The CVB Responds
To the Editor:
Last week’s Flyer featured an article entitled, “Vergos Says CVB Ignoring His Tourism Plan.” Ironically, I read this story while holding a fax with a meeting request from the Secretary of State for the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. He was in Europe recently and was impressed with Memphis’ visibility. Several European tour operators had praised Memphis’ expertise in promoting a U.S. destination, and he wanted to learn more.
The Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau is eager for Councilman Vergos – and all Mid-Southerners – to understand what we do. We enthusiastically endorsed his “Great American Music” tour last year. It complemented the multi-destination marketing programs we began several years before that.
The MCVB began using music as a marketing theme in 1978. Seven years ago, the MCVB developed a statewide marketing program for the United Kingdom. We shared expenses and marketing initiatives with 10 partners, including Graceland, the Peabody Hotel Group, and the Nashville CVB. This program promotes music statewide. Naturally, the strength lies in the Memphis-Nashville connection, cities known worldwide as the “Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock-n-Roll” and as “Music City.”
In 1994, we participated with St. Louis and New Orleans in the “America’s Music Corridor Program.” In 1995, we joined with Mississippi to create “America’s Blues Alley,” often described as the most successful regional effort of its kind.
Since 1995, we have hosted roughly 250 industry tours for nearly 2,000 travel intermediaries from 13 countries.We work aggressively with our satellite offices in the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands. The result: The number of international visitors has more than doubled in less than 10 years.
In 1995, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines launched its direct flight between Memphis and Amsterdam. The MCVB was involved at every level of the planning and promotion. The KLM flight now boasts an average 82 percent occupancy. Schiphol Airport reports that 32.2 percent of these inbound European travelers – 25,828 in all – are getting off the plane in Memphis.
Our Official Visitors Guide has featured German, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese for two years. All of our European brochures are printed in French, Dutch, German, and English. We produced a Japanese Guide last year.
Memphis submitted detailed information to the state some months ago for the Music Highway Guide. We were the first city to do so. (Only two “Music Highway” signs have been placed – both of these in Davidson County. We would very much appreciate any assistance in getting signs placed in Shelby County.)
The bottom line is the MCVB has a proven track record of more than 10 years in international marketing. We welcome new ideas and offers of assistance. Our critical needs now are funding and infrastructure development. Councilman Vergos may have the power to help. Thank you in advance for all you can do to assist us.
Kevin Kane
President & CEO
Unsolicