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March 7, 2006
FestivALL Announces 2006 Performers
FestivALL Charleston is back and better than ever with three days packed full of performances, exhibits and events. The entertainment starts early Friday evening with a free “Live on the Levee” concert at Haddad Riverfront Park with Charleston’s ambassador of Jazz, Bob Thompson. From there you can head to the beautiful Clay Center for a concert featuring the first family of New Orleans R&B, The Neville Brothers. Or take the Spirit of South Charleston sternwheel “river taxi” to The University of Charleston for Fund for the Arts’ “Blues, Brews & BBQ” featuring Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas and Alvin “Youngblood” Hart. If you prefer theater, sample a lighthearted show by The Charleston Light Opera Guild at their playhouse on the West Side.
On Saturday, visit the Capitol Street Art Fair and browse through work by 75 of the region’s finest artists and crafts artists. Performances by clowns, dancers, mimes, magicians and a street theater company will be continuous starting at 10am, and there will be installations of a rainbow of public art projects all around the downtown area. Enjoy many styles of music- from traditional Appalachian to jazz- on Free Music Stages at Slack Plaza, Davis Park, Haddad Riverfront Park and Capitol Market. The Kanawha County Public Library Street Fair will be going full blast in front of the Library on Capitol Street with big fun for kids and their parents.
Also on Saturday, don’t forget to buy and enjoy a brown bag lunch at The Charleston Ballet studio where special guests of the ballet will be doing informal performances. The Charleston Ballet itself will be doing a piece at another venue accompanied by The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s resident chamber group, The Montclaire String Quartet. There will also be dance performances by The River City Youth Ballet, The Trillium Dance Company and more. At the Walker Theater in the Clay Center there will be a One-Act Play Festival featuring some of the region’s finest companies with a special late night cabaret show.
And, of course, Fund for the Arts’ very popular “Wine & All That Jazz” event will fill a lazy Saturday afternoon and evening with music from a riverside stage at the University of Charleston from 3pm until the stars are shining brightly. Charleston’s favorite jazz artists will be there along with a national headliner and several vineyards full of your favorite fruits of the vine. The “river taxi” runs from 3 to 11pm connecting UC and Haddad Park.
On Sunday, the Art Fair, public art, Free Music Stages and street performers will all be back as will the One-Act Play Festival. FestivALL ends Sunday evening with West Virginia Public Radio’s nationally broadcast show, Mountain Stage, featuring five different guests from across the country and, perhaps, around the world.
All of this is just a sampling of events and performances that will be included in FestivALL Charleston. There will also be a “West Virginia Festival of Foods” at the Charleston Civic Center, a ten-minute play contest, a youth art show, an oral history project and much, much more. It will truly be All the Arts- All Over Town.
For more information call Larry Groce at 304-444-7062 or log onto www.festivallcharleston.com.
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February 23, 2006
First City-Wide Convention of the Year Arrives in Charleston
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Charleston’s performance halls are resonating with the sound of young voices, and its hotels are bursting at the seams thanks to the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conference.
The ACDA Southern Division Convention arrived in Charleston Wednesday, bringing more than 4,000 people to Charleston for the weekend. The event is estimated to bring in more than $2 million to the city’s economy during its four-day stay.
The Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) began talks with ACDA representatives in the fall of 2003.
“Our city competed with several larger cities to attract this convention and the economic impact that will result, and I am very honored and pleased that the people planning this convention chose Charleston,” Mayor Danny Jones said. “This is the first group that we secured through our incentive program, which is funded by the hotel-motel tax, and our community will witness this weekend all the benefits of reinvesting that tax revenue to get groups like this one to come to our city for their special events. I hope everyone in Charleston will join us in making the choral directors and these great musicians feel welcome in West Virginia’s capital city.”
Dr. Sara Lynn Baird, president of the ACDA Southern Division echoed the mayor’s sentiments.
“We chose Charleston for a variety of reasons,” Baird said. “The local members of ACDA were very excited to have a chance to host an event, and the mayor was very involved in every aspect of the process. That level of interest and commitment influenced our decision.”
“When we started talking to ACDA in 2003 they had been averaging about 2,500 people at their recent conventions,” said CVB president Eddie Canaday. “Now, with their attendance in Charleston reaching upwards of 4,000, its showcasing Charleston as a premiere arts destination.”
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February 21, 2006
Charleston CVB Books Record 11th City-Wide Event
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – When the expected 1000 participants at the Charleston Rod Run and Doo-wop Festival start the party this October, they’ll have another, smaller group doo-wopping alongside them.
