In 2004, with the help of an intern student of history, W.E.S.T made excellent progress in planning for the Green Bay Ethnic Trail website which will tie together the many heritage opportunities that exist along this Wisconsin 156 mile trail, including photographs of historic sites. The Green Bay Ethnic Trail (GBET), initiated by W.E.S.T., is the first Wisconsin signed state heritage trail ever designated in the USA traversing Ozaukee County south and north.

W.E.S.T. has requested that the GBET be published in 2005 Ozaukee County publications on the map, as well as in the listings, and also on the website map. It is a most important route for the traveler, inviting enjoyment of the beauty, and area heritage, made possible by many volunteers working together. It is the only state trail of its kind in Wisconsin. Eighteen State of Wisconsin historic markers now stand along or close to this trail, of which twelve are ethnic historic markers originated by W.E.S.T .

The GBET trail began at Chicago's old Fort Dearborn. In Wisconsin, it begins at the southern State Line. The first marker is located at 95th Street and Highway 31 in Kenosha County. The second marker is found at the Bohemian School built in 1888 in the Town of Caledonia, Racine County. The third marker is located in Bayview at Zillman Park, and tells of area immigrants. In Milwaukee, one block north of the Milwaukee County Historical Society, at Weissgerbers "Third Street Pier", on Old World Third Street, a fourth marker commemorates the original settlement of Kilbourntown. The trail then progresses on Martin Luther King Drive to the Green Bay Road.

Continuing north through Ozaukee County, across the road from the Isham Day House in front of Mequon City Hall, the fifth marker, Wisconsin's German Settlers marker is placed. The trail follows the Green Bay Road through the Hamilton Historic District (NRHP), Grafton, north to the Village of Saukville, where the Saukville Trails marker is located at Triangle Park, then, north on LL into the Village of Belgium where the Wisconsin's Luxembourgers marker is found.

Traveling north to Highway 32 in Cedar Grove, a marker commemorates Early Dutch Settlers at Windmill Park. North to Sheboygan Falls, a marker is located in Settlers Park. Another marker is found adjacent to the Meeme Poll House in Manitowoc County. At Maribel is found the Old Rock Mill marker, the Denmark marker is located in Denver War Memorial Park, and finally or Research Center, 518 Water Street, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin 53085. Its new telephone number is 920-467-9518. W.E.S.T. continues to share an office with an nonprofit organization, including available online computer access; staffed by volunteers.

W.E.S.T. is a member of the Ozaukee Tourism Council, and Visit Milwaukee, and is active in Sheboygan County and Plymouth Chambers of Commerce. Area Chambers of Commerce are listed on its website, now at www.ethnicwisconsin.org with local contact information.

This year, (and again planned for 2005), another issue of the state Wisconsin Heritage Traveler including the W.E.S.T. heritage tourism project was (and will be) published. In this four-color magazine, W.E.S.T. is described on two pages naming several locations in Ozaukee County. It is included in a full page heritage map of the state.

W.E.S.T. was a participant in the Wisconsin Department of Tourism booth in March of 2004 at the Governor's Conference on Tourism held in Green Bay, and in 2005 will be a participant at the Monona Terrace in Madison.

In December, W.E.S.T., for the eleventh year, was a sponsor and participant at the Nonprofit Celebration of Diversity now held at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee. Organized by the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee, the celebration was attended by many ethnic groups; and included ethnic dancing, music, foods and gifts.

In 2004, with the help of an intern student of history, W.E.S.T made excellent progress in planning for the Green Bay Ethnic Trail website which will tie together the many heritage opportunities that exist along this Wisconsin 156 mile trail, including photographs of historic sites. The Green Bay Ethnic Trail (GBET), initiated by W.E.S.T., is the first Wisconsin signed state heritage trail ever designated in the USA traversing Ozaukee County south and north.

