Member Memo July 1, 2008

Randi Miles - Douglasville CVB Sales Manager

Randi Miles is the newest team member of the Douglasville CVB. Randi is from Carrollton, Georgia and she attended the University of West Georgia to receive her Bachelor’s degree and MBA. Randi has a background in healthcare marketing and she was previously employed by an electronic health records company called Greenway Medical Technologies. At Greenway, Randi participated in trade shows, event and association management. Randi started with the Douglasville CVB in early April as Sales Manager. he will focus on group sales and trying to increase Douglasville's tourism.

Welcome to these new primary and additional representatives who have recently joined AMTA. We are glad to have you!

• Kimberly Gild, Atlanta Botanical Garden
• Nellie Cummins, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
• Pam Mayer, Coweta County CVB
• Randi Miles, Douglasville CVB
• Laura Ramos, Stone Mountain Park
• Elise Alls, Underground Atlanta

Membership Committee:

As you know we are in a membership building year for AMTA. As an incentive to bring a guest to the next meeting on August 6 at CNN, Jon Brasher with Morris Visitor Publications will donate 2- $100 Fire of Brazil/Jalapeno Charlies gift cards for a special drawing. Bring a guest and your name will be entered into the drawing to be held at the conclusion of the meeting. If your name is drawn, you and your guest will each win a gift card! Please search your databases and brains and think who could benefit from an AMTA membership and invite them to the August meeting.

2008 MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL

AMTA Airways Flight 115 is filling up with new members!  Look at our progress!  Please help us fill the entire airplane by the end of the year! (½ window = 1 new member) Welcome New Members . . . Georgia News Network & Braves Radio Network represented by Kevin Kinney (referred by Collin Cash and Gordon Price) Historic Marietta Trolley Company represented by Cassandra Buckalew (referred by Theresa Jenkins) Main Street Newnan represented by Alise Cartledge (referred by Pam Mayer) Remember, every time you sign up a new member, your name goes into the hat for a drawing for $100 cash!  Collin, Gordon, Theresa and Pam will all be entered into the next drawing at our general membership meeting on August 6.  Make sure your name is in the hat, too! And don’t forget about our MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL!!  For the first time ever, the AMTA Board of Directors has approved prorated membership dues for the remainder of the year!  Starting June 4, dues for the primary representative for new members will be only $100.  That's a savings of $95. See the attached flyer and 2008 AMTA Membership Application - [pdf] - for all the details. If you have questions, call Diane Stone, Membership Committee Chair, at 770-552-2628 or Brandi Warnock-Wigley, Membership Committee Co-Chair, at 404-814-4032.  Good luck!

GDEcD Update

AAA Predicts Fewer July 4th Travelers
Updated 6/26/2008 1:17:13 PM

Article courtesy of The Atlanta Business Chronicle

The number of Americans hitting the road or flying the friendly skies this Fourth of July holiday is expected to be down slightly due to high gas prices, according to data from travel organization AAA.

AAA predicts 40.45 million Americans will travel during the July 4th holiday weekend, down 1.3 percent from the 41 million who traveled last year. The greatest number of Fourth of July holiday weekend automobile travelers will come from the Southeast with 8.7 million. The forecast includes U.S. residents traveling 50 miles or more from home.

More than 34.2 million Americans -- or about 85 percent of all holiday travelers -- plan to travel by automobile. This marks a 1.2 percent decrease from the 34.6 million people who drove to their holiday destinations last year.

About 4.5 million Americans -- or 11 percent of holiday travelers -- expect to travel by airplane. This is a 2.3 percent decrease from the 4.64 million who flew last year.

2008 Southern Living Readers Choice Awards

Ballots are now open for the 2008 Southern Living Readers Choice Awards.  People can go to the magazine’s Web site, register and then vote for their favorite city, small town, family destination, weekend getaway, hotel, beach, festival/fair, scenic view, and public garden, plus preferred restaurants for breakfast/brunch, splurging and southern favorites.  Deadline for entries is July 21.  Results will be published in the January 2009 issue of Southern Living. 

Visit here to REGISTER & VOTE

Thanks!
Brittney Warnock Gray

Press Room:

• June 19, 2008 - Cobb County CVB Awarded DMAI

Upcoming Events:

JULY Events

Concert by the Springs:
July 6 from 7-8:30 p.m.
This event will feature Drivetrain at Heritage Green on the Sandy Springs Society Entertainment Lawn. Balloon artists will be on hand at this free concert. 404-851-9111 or www.heritagesandysprings.org

Gone With the Wind Star Spangled Scarlett Weekend
July 5-6
$150 for the whole weekend, or you may choose to purchase tickets to individual events. Events include continental breakfast at Marietta Country Club, Team trivia contest, GWTW Swap Meet, Dancing with the Stars and Stripes at the Hilton Atlanta-Marietta Hotel & Conference Center, silent and live auctions and photo opportunities. Please see press release on AMTA website or visit www.gwtwmarietta.com.
770-794-5145

Heritage Arts Festival at Underground Atlanta
July 10-14, 2008
This 5-day festival including live entertainment, artists market, vendors market and family activities, features music, arts, crafts, jewelry, hair, fashion, food, and culture.  Free. Visit www.underground-atlanta.com or call 404.523.2311.

Chattahoochee Nature Center Events:
Animal Encounter – Additional Summer Time!
Every Thursday and Friday in July at 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM
July is a wonderful time for an outdoor adventure at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Learn about the native wildlife living at CNC through a 30-minute live animal presentation. Every Thursday and Friday in July at 4:00 PM. All ages. General admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $2 children 3-12, FREE for members and children 2 and under. Go to www.chattnaturecenter.com  for more information.

 
Naturalist-Led Canoe Trips
Every Thursday – Sunday in July,
6:00 PM – Dusk, Additional Saturday Trips – 8:30 AM

Ages 6 & up. $30 non-members/$25 members (save $5 per person on Thursday trips). Pre-registration required.

This is a fantastic way to unwind from the daily hustle and bustle of suburban life, or to entertain family and friends. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience one of metro Atlanta’s best-kept secrets! Each canoe trip is led by a CNC naturalist, and offers a unique introduction to the ecology of the Chattahoochee River. Participants are expected to be an active part of this program. Register as soon as possible, as spaces fill fast. To register, e-mail us at scheduling@chattnaturecenter.com, or call (770) 992-2055 ext. 237. Go to www.chattnaturecenter.com  for more information.

Raptor Mealtime
Every Tuesday and Saturday in July at 2:00 PM.
Join our wildlife staff or volunteers to learn the in’s and out’s of our raptors’ diets as you join them during feedings. You will find out just what our great horned owl and red-shouldered hawks eat! General admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $2 children 3-12, FREE for members and children 2 and under. Go to www.chattnaturecenter.com  for more information.      
 

UGA Museum of Natural History Exhibit
Saturday, July 12, 10:00 am – Noon, All Ages, General Admission
Join the UGA Museum of Natural History to view their collection of native insects with some interesting and fascinating insects from around the world. Bring in your hard-to-identify insect pictures or and talk with the experts

AMTA Special Offers

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Kids Are Free! Starting May 23 children 12 & under are FREE when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Limit 1 free child per full-paid adult. Limit six people per coupon. Not valid for gift certificates or prior purchases. May not be combined with any other discount offer. Code KFMDO. Expiration 7/6/08.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY!
1-888-WE-JOUST