The rod-run, a classic car event in its first year, is also the 11th city-wide event for the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, which happens to be a new record for the city.
“It’s a great feeling to have the record,” said CVB president Eddie Canady, who took over leadership of the organization one year ago. “For the CVB to be setting a new bar for the city this year is a significant achievement for the team of people who have helped to accomplish this remarkable turn-around.”
In the convention business, a “city-wide” event must include more than 500 participants and use three or more hotel properties with a minimum of 300 peak room nights. The rod run checks in at 1000 participants, 10 hotels, and 500 peak rooms.
One of the people most excited about the record-breaking event is Mayor Danny Jones, a CVB board member and classic car enthusiast.
“This record amount of big events would not have been possible without the city council and community supporting our efforts to improve the operations of the CVB,” Mayor Jones said. “By offering incentive funds to these larger qualifying groups, we can compete for convention business and attract regional and national events to our city like never before.”
The other city-wide events the CVB has brought in for 2006 include: the American Choral Directors Conference (later this month), the World of Wrestling Eastern Youth Tournament in April, the West Virginia Special Olympics, and the LifeWay Christian Resources “Living Proof Live” event.
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January 2, 2006
CHARLESTON CVB NAMED MODEL AGENCY BY NATIONAL CONSULTANT
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The results are in, and the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has turned the corner in its economic development efforts, according to a national consultant, who analyzed the city’s CVB.
One of America’s top tourism industry leaders in performance evaluations and audits of convention and visitors bureaus, Marshall Murdaugh returned to Charleston this month to re-examine the CVB, two years after he issued a critical audit of the organization. After reviewing the CVB’s progress, Murdaugh stated that the Charleston CVB has improved much faster than he anticipated.
“In my 35 years in the business, I’ve never seen such an effective turnaround as Charleston’s,” Murdaugh said. “When I first came here in 2003 the CVB lacked leadership and funding. Now, they’re a model agency that would be the envy of many communities.”
Under Mayor Danny Jones’ leadership, the CVB doubled its budget, restructured its Board of Directors, chose a new Bureau president, and created an incentive fund to provide rebates to large groups planning their meetings in Charleston.
“This turnaround would not have been possible without the city council and community supporting my efforts to improve the role of the CVB,” Mayor Jones said. “By offering incentive funds to meeting and event planners, we can compete for convention business and attract regional and national events to our city.”
Now, the Charleston CVB is on track to produce new visitor awareness, stimulate customer interest and desire to visit Charleston, as well as produce significant economic results for years to come.
“A record number of citywide conventions are scheduled for 2006,” said Eddie Canaday, who was named CVB president in February. “Our success can be attributed to the team efforts of the entire hospitality community.”
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February 12, 2004
Charleston to Host Prestigious American Choral Directors Association’s Regional Meeting in 2006
Choir directors from across the South will meet in Charleston for the 2006 Biennial Southern Regional Meeting of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), officials from the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced today.
More than 2,500 attendees from eleven states are expected to attend the three-day conference beginning February 23. The CVB estimates the economic impact from this one event to be more than $1.1 million.
Officials from the ACDA visited the city in October 2003 to meet with the local hospitality community and explore various facilities in the area. The Clay Center and local churches will be utilized for performances areas and rehearsal spaces for the large national honor choirs that will be part of the convention. The Charleston Civic Center will be primarily for meeting, interest sessions and exhibit space. Charleston competed with Louisville, KY, and Atlanta, GA for this event.
Local contact Rebecca Thompson, who is president of the executive board of the West Virginia ACDA, was instrumental in bringing the group to Charleston.
“We wanted to lift up WV choral music and some outstanding choral groups as well as celebrate our great heritage of Appalachian music,” Thompson said. “We would like to let the Southern states know what outstanding choral music exists in W.Va., and because Charleston is the central location and a beautiful city of charm, it is a great way to introduce the group to our state.”
Thompson also credits choral conductors for their efforts. “We have some choral conductors in this state that have worked tirelessly for years to illuminate choral music, and these conductors will be a great part of organizing this event through the help of our division and national conference.”
“I am pleased that such a large group of talented people will be coming to our capital city,” said Charleston Mayor Danny Jones, who actively assisted the CVB in its efforts to secure ACDA’s meeting. “Charleston is a prime location for a convention such as this with the convenience of downtown restaurants and hotels, all of which will help us provide a marvelous welcome for these visitors.”
The American Choral Directors Association is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1959 to promote excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research and teaching. There are about 18,000 choral directors representing one million singers across the nation.
