How a Small-Town Solution Sparked a Multi-County Collaboration
Sometimes the best innovations come from solving everyday problems. When The Landmark Cafe in Sierra Vista needed a better way to promote their Friday and Saturday night entertainment, Dillard Marketing created a simple Google Calendar solution. That same practical tool has now become the foundation for an ambitious regional collaboration that could transform how seven counties share event information.
From Local Need to Regional Vision
The Landmark Cafe in Sierra Vista, Cochise County, faced a common challenge: how to keep patrons informed about their weekend entertainment lineup without creating extra work for an already busy staff. Dillard Marketing’s solution was elegantly simple—a shareable Google Calendar that could be embedded on websites, shared on social media, and updated from anywhere.
Around the same time, the Greenlee Tourism Association was revisiting a pre-COVID initiative to create a coordinated events calendar spanning southeastern Arizona and eastern New Mexico. The vision encompassed seven counties: Cochise, Graham, Apache, and Greenlee in Arizona, plus Catron, Grant, and Hidalgo in New Mexico—a vast rural region where knowing what’s happening in neighboring communities can make the difference between a quiet weekend and a thriving event.
A Partnership That Eliminates Redundancy
Rather than build separate systems, Greenlee Tourism Association integrated The Landmark Cafe’s calendar into their regional tourism efforts, creating a working model for cross-county collaboration. This integration means:
- No duplicate work: Event organizers enter information once
- Wider reach: Events appear on multiple platforms simultaneously
- Easy access: Visitors can view all regional happenings in one place
- Free tools: Google Calendar costs nothing to set up or maintain
“We’re inviting other event organizers, businesses, venues, festivals, and community organizations to join this collaboration,” said Margaret Dillard, who leads publicity efforts for both The Landmark Cafe and Greenlee Tourism Association. “Imagine a visitor planning a trip to our region being able to see concerts, rodeos, art shows, farmers markets, and community events across seven counties—all in one calendar.”
Join the Regional Calendar Network
The Greenlee Tourism Association invites event organizers, businesses, venues, museums, parks, chambers of commerce, and community groups throughout the seven-county region to participate. Here’s how to get started:
Setting Up Your Google Calendar
- Create a Google Account (if you don’t already have one)
- Go to google.com and click “Sign In”
- Select “Create account”
- Follow the prompt
- Create Your Events Calendar
- Visit calendar.google.com
- On the left sidebar, click the “+” next to “Other calendars”
- Select “Create new calendar”
- Name it clearly (example: “Duncan Community Events” or “Blue River Music Series”)
- Add a description so people know what types of events you’ll post
- Click “Create calendar”
- Add Your Events
- Click on any date to create an event
- Enter event name, date, time, and location
- Add details in the description field (cost, contact info, special instructions)
- For recurring events (like weekly farmers markets), click “Does not repeat” and select your schedule
- Click “Save”
- Get Your Shareable Link
- Find your calendar in the left sidebar under “My calendars”
- Click the three dots next to your calendar name
- Select “Settings and sharing”
- Scroll down to “Access permissions”
- Check “Make available to public”
- Scroll to “Integrate calendar”
- Copy the “Public URL to this calendar” link
- Share with Greenlee Tourism
- Email your calendar link to margaret@margaretdillard.net
- Include your organization name, county, and a brief description of the types of events you’ll be posting
- The Greenlee Tourism Association will integrate your calendar into the regional network to serve as a planning guide for event success
Best Practices for Success
- Keep it updated: Remove or update events that are cancelled or rescheduled
- Be descriptive: Include enough detail that someone unfamiliar with your event understands what it is
- Add locations carefully: Use full addresses when possible so people can map directions
- Think regionally: Remember that your audience may be coming from 100s of miles away
Why This Matters
Rural communities thrive when they work together. A family visiting Morenci might also explore Alpine. Someone attending a concert in Silver City might stay overnight in Clifton. A rodeo in Duncan could draw crowds who’ll stop for lunch in Safford. Entertainment at The Landmark Cafe in Sierra Vista could attract visitors exploring Cochise County who want to discover neighboring Greenlee County’s attractions.
By making it easy for visitors and residents to discover what’s happening across the region, we strengthen all our communities. Event organizers save time. Visitors have better experiences. Local businesses benefit from increased traffic.
About the Partnership
Dillard Marketing, led by Margaret Dillard, serves as the marketing and publicity arm for both The Landmark Cafe and Greenlee Tourism Association. The firm provides marketing services to small businesses and nonprofits across the United States, with clients in Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, and Louisiana. This regional calendar initiative reflects the company’s commitment to practical, collaborative solutions that help rural communities compete in an increasingly connected world
“The Magnificent 7 Calendar” is a grassroots effort to revitalize community connections that were strong before the pandemic. By leveraging free technology and a spirit of cooperation, southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico are building something that benefits everyone.
Ready to add your events to the regional calendar? Email your Google Calendar link to margaret@margaretdillard.net and join communities across these seven counties in making our region more discoverable and connected.
For more information about Greenlee County events and attractions, visit visitgreenleecounty.com. To learn more about marketing services for your business or organization, visit margaretdillard.net .