Oak Ridge Today

Guest column: City needs a return on public spending on Chamber, ORCVB

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By Leslie Agron and Pat Fain

This coming Monday evening, the Oak Ridge City Council and the city manager will hold a work session that has the potential to become the seminal discussion on the future growth and success of Oak Ridge. This discussion will probably begin with the question of the city contracts with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce ($250,000) and the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau ($400,000) and, unfortunately, it may just end there. If this happens it could be another significant opportunity fumbled.

There are very legitimate reasons to question the continued expenditure of public dollars for the type and quality of results delivered by these two entities. The need for growth of revenue is real. Several years ago, without even a minimal public discussion of what kind of city we want to be in the future, the city and the Chamber entered into a series of open-ended contracts. That produced amorphous and inadequate results. The Chamber can well blame a lack of direction and vision on the city. The city can point to lots of sound and fury and fast food restaurants as being an inadequate answer to long-term financial woes and economic growth needs.

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Birthday celebration postponed for city historian Bill Wilcox

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A 90th birthday celebration that had been planned for Oak Ridge City Historian Bill Wilcox on Friday afternoon has been postponed due to the potential for bad weather.

“We will reschedule soon, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may create,” according to a statement from the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We want all of our party guests and our guest of honor to stay safe.”

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ORCVB releases heritage tour guide

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Oak Ridge Heritage Tour Guide

Oak Ridge Heritage Tour Guide

The Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau has released a new 35-page, pocket-sized printed tour guide about the Secret City. The guide contains a detailed driving tour of heritage sites within the community, along with numerous facts and historic photographs of Oak Ridge from the WWII era. The guide also includes various other information about the city’s tourism attractions and hotels.

“Oak Ridge played such a pivotal role in world affairs. People visit our Welcome Center and want to know what to see and visit. The tour guide will give them a better understanding of the historic WWII sites within our city and an introduction to our attractions and hotels that they can take with them,” said Katy Brown, ORCVB president. “We are very excited to provide this guide for our visitors.”

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More than 600 register for Secret City Half Marathon, road closures scheduled

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Secret City Half Marathon

More than 600 runners have registered for the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, and some roads will be closed during the race. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Hundreds of runners from 20 states will compete in the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, and some roads will be closed during the race.

As of Monday, more than 600 runners were already registered, according to information from organizer Frank Chmielewicz.

The 8 a.m. Sunday race starts and ends at the National Fitness Center on Briarcliff Avenue.

Here are the race day road closures:

  • Emory Valley Road will be closed from about 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. between the Oak Ridge Marina and Briarcliff  Avenue.
  • Briarcliff Avenue will be closed between Emory Valley Road and Laboratory Road from 7:30-8:15 a.m.
  • One lane of Oak Ridge Turnpike traveling east will be closed.
  • Delays could be encountered on Melton Lake Drive due to runners crossing the street to run on the greenway.

The race is being organized by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau with help from the City of Oak Ridge, a press release said. The course includes Oak Ridge streets and greenways, including Melton Lake Greenway on the city’s waterfront.

The event includes a Secret City Half Marathon 4 Kids. This free 13.1-mile fun run is for children from first through sixth grade. It encourages children to exercise by giving them a fun and exciting goal, the release said.

By Sunday morning, participants will have run or walked a total of 12 miles. On race day, children will run the last 1.1 mile. All participants get an official race number, race shirt, and goody bag. Medals will be given to those children who are pre-registered and cross the finish line. The children’s log can be downloaded at http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/register/half-marathon-4-kids.

For more information, visit http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/ or the city’s website at www.oakridgetn.gov, or contact Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Director Josh Collins at (865) 425-3540.

Race proceeds benefit the Anderson County Child Advocacy Center, which helps children who have been victims or witnesses to physical abuse, sexual abuse, or other crimes.

There will be a Saturday evening pasta dinner before the race to raise money for the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

Oak Ridge tourism leader recognized as leading young professional

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Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau President Katy Brown has been recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the leading young professionals in the tourism industry.

Brown was recently honored as a member of the inaugural “Forty for the Future” Class of 2012, a press release said. She is one of 40 honorees chosen under the age of 40 who represent tourism-related businesses and organizations across the country.

“All of them have demonstrated leadership in their careers and communities and are beacons for others,” said Bill Hardman, president and chief executive officer of the Southeast Tourism Society. “Our objectives with ‘Forty for the Future’ are to recognize leadership, demonstrate how varied tourism jobs are, and inspire even younger people to consider tourism as a career.”

The press release said Brown has been with the ORCVB since 2001. She started as sales manager, then worked as vice president of communications, and has served as president of the organization for the past six years. She also received the Postma Young Professionals Medal in 2011 from the East Tennessee Economic Council.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for something that is truly a passion for me,” Brown said. “I’ve been given a story to tell, that so many here lived, so I feel like I am truly blessed by my surroundings and our unique history. I’m so honored to work with an incredible group, from our staff to our volunteers to our entire tourism team, I am only a cog in the wheel of this unique story.”

Brown has been recognized by other regional and state travel organizations that rely upon her leadership and experience for their own organizations, the release said. She serves on the Anderson County Tourism Council, the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council Executive Committee, and the Southeast Tourism Society Board of Directors.

Visit the ORCVB website at www.oakridgevisitor.com or call (865) 482-7821 for more information.

Council approves tourism, economic development contracts

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The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday unanimously approved $450,000 worth of tourism and economic development contracts.

The city’s tourism agency, the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, got a slight increase in city funding compared to last year. Its new one-year contract is worth up to $410,000, up from a maximum of about $404,000 last year.

The second contract, valued at $42,000, is with economic development consultant Ray Evans.

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Oak Ridge city manager asks for tuition reimbursement

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has asked the city to reimburse him for tuition and textbooks as he pursues a doctorate at the University of Tennessee.

In exchange, Watson would have to earn at least a “B” average and continue working for the city for three years after he finishes his classwork. If he leaves before then, he would have to repay the city.

Watson is studying political science, with a concentration in public administration.

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Convention and Visitors Bureau has open house Thursday

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The Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau is hosting an open house to celebrate National Tourism Week on Thursday. Join them for light refreshments between 3 and 5 p.m.

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