The Charleston CVB has eight citywide bookings confirmed for 2004. Just these eight conferences are expected to bring in 14,860 room nights and an estimated $7.8 million in economic impact to the area. Eighteen other meetings also are scheduled for 2004. Another five citywides are pending as well as seventeen other meetings.
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February 24, 2004
Charleston Hosts National Association of Social Workers in April
More than 2,000 social workers from West Virginia and other areas will gather in Charleston for the largest National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Chapter annual conference in the country.
The 20th annual West Virginia Spring Continuing Education Conference for Social Workers will be held April 28, 29 and 30 at the Charleston Civic Center. Although a Chapter conference, there will be attendees and speakers from the region and beyond, some as far away as Florida, Arizona and Washington State.
The annual conference includes more than 100 educational workshops for professionals on a variety of topics including geriatrics, clinical practice, healthcare, work with children, youth and families, addictions, social policy, practitioner wellness, administration and management. Plans also include an 80+ booth trade show and exhibit hall. Five area hotels are being used to accommodate attendees.
The keynote speaker is Michael Clark, MSW, who is a consultant, trainer and family therapist. He will focus his presentation on motivation and inducing positive behavior change through the use of strength-based strategies.
Sam Hickman, ACSW, LCSW, is the executive director if the NASW, West Virginia Chapter, and says that Charleston is host to the conference each year because of its flexibility in meeting the needs of the conference.
“We’re proud that this is our 20th anniversary and our biggest event of the year,” Hickman said. “The Charleston Civic Center is large enough to do the conference the way we want, and the conference is a great way to show off the city particularly to those from out of state. They are always impressed.”
The National Association of Social Workers is the largest organization of professional social workers in the world with 155,000 members in 55 chapters in the United States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and abroad. It was founded in 1955 through a merger of seven organizations.
Those wishing to attend may register in advance until April 16 or at the door. For registration fees, call the West Virginia Chapter of NASW at (304) 345-6279 or go to the web site at www.naswwv.org.
For more information on other upcoming conferences or economic impact, call the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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February 23, 2004
Charleston CVB Vice President of Sales Receives Honor from Charleston Mayor
Eddie Canaday, an eight year veteran of the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), received a Proclamation by the Mayor during the Tuesday, February 17, 2004 city council meeting.
The proclamation was to recognize and commend Canaday for his contribution, professionalism and excellence in promoting Charleston and his leadership in record-breaking years in new and repeat booking and surpassing annual sales goals.
In part, the proclamation reads: “…recognize and commend for public appreciation Eddie Canaday for his remarkable talent and work ethic, his dedication to our community, his teamwork, professional achievements and leadership as vice president of the Convention & Visitors Bureau in promoting Charleston as a more attractive place to live, visit and invest in the future…”
“We are very pleased that Mayor Jones and the city council members recognize Eddie’s level of professionalism and success in promoting Charleston as a group and conference destination,” said Chris Walker, president of the Charleston CVB.
Canaday, who is a graduate of Concord College with a Bachelor of Science Travel Industry Management with an emphasis in Hospitality and Tourism Marketing, joined the Charleston CVB in 1997 as director of sales. In 2003, Canaday was promoted to vice president of sales. During his time at the CVB, he also has received the professional designation of Hospitality Marketing Executive through the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International and Certified Hospitality Sales Professional from the American Hotel/Motel Association.
The Mayor’s proclamation also expressed appreciation for the entire staff of the Charleston CVB for their efforts in promoting the capital city.
“Our staff members are very experienced and well educated” Walker said. “We’re fortunate to have a group with a tourism background, but also who have either certifications or graduate work as well as the highest level of professionalism.” Walker also said that the Charleston CVB staff members have a combined total of 88 years of tourism development, marketing and sales experience.
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May 8, 2004
New Board Members Selected for Charleston CVB
The Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors has recently elected five new board members. Two of those seats are new, bringing the board total to 19.
Three board members have been elected to replace those with expired terms. Those serving three-year terms include Susie Hanger, president of Songer Whitewater, Inc. representing the non-lodging sector of the hospitality industry and Steven Summer, president and CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association, representing the general business community sector. Drew Payne, a board member for the Charleston Civic Center, will serve a two-year term as a permanent seat on the board.
Two board seats have been added to include members of the Charleston City Council. Those serving from council are Mary Jean Davis, council member at large, and Teresa “Tricky” Reed, council member from the 5th ward.
The Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau is an independent, non-profit organization devoted to marketing and promoting Charleston and attracting conferences and leisure travelers to drive money into area businesses.
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May 26, 2004
Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America Convention Comes to Charleston Next Week
Charleston will be hosting the Supreme Forest of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America June 2-6, 2004 for its annual national convention.
The Supreme Tall Cedar of North America, A. Ralph Horlbeck, officers and more than 900 members from all over the East Coast and as far west as Michigan are expected to attend the convention. Most functions will be held at the Embassy Suites, which is the headquarter hotel, as well as the Charleston Marriott.
The event will be highlighted by a parade on Saturday, June 5 beginning at 10 a.m. in downtown Charleston. Color guard groups, men’s and women’s marching groups, clowns, and a few small floats will all be featured.
Other planned events include an exhibit area at the Embassy Suites on Thursday, June 3 from 1-5 p.m. and Friday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and it is open to the public. In addition, this group will hold a theme party on Wednesday evening and a banquet on Saturday night for its members.
The Tall Cedars of Lebanon is a fraternal organization of master masons founded for the purpose of providing entertainment and recreation, and promoting a wider acquaintance and friendship between members of the craft. The organization, which is headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, is involved in many activities, including special programs of the Pennsylvania Youth Foundation and muscular dystrophy. Since 1951, Cedar chapters have been providing financial assistance by raising funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and its programs.
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(Ray Bosley is the contact for the convention and may be reached by calling his cell phone at 443-255-9156.)
For more information concerning upcoming conferences or economic impact figures, please call the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau.
May 16, 2003
REQUEST FOR MEDIA COVERAGE
INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION HOLDS CONFERENCE MAY 17-24
Police on Bike competition highlights the event
Charleston, WV—More than 200 public safety cyclists from the U.S. and around the world are expected to attend the International Police Mountain Bike Association’s (IPMBA) Annual Conference & Product Exhibition. The eight-day event begins May 17.
The conference will focus attention on on-bike training and workshops, with more than 50 instructors offering both classroom-based and on-bike sessions. Scheduled activities and topics include off-road riding, patrol tactics and obstacle clearing as well as maintenance, fitness and nutrition, officer survival, and EMS issues.
The event will be highlighted by a bike competition on Friday, May 23, beginning at 5 p.m. on the grounds of the state Capitol. The public is invited to observe the races. Highly trained public safety cyclists will demonstrate their riding skills by overcoming the type of obstacles they may face while on duty.
The competition is held to test the riders’ skills and to raise awareness about police and emergency services personnel that use bikes on the line of duty and the value to the communities they serve.
Other on-bike training will be held at various locations throughout the city. Classroom based sessions are at the Civic Center.
Maureen Becker, executive director of IPBMA and Lt. John Shannon of the Charleston Police Dept. are contacts for the event. Lt. Shannon began working with the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau in 2001 to secure Charleston as the host site for this year’s conference.
Formed in 1991, IPMBA is dedicated to the purpose of providing training for public safety personnel on bikes. Based in Baltimore, MD, IPMBA promotes the use of bikes for public safety as well as provides resources and networking opportunities. The association offers the best, most complete training for public safety cyclists. Currently there are 3,000 members. The annual conference and product exhibition is the premier training event for public safety cyclists and the only international conference of its kind.
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(For economic impact figures or other facts, contact the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Ms. Becker may be reached for additional information on the conference or interviews by calling her at 549-1251. Lt. Shannon may be reached at 389-3462.)
2003 Charleston Area Visitors Guide Available for Distribution
Filled with helpful information for conference attendees and area visitors, the 2003 Charleston Area Visitors Guide is now ready and available for distribution. This richly-colored guide is full of valuable information for those interested in finding places to go and things to do. The publication features detailed sections on dining, lodging, shopping, and various entertainment venues and attractions throughout the area, plus many colorful photos, and the ever-popular discount coupon section! The full reproductions of the area and city maps located in the center spread are also very beneficial to unfamiliar guests of the city.
Many area businesses and services chose to advertise in the visitors guide to further enhance their visibility to the market, thus creating a sell out of all allocated advertising space. Many of these ads include special discount or exclusive offers as well.
