Tourism bureau directors Churchill, Lee and Post step aside as work
begins to meet Lincoln's expectations
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[June 26, 2013]
The Abraham Lincoln Tourism
Bureau of Logan County "is pleased to report that the city of
Lincoln is now the financial governing body over the bureau," said
Stacie Wachtel, who chairs the tourism board. "The ALTBLC will
continue to function, and the board is working toward fulfilling the
expectations provided to us by the city of Lincoln in May."
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Under the governance of the city of Lincoln, hotel tax dollar
revenue formerly appropriated for the tourism bureau through Logan
County will now be appropriated through the city. Alderman Tom
O'Donohue is the city liaison to the tourism bureau.
For the past 26 years, the tourism bureau has been providing the
leadership for Logan County to become a premier destination for
quality, high-standard tourist activities and facilities. The
mission of the bureau is to provide services, support and
professional leadership to businesses and not-for-profit
organizations to increase the economic and social benefit of tourism
in Logan County.
"Between 2005-2012 our leadership has led to a 32 percent
increase in revenues from the hotel tax in Logan County," Wachtel
said. "We look for that to increase and continue to grow as the city
of Lincoln becomes more involved in the management of the bureau.
Work has begun already to meet Lincoln's expectations for the bureau
and our board."
The tourism board took immediate steps at their meeting Tuesday
to meet the first two expectations provided by the city of Lincoln.
The first expectation requires the chief elected official of the
entity imposing the tax -- the mayor of Lincoln -- to appoint the
members of the tourism board, with those appointments confirmed by
the Lincoln City Council.
The second expectation requires the tourism board to be reduced
to no more than 11 individuals, which would include an appropriate
number of representatives of the city of Lincoln and at least two
members representing the hotel industry. Currently the board has
only O'Donohue representing the city and no board members from the
hotel industry.
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"We have several members of our current tourism board who feel
very strongly that meeting the city's expectations and continuing
the good work of the bureau is so important that they have
volunteered to step down from their current positions," Wachtel
said. "This will enable the city to begin building the board to meet
their specifications and allow us to meet their first two
expectations. We will certainly miss tourism board members Stu
Churchill, Peggy Lee and Bill Post. Each is a loyal and enthusiastic
member of the current tourism board. They have provided the kind of
support and guidance that has enhanced the success of tourism in
Logan County."
Wachtel herself will also be leaving her position as chair to
help the board meet the city's expectations.
The tourism bureau is currently conducting a search for an
executive director.
"The position and the opportunities presented with the city now
as the governing financial body increase the possibilities and
prospects for this position," Wachtel said.
Interviews of qualified candidates are scheduled to begin in late
June through July.
[Text from file received from
Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of
Logan County]
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