YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THE NEXT GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING!
(Please note: RSVP required—read below!)
The next general membership meeting will be held on August 5. Arrive at 9:30 for networking; the meeting and program will begin promptly at 10:00. Please make every effort to arrive on time.
Our host will be Six Flags Over Georgia, represented by AMTA member Collin Cash. Following our meeting, Collin will lead tours of the “new” Monster Mansion and will direct anyone wanting to have lunch in the Park to the various dining venues. Casual, comfortable shoes and attire are appropriate for this meeting.
Collin and Six Flags are also giving AMTA members the opportunity to bring their family members with them to enjoy the park for the day. If you are interested in this option, please contact Collin directly for details.
YOU MUST RSVP FOR THIS MEETING BY MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 5pm.
Please e-mail Collin at ccash@sftp.com.
Directions and Parking
Traveling on I-20 West from Atlanta, take the last Six Flags Exit- Riverside Parkway, Exit 46A (coming from Douglasville it is the first Six Flags Exit).
The exit ramp will send you down Riverside Parkway toward Garden Ridge. Get in the left lane, but DO NOT turn in the first Six Flags entrance. Go to the second entrance marked EMPLOYEES -275 Riverside Parkway, and turn left. Go to the STOP SIGN and turn right. The Security Guard will stop you. Tell him/her that you are here for the AMTA meeting and you will be directed to the EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT. Walk back toward the Security Guard and there will be Six Flags employees to direct you to the Training Center for the meeting. We will have a golf cart available for anyone unable to walk from the parking lot to the Training Center.
After the AMTA meeting, at approximately noon, we will go into the park through the EMPLOYEE ENTRANCE, have lunch and experience some rides. Collin will escort those wanting to leave back to the EMPLOYEE ENTRANCE throughout the afternoon. If you plan to stay longer than 5 p.m. you MUST CONTACT COLLIN at ccash@sftp.com for special instructions as your car cannot be left in the EMPLOYEE LOT and you cannot exit via the EMPLOYEE ENTRANCE after 5 p.m. and without Collin.
Educational program “Meet the Pro’s!”
AMTA is an association of talented and experienced individuals. You will have the opportunity to learn from four of them as they share their knowledge with us.
Speakers and Topics:
-Jonathan Boisjolie, The High Museum of Art: Marketing your destination to group tours/tour operators
-Brittney Gray, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Tourism Division: The role of the state tourism division and what they can do for you
-Theresa Jenkins, Marietta Welcome Center and CVB: Special events in your community
-Rob Patton, Gwinnett CVB/Gwinnett Sports Commission: Sports marketing—event creation and logistics
GDEcD UPDATE- Brittney Gray
Co-Op Grants
I wanted to let you all know that the updated co-op information is now available on www.marketgeorgia.org. Please log on and review the changes if you have applied or will be applying for a co-op grant. The major changes that I noticed are:
Website enhancements are NO LONGER eligible through Co-Op Marketing Grant. If you need enhancements, you’ll have to apply for a Techno Tourism Grant at a later date.
The total amount of money is $500,000 this year. The maximum amount per grant is $20,000 instead of the previous $25,000. However, you will no longer get a percentage of what you apply for. The scores will be used only to determine whether you are above or below the cut off. If you are above, you’ll receive the whole amount requested. What does this mean? Your score will need to be the best possible to ensure you make it above the cutoff. Because there is less money this year and no more percentages, this year is going to be the most competitive of all!
Grant applications will now go to Fay Tripp. Her address is on the new form. If you have already mailed yours, Fay should have them. She picked up the submitted grants from the office here in Atlanta.
The deadline has again been changed. It is August 15. Awards will be made by October 15. This may be good for some of you, but it may prove to be an ineligibility problem for projects that are before the announced date. I want to personally apologize to anyone that will be adversely affected by the date changes. The changes were necessary due to budget cuts and program efficiency. Unfortunately, some projects may be excluded this round, but hope that you will reapply next year. The dates and schedule should be back on track in 2010.
Please review the website for all changes! All Reps will be charged with working one on one with each applicant this year. We will personally review and follow up with you on your projects and make sure you are getting the services that you need to make your project successful. Good luck to all of you applicants! For those that have not mailed their grant applicaitons out, please send me a copy via email if possible before you do so. I’ll check and double check to make sure you have everything you’ll need.