Over the next year, more than 250,000 copies of the Charleston area guides will be distributed to those coming to welcome and visitors centers in West Virginia, to those requesting information by phone and Internet, to those calling 1-800-CALL-WVA or to those attending one of the many conferences held in Charleston each year. Five Star Promotions also distributes the guide to more than 120 locations statewide and to selected locations in Ohio and Kentucky. Also included as distribution partners are the Charleston Town Center, Yeager Airport, and of course, the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The bureau keeps an assortment of brochures on area events, attractions, restaurants, accommodations, and others—all free to visitors. Stop in and pickup all the information you need to have a fun-filled time in Charleston, and don’t forget your copy of the new 2003 Charleston Area Visitors Guide! The bureau is located at 200 Civic Center Drive and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Or call us toll-free 1-800-733-5469 or locally at 304-344-5075 for information about all there is to see and do in Charleston and the surrounding areas.
The visitors guide is made possible by a matching grant from the West Virginia Division of Tourism that covers half the total cost.
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June 25, 2003
Charleston Magazine Recognized with Crystal Award
Charleston Magazine, which debuted in November 2002, was recently recognized for its merit from the Public Relations Society of America, West Virginia Chapter, during its Crystal Awards dinner on June 18.
The magazine, which is a publication of the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau, received honorable mention in the project category of external communications, color magazine-four or more color. The criteria for judging were based on planning, quality of work, and originality creativity, with scoring based on a point system.
Chris Walker, president of the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau, says that this is a wonderful acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication of its staff and the commitment to ensure that Charleston Magazine is a quality publication.
“We are excited and honored about the award. Our vision from the beginning was to create a magazine that was well-planned and well done. I believe that we have accomplished that,” Walker said. “With each issue, however, we strive to make improvements and make the publication even better.”
This award comes just prior to the release of the summer issue. This week, 30,000 copies of Charleston Magazine will be widely distributed in targeted areas and by subscriptions. The summer issue—the hottest ever—is packed with all thing summer. From great summer hot weather outings to perfect picnic outings and garden solutions, this issue promises to be one of the best.
Charleston Magazine is published quarterly and includes features, personality profiles and regular departments such as home and decorating, travel and recreation, arts and entertainment, columnists and much more, all authored by some of the area’s best writers. Weaving all these elements together is compelling photography and colorful, contemporary design and an illustration created by the area’s own Russ Wallace.
For more information on subscriptions or how to receive your copy, please contact the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau, located at 200 Civic Center Dr., from 8:30 a.m. to 5 .m. Monday through Friday, or call toll-free at 1-800-733-5469 or locally at (304) 344-5075. Subscription forms are available inside the magazine and on-line at www.charlestonwv.com.
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June 19, 2003
Honda Sport Touring Association Brings Rendezvous to Charleston
Charleston, WV—More than 400 motorcyclists from the 35 to 40 states and Canada are expected to attend the Honda Sport Touring Association Rendezvous (STAR) from June 22-26.
The event’s theme will be Mountain Heights-City Nights to reflect West Virginia diverse attractiveness. Attendees will spend their days riding the scenic roadways of the state and return to the city in the evening for other activities.
Opening ceremonies are on Sunday, June 22 at 6 p.m. at Haddad Riverfront Park, to welcome the event to the city. Introductions and some awards also will be announced.
Keynote speaker on Wednesday evening is Marc Cook, past executive editor for Motorcyclist magazine. Writers from American Motorcyclist magazine will attend and ROADRunner magazine will feature editorial on touring routes around Charleston.
The public is invited to participate in a raffle to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Ride for Kids. For a donation of $5, ticket holders have the opportunity to win a new Honda motorcycle. Because the motorcycle was donated, all proceeds go directly to the foundation. The bike will be on display in front of the Charleston House during the conference. Also, members’ motorcycles will be on display each evening on the top floor of the parking garage of the Charleston House Holiday Inn.
The Honda Sport Touring Association was founded in 1982 and is chartered by the American Motorcycle Association. The primary purpose of the club is to bring together riders whose focus is motorcycle sport touring, regardless of type or brand of motorcycle. There are members throughout the U.S., Canada and numerous foreign countries. Members range in age from late teens to late eighties with a median age between 35 and 45 and include virtually all socioeconomic strata. The majority of the members ride sport touring bikes.
Any local sport touring bike rider is welcome to stop by during the conference. Event officials also welcome media representatives to cover any portion of the conference.
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(For economic impact figures or other facts, contact the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Jon Campbell, Ohio state director of the Honda Tourism Association, may be reached for interviews or additional information on the conference by calling his cell phone at 513-465-4755.)
July 3, 2003
City Prepares for Large BMW Motorcycle Rally
Charleston, WV—It’s just a few days away, and the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), Mayor Danny Jones and the entire hospitality community are preparing for the estimated 6,000-7,000 motorcyclists from all 50 states and other countries that are expected to attend the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America International Rally on July 10-13.
