Mooresville, Ala. -
The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) has
honored the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives as the 2009
Attraction of the Year (attendance under 15,000). The award is
among 11 that comprise the PEAK Awards which was presented on
Thursday, September 24 during the AMLA Annual Meeting at Quail
Creek Golf Resort in Hartselle, Ala.
The PEAK Awards, the
highest achievement in North Alabama tourism, honor individuals
and organizations that have had a major impact on tourism in
North Alabama. The Attraction of the Year award is presented to
the AMLA member attraction that has made a great contribution to
tourism in the past year.
Over 3,600 visitors
annually visit the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives located
in Athens. Dedicated to preserving our military history and
serving as archives to store artifacts from the Revolutionary
War to present day, the role of the museum is not only to
entertain, but also to educate.
Many school children tour the facility each year and learn that
our freedom is not free; it was bought by men and women, many of
whom paid the supreme sacrifice. Recently the museum hosted
“Call to Veterans” where veterans from all over northern Alabama
were invited to a free meal as a thank you for their service.
Over 400 veterans attended the event and toured the facility.
The museum is staffed with volunteer tour guides and recently a
full-time museum director was hired. Not only does the museum
bring tourists to Athens, it preserves history, educates our
children, and honors those who fought to keep us free.
“The PEAK Awards
recognize those who have had a direct impact in the tourism
industry across North Alabama,” said Dana Lee Jennings,
president/CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.
“The North Alabama region has positioned itself as a tourist
destination and sporting mecca and this recognition would not be
possible without the dedication of our industry professionals.
Tourism contributed over $2.1 billion to North Alabama’s economy
in 2008 and supported over 30,000 jobs in the 16 northernmost
counties of Alabama.”
The PEAK Awards were
initiated by the 1997-98 AMLA Executive Committee to recognize
past and present members for excellence in the North Alabama
tourism industry. Additionally, these awards are a means for the
industry to recognize non-industry professionals who have
contributed greatly to tourism in the North Alabama region.
The
full list of awards and winners is as follows:
● Organization of the
Year – Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau
● Event of the Year –
“Ink and Blood: Dead Sea Scrolls” exhibit at Mary G. Hardin
Center for Cultural
Arts
● Attraction of the
Year (attendance under 15,000) – Alabama Veterans Museum and
Archives
● Attraction of the
Year (attendance over 15,000) – Helen Keller’s Birthplace
● Tourism Professional
of the Year – Susann Hamlin, Colbert County Tourism & Convention
Bureau
● Good Neighbor Award
– Weiss Lake Improvement Association
● Northern Star Award
– Janice Barrett, Wild South
● Young Professional
of the Year Award – Tom Banks, Mary G. Hardin Center for
Cultural Arts and Don
Dukemineer,
Huntsville/Madison County CVB
● Lasting Impression
Award – Nancy Gonce
● Chairman’s Cup –
Holly Hollman, Decatur Daily
● President’s Award –
Representative Richard Lindsey, Representative Craig Ford, Jim
Kelley, and
Representative
Johnny Mack Morrow
Note: Photos of award
recipients are available upon request by calling AMLA at
800.648.5381 or by sending an email to angie@northalabama.org.
About
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
AMLA is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the
travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the
state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of
chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus,
attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf
courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors,
financial institutions and individuals. Counties included within
the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb,
Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone,
Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional
information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and
special events is available from AMLA by calling 800.648.5381 or
by visiting their web site at
www.NorthAlabama.org.
