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Grassroots campaign launched to bring conventions and meetings to Tulsa
The Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau announced last week the launch of a new effort to attract more meetings and conventions to Tulsa known as the “Bring it Home Tulsa” campaign.
“The goal of the campaign is to encourage Tulsans to recommend their hometown as the site for their next professional, civic or recreational group or organization’s national meeting or conference,” said Amy Huntley, vice president of the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s our hope that more individuals will take a cue from others who have helped us bring groups, meetings, conferences and events to Tulsa.”
Whether individuals are able to secure the group themselves or need a CVB representative to follow up on a lead, they can help in the effort to bring more tourism dollars to Tulsa that translate into much needed public service projects and programs. To learn more about the campaign, or submit details about a possible event or group you could help bring to Tulsa, log on to www.VisitTulsa.com/BringItHome.
Tourism produces more than $1.4 billion in economic impact in Tulsa County annually and employs more than 25,000 individuals.
Read more about the campaign in this Journal Record article.
Partners in Education reaches goal, announces Partner of the Year awards
In 2006, TPS Superintendent Dr. David Sawyer challenged the Partners In Education program to grow to 1,350 partners by the close of the 2009-2010 academic school year. As of last week the program boasts 1,441 partners.
Partners that have made outstanding contributions this year were recognized at the recent Partner In Education awards reception. All Souls Unitarian Church was named the 2009-2010 Partner of the Year at the Partners In Education reception. Partners, educators and community leaders gathered to recognize outstanding contributions to the program, the district and the schools.
All Souls Unitarian Church partners with several schools in TPS, but was recognized specifically for its dedication to the Jackson Elementary students, staff and faculty. The church provides funding for school trips and events and its members are weekly classroom volunteers.
Additionally, three times a week a volunteer provides laundry services to ensure the students arrive to school in clean uniforms, and the school’s administrators have said that the school would be unable to meet the needs of its students without the assistance from All Souls.
Other award recipients are:
• Chittom Challenge Award -- Danny Downing, Clinton Middle School partner
• Outstanding Small Business Partner -- Jonathan Gibson, Academy Central Elementary partner
• Award for Excellence -- OSU Medical Center, Eugene Field Elementary partner
• Investing in the Future -- Omni Air Transport, Hamilton Middle School partner
• Champions Award -- Megasys, Hale High School partner
• Dedicated Partnership -- Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Bryant Elementary partner
• Outstanding District Partner -- Junior Achievement, East Central High School partner
• Outstanding Faith-Based Partner -- Parkview Baptist Church, Salk Elementary partner
• Outstanding Faith-Based Partner Honorable Mention -- Skelly Drive Baptist Church, Skelly Elementary partner
• Valuable Investment – The University of Tulsa, Kendall-Whittier Elementary partner
• Above and Beyond -- Calvary Temple Church, Mark Twain Elementary partner
Tulsa CVB honors local heroes
The Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Tulsa Hotel & Lodging Association honored local business people who helped bring meetings and events to Tulsa at last week’s Local Heroes and Tops in Tulsa luncheon.
The luncheon, presented by QuikTrip, was held at the Tulsa Convention Center and recognized those who impacted the local economy by attracting tourism dollars to the region.
Honorees and their events/meetings included: Rev. Dr. Michelle Moulden, African Methodist Church, economic impact of $1.3 million; Brad Craig, Association of Oklahoma Narcotic Enforcers, estimated economic impact of $336,000; and Larry Ketcher, Council for Tribal Employment Rights, estimated economic impact of $240,000.
The Local Hero program remains an important part of the Tulsa CVB recruitment effort for future convention and meetings business and the launch of the “Bring it Home Tulsa” campaign allows the CVB to take a more active approach in encouraging more citizens to become local heroes.
Also recognized at the luncheon were the top five hotel employees as nominated by their peers and managers. The “Tops in Tulsa Award,” presented by the Tulsa Hotel and Lodging Association, winners received cash prizes in recognition of their dedication and professionalism in the industry.
Tops in Tulsa winners were: Melinda Hilton, Hampton Inn Sand Springs, Hospitality Champion; Darla Shields, Ramada Tulsa Airport East, Front Office; Evelyn Epperson, Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center, Housekeeping; Lynne “Mama Lynne” Littrell, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Food Service; and James Arter, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Property Management.
Tulsa Achieves program featured in online higher education article
For some students, even low-cost education is unaffordable, limiting their future potential and their ability to contribute to our economy. Tulsa Community College’s Tulsa Achieves program was designed to help these students see college as an opportunity and eliminate the barriers to entry for lower-income students.
The Tulsa Achieves program was recently featured in depth in an article on HigherEd.com, a respected online publication that gathers ideas and information about education issues throughout the U.S. The story features interviews with students that participate in the program as well as TCC president Tom McKeon. The Tulsa Achieves program waives tuition for students that maintain minimum performance requirements, volunteer a number of hours to the school and remain residents of Tulsa County. The funding for the tuition is made up by a mixture of financial aid, private donations and state support.
“We are proud of the success of the Tulsa Achieves program, and we recognize that this investment in the education of our citizens will pay huge dividends in attracting and retaining employers to the area,” said Mike Neal, Tulsa Metro Chamber president and CEO. “We’re pleased they are being recognized in such a prestigious publication.”
Click here to read the full article.
Chamber seeks volunteers for business retention, expansion program
Tulsa regional business leaders are invited to attend an informational training session for the Chamber's peer-to-peer outreach business retention and expansion (BRE) program, scheduled for Thursday, June 3.
The BRE program is made possible with the assistance of a volunteer committee of business leaders who accompany Chamber staff on site visits to area companies to determine what services, resources or support they need.
The Chamber's economic development division has set a goal to complete 450 visits in 2010 and is seeking additional volunteers for the program.
"As a participating business member and volunteer, I commend this innovative program for creating direct interaction between companies and calling representatives, displaying great Chamber interest in companies receiving the calls, and generating new Chamber service opportunities for companies," said Richard Boone, president of the St. John Medical Center Foundation.
Individuals interested in volunteering may attend the training session scheduled for 3:30 p.m., Thursday, June 3 at the Tulsa Metro Chamber, second floor conference room, 2 W. Second St. Both new and existing volunteers are invited to learn more about the program.
For questions about becoming a volunteer or to attend the session, contact Danielle Runyan, business retention and expansion manager, at 560.0265 or daniellerunyan@tulsachamber.com
Chamber requests member feedback
If you recently received an online or printed survey in the mail from the Tulsa Metro Chamber, please take the time to fill it out and submit it online or return it via postal mail.
Information gathered through this survey is used to assess the services and programs offered by the Chamber so we may better fulfill the needs of our members.
If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact Ruth Littlefield, vice president of membership, at ruthlittlefield@tulsachamber.com or (918) 560-0280.
Chamber welcomes new businessesEach month the Tulsa Metro Chamber's Hospitality Club welcomes new businesses and new Chamber members to the community by assisting with ribbon cuttings and groundbreaking announcements.
Holiday Inn Tulsa City Center
Jeff Keeley, General Manager
17 W. 7th Street
Tulsa, OK 74119
Phone: 585-5898
www.holidayinn.com/tulsa-cc
MasquerMaids
Nakia Washington, Owner
6440 S. Lewis, Ste. 2000
Tulsa, OK 74136
Phone: 810.9030
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