For almost two years, the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau has worked with the Charleston Police Department as well as officials from the University of Charleston, Charleston Town Center and other businesses and facilities that will host events to coordinate logistics and to make certain everything runs smoothly.
“By now, most everyone in town is aware that we’re bringing in the BMW conference here for a few days,” said Chris Walker, Charleston CVB president. “Much of the city will be used for the event. And while it’s important for Charleston residents to allow more time for travel around town, but it’s also important to recognize the significant economic impact to the entire community.”
The Charleston CVB estimates that close to $5 million will be pumped into local businesses.
During the recent news conference held on June 26, BMW officials asked restaurants to extend hours to accommodate the hungry motorcyclists that will be going to or coming back from long rides. Also, businesses are encouraged to place welcome posters on doors or windows. Members look for the signs and appreciate the personalized greeting.
The event’s theme will be Almost Heaven to reflect West Virginia’s attractiveness to riders. Attendees will spend their days riding the scenic roadways of the state and returning to the city in the evening for other activities.
The rally opens Thursday, July 10 and features seminars throughout the day and apparel exhibition in the evening.
The public is invited to the commercial vendor area from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 11. There will be a $2 admission per person, but all proceeds will go to the Charleston Daymark Patchwork program.
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August 7, 2003
Charleston to Host 82nd Airborne Association Next Week
The City of Charleston is expected to have more than 1,000 active duty, veterans and retired members of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, Inc. in attendance for its national convention next week, August 13-16. Entitled “Operation Parachutes over the Mountains,” this annual event, which is in its 57th year, will attract representatives from all 50 states and some foreign countries.
Special guest speaker will be Mr. Hershel “Woody” Williams, West Virginia’s only living Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Attendees will enjoy a river boat cruise on the P.A. Denny, a featured 82nd Airborne race at Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center, performances by the Airborne Chorus, music and dancing amidst the rooftops of Charleston at the Marriott Pavilion. There will be a WWII static display by Mr. Paul Mullins and fellow WWII re-enactors, and a memorial dinner and ceremony to honor fallen comrades. Special exhibitors including the Airborne Museum, the WV Airborne Chapter and the 82nd Airborne Association will be on hand with memorabilia of interest for the attendees to purchase. Proceeds from these items will help fund various community service projects the association participates in each year, including stocking area food pantries, assisting veterans, volunteering at area Veterans Administration hospitals and funding for education scholarships given to those who qualify each year.
“When I started several years ago, as Chairman, we began building our membership and all agreed to place a bid to host the convention here in Charleston. It’s a great honor for our chapter, and we are very proud to host this event. We want our fellow troopers to see what WV has to offer,” says WV Chapter Chairman, Donald L. Jennings. “The convention means a lot to us and will bring back a lot of memories and a chance to meet old friends. However, we couldn’t have done it without all the support of Charleston. The tremendous help and support over the last three years from the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Charleston Civic Center, the Charleston Marriott, the Holiday Inn Express Civic Center, our past Mayor Jay Goldman, and now new Mayor, Danny Jones along with Governor Wise cannot go unmentioned,” Jennings said.
The Airborne was formed in 1939-40 by Gen. Lee, who was considered the father of the Airborne. In 1942, the Airborne was separated into the 101st and 82nd Divisions. The Airborne grew to a total of five divisions with 18,000-20,000 men each. Airborne troops were the first to invade on D-Day during operation “Overlord” in the invasion of Normandy and France. During WWII, Paratroopers jumped in Africa, Italy, Sicily, Southern France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Troops also participated in the South Pacific campaign as well as in Korea, Panama, Granada, Vietnam and Iraq. Airborne Divisions during World War II also consisted of Gliders who participated in these invasions where there were airborne troops such as Normandy, the South Pacific, Holland and Burma in Southeast Asia.
Although the convention is not open to the public, media may direct questions and inquiries regarding the event to Executive Director, Manny DeJesus or Donald L. Jennings, WV chapter chairman by contacting the Charleston Marriott at (304) 345-6500 during the event.
Charleston Marriott Town Center will be the host hotel, while the Charleston Civic Center will be hosting events. The Holiday Inn Express-Civic Center will also be providing additional rooms for attendees.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2003
Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau Honored as CVB of the Year
Charleston, WV—Recognized for outstanding achievements, the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) received the prestigious CVB of the Year award from the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) during its Annual Shining Example Awards Banquet on Sept. 6.
The Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau’s qualifying entry was selected from among those in eleven member states. | 