W.E.S.T. has requested that the GBET be published in 2005 Ozaukee County publications on the map, as well as in the listings, and also on the website map. It is a most important route for the traveler, inviting enjoyment of the beauty, and area heritage, made possible by many volunteers working together. It is the only state trail of its kind in Wisconsin. Eighteen State of Wisconsin historic markers now stand along or close to this trail, of which twelve are ethnic historic markers originated by W.E.S.T .

The GBET trail began at Chicago's old Fort Dearborn. In Wisconsin, it begins at the southern State Line. The first marker is located at 95th Street and Highway 31 in Kenosha County. The second marker is found at the Bohemian School built in 1888 in the Town of Caledonia, Racine County. The third marker is located in Bayview at Zillman Park, and tells of area immigrants. In Milwaukee, one block north of the Milwaukee County Historical Society, at Weissgerbers "Third Street Pier", on Old World Third Street, a fourth marker commemorates the original settlement of Kilbourntown. The trail then progresses on Martin Luther King Drive to the Green Bay Road.

Continuing north through Ozaukee County, across the road from the Isham Day House in front of Mequon City Hall, the fifth marker, Wisconsin's German Settlers marker is placed. The trail follows the Green Bay Road through the Hamilton Historic District (NRHP), Grafton, north to the Village of Saukville, where the Saukville Trails marker is located at Triangle Park, then, north on LL into the Village of Belgium where the Wisconsin's Luxembourgers marker is found.

Traveling north to Highway 32 in Cedar Grove, a marker commemorates Early Dutch Settlers at Windmill Park. North to Sheboygan Falls, a marker is located in Settlers Park. Another marker is found adjacent to the Meeme Poll House in Manitowoc County. At Maribel is found the Old Rock Mill marker, the Denmark marker is located in Denver War Memorial Park, and finally or first, depending on your direction of travel is found near the site of old Fort Howard, the Beginning of the Green Bay Road marker in Green Bay downtown at the river.

The Board of Directors of Wisconsin's Ethnic Settlement Trail (W.E.S.T.) was instrumental in helping to secure the Boeker Farm in Cedarburg, planned for use as Wisconsin Quilt History Museum. In August of 2001the Wisconsin Quilt History Project, Inc. was able to achieve its goal to purchase the farm; it continues to fundraise for the extensive work that is needed.

W.E.S.T. continues to publish ethnic histories and auto cassette tour tapes (including Walloon Belgian of Door/Kewaunee Counties, the Czech of Manitowoc/Kewaunee Counties, the Dutch of the Lower Fox River Valley, Brown and Outagamie Counties, and the Welsh of Waukesha County). In addition, seven histories including Schleswig-Holstein German of Calumet/Manitowoc Counties, and Native American from east of Lake Winnebago, Calumet and Fond du Lac Counties have been developed. These ethnic products are sold throughout Wisconsin and the country.

W.E.S.T. has produced through the years a number of festivals and exhibits in collaboration with Cedarburg Cultural Center, coordinated a Smithsonian Institution tour, and raised funds to "save" the old Payne Hotel in Saukville, and to begin restoration of Historic Turner Hall in Milwaukee. In 2004, it was a participant in preparing an exhibit of original settlements at the Sheboygan County Historical Museum.

Expense: Dues: GMCVB 200.00 Dues: Ozaukee Tourism Council 75.00 Governors Conference on Tourism 80.00 Holiday Diversity Celebration 35.00 Telephone – SBC 306.25 Rent No Charge Staff (HI-USA-WI) Office No Charge Postage 24.39 Website Domain Charges 35.00 WI State Annual Report-- 10.00 Total Expense $ 760.64

Cash on Hand & in Bank Accounts 12/31/04 Certificate of Deposit: $1,140.45 (Maturity 8/21/05) (Turner Hall Display Area Reserve) Savings (12/31/04) $ 779.67 Checking (12/31/04) $1,354.28 Total Cash on Hand & In Bank Accounts $3,274.40