April 08, 2008 12:10 pm
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The Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau on Monday launched a “clean it up, fix it up and paint it up” campaign in connection with National Tourism Week, set for May 10-17. I would add to that slogan “pick it up.”
Just grab a kitchen trash bag and take a walk through your neighborhood. I bet you would be surprised about how much stuff you pick up.
During a news conference Monday morning near the Joplin welcome sign on South Range Line Road, Vince Lindstrom, director of the bureau, said the city has five weeks to make a favorable first impression on tourists in advance of the summer tourism season.
But a number of events this month will bring visitors to the city. Among them are the Missouri Southern International Piano Competition, the JoMoPro BMX riders event at The Bridge, the first Renaissance Festival in Landreth Park, the Choppers 4 Children event and PhotoSpiva at Spiva Center for the Arts.
“These events draw people in from a wide variety of demographics, but they all have one thing in common: They notice the little things in the communities they visit, and that makes an impression on their opinion of the city,” Lindstrom said. “We want that impression to be a positive one.”
The campaign has adopted the slogan “Company’s Coming.” The theme reminds people that visitors to new locations often form an opinion based on their first impression.
What’s important here is the impact of tourism on the local economy. The Missouri Department of Revenue estimates that tourism spending in Jasper and Newton counties exceeds $200 million a year. A visitor to Joplin spends about $120 a day on shopping, gas, lodging, entertainment and food.
Lindstrom has a vision for the welcome-sign area, which is the front door to Joplin for most visitors. He wants to enlarge the garden there to create a “wow” factor. The folks at the Holiday Inn and Residence Inn plan to help. I think if they can find ways to show volunteers from the community how to help, they will. Something as simple as donating bulbs could go a long way.
Much of the preparatory work has been done by the Missouri Department of Transportation, which received kudos from those attending the news conference for its recent clearing of unsightly trees and brush from the Interstate 44 interchange. The trees, planted during the Lady Bird Johnson area, were well past their prime. The tree removal revealed the trash that had accumulated over the years. It was an unbelievable sight.
Let me talk trash about MoDOT for a minute. Last year, local MoDOT workers spent 13,464 hours picking up trash along state highways. The department says that’s equal to $351,555. That’s money that could have been spent on better highways. Last year, the figure statewide was $3.7 million.
Clearly, we can do better. So grab that kitchen trash bag and start walking.
Retail therapy
Shoppers at Northpark Mall can enter to win a chance for $20,000 in gift-card shopping sprees.
“The Treat Yourself Retail Therapy Sweepstakes,” co-sponsored by American Express, is under way and runs through Oct. 31. Shoppers can register at cblproperties.com or at the mall’s customer-service center. The registration requires your name, address, phone, e-mail and information about shopping preferences.
“Northpark Mall hopes shoppers will register online to be connected to the mall in the community,” said Lori Jones, the mall’s marketing director. “By registering for the sweepstakes, shoppers will have the chance to win shopping sprees with a total value of $20,000. They will also receive e-mail communications from the mall, featuring new retailers, mall events and valuable discounts from participating stores.”
Six prize packages will be awarded, ranging from $250 to $10,000 in the form of gift cards. The prizes will be awarded by Nov. 15. Specific terms and conditions apply to the gift cards.
If you have news about something that’s happening on Range Line Road, dial 623-3480, ext. 7250; or send an e-mail to wkennedy@joplinglobe.com; or send a fax to Wally Kennedy at 623-8598.
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Photos
Wally Kennedy