Travel Alliance Partner Marketplace
Anyone interested in looking over leads generated by the GDEcD from the Travel Alliance Partner Marketplace, click here to view leads and click here to view the collateral the GDEcD received at the show.
Thanks- Brittney
REMINDER
Reminder- Please read Member Memo rules again. Events and Special Offers that do not adhere to these guidelines will be sent back for reformatting. Thank you.
Each member is allowed 2 events per member memo.
The events must take place within 30 days of when the memo comes out.
Descriptions must be 50 words or less and can include a telephone number, web site or email address for additional information.
Special Offers are also limited to 50 words or less.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
STS Continuing Education... for the Tourism Professional
We welcome you to join us for...
"Am I Meeting My Goals?"
A Study in Accountability -
Conversion as a Process
Wednesday August 12th 10:00 - 11:00 AM.ET
The Speaker... Jack Yager, SMITH
To Register For This Class... send an e-mail to darryl@southeasttourism.org and give your name, organization, phone number, and preferred email address so we can send you the connection instructions. This class is complimentary.
Click here to get the complete flyer. ( link to flyer)
Old Soldiers Day Parade August 1, 8:45 AM Band & Memorial Service, 9:30 AM Program, 10:15 AM Parade
Alpharetta City Hall, 2 South Main Street 678-297-6078 Free Admission
With so much to celebrate, take this day to recognize the living memory of all veterans of war. Along with the program and parade, this celebration also features floats, bands, entertainment, children’s activities, and prizes! Free hot dogs and soft drinks will be available at the American Legion at 201 Wills Road at the end of the parade! Join us earlier(7:00 AM) for the 31th Annual Old Soldiers Day Race in downtown Alpharetta! kdodson@alpharetta.ga.us
Rodgers & Hammerstein at the Movies Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Encore Park August 1, 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, 404-733-5010
Turner Classic Movies Night TCM star Robert Osborne hosts a delightful evening of clips from the original movie musicals while the ASO provides the live music from some of the greatest musicals ever, including, Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Carousel and more. VWAinfo@woodruffcenter.org http://www.awesomealpharetta.com/pages/ContentPage.aspx?ContentName=Verizon_Wireless_Amphitheatre
Event Type: Performing Arts - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Ticket Prices: $21 - $59 http://www.alpharetta.ga.us
Concert by the Springs. August 2, 2009 7:00-8:30 PM
Swinging Medallions back by popular demand, the Party Band of the South. This outdoor summer concert is free, open to the public. Located at Sandy Springs Society Entertainment Lawn at Heritage Green, 6110 Blue Stone Road. For Information on reserving a table, please call 404-851-9111, Ext. 207
Georgia Pottery August 6, 2009 - 6:30 PM at Heritage Sandy Springs.
Georgia Pottery and the important pieces in the HSS collection. Chris Brooks, Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia, will discuss 19th century migration of potters from North Carolina to Georgia and the legacy they left in clay. He examines rare examples of pottery in the HSS Collection. www.heritagesandysprings.org
Bridal Bootcamp August 15, 2009, Douglasville Convention and Visitors Bureau presents a free workshop on wedding planning. Local vendors will be present. Free & open to the public. 9:00am - 12:00pm at The Centre at Arbor Connection To register contact: 678-715-6069 www.visitdouglasville.com
** New Format for Member Memo ***
This new format applies to all events and special offers for the member memos.
Each member is allowed 2 events per member memo.
The events must take place within 30 days of when the memo comes out
Descriptions must be 50 words or less and can include a telephone number, web site or email address for additional information.
You can submit a flyer that will be attached to the document, but not displayed.
There is also now a form in the member section of the web site that members may use to submit memo information. Log on and go to AMTA Members >> Resources >> AMTA Member Memo Information Form
Member Announcements at General Membership Meetings
A new protocol has been put in place regarding member announcements at the end of General Membership meetings. There will now be a sign-up sheet at the sign-in table at the beginning of each meeting. The first 10 people who sign up will be allowed to give a one minute announcement to the membership at the end of the meeting.
