan, the Parks, Recreation and Culture Focus Group** identified a need for a centralized calendar that would encompass the many diverse recreational, cultural, service oriented and educational organizations that exist within our community.

Assistance from State Senator Mary Lou Rath enabled the Focus Group to revamp the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce’s online calendar of community events.   "This community calendar will be an excellent tool for residents to use while planning family events each week.  It is wonderful to have a central location for all events to be listed, and I am happy to have been able to ensure this idea became the excellent reality it now is.” Said Senator Rath (R, C, I-Williamsville), who funded the development and some of the marketing of the calendar with an $8,000 grant from New York State.

This new calendar is envisioned to be the central, “county-wide” event listing resource and will provide all organizations the opportunity to post upcoming events in a manner that eliminates duplication and conflicts.  Residents and visitors alike benefit by being able to search one site for entries organized by category and/or date.  Anyone can submit entries into the calendar. The entries are reviewed and if appropriate, approved for posting by site administrators.

Marchese Computer Products created the site and the Focus Group developed the marketing plan to get the word out about the site.  The use of bookmarks printed courtesy of Lawley Genesee Insurance, are being handed out at all public and school libraries in the County.  Advertising banners are available on the site and the revenue will be used for maintenance, upgrading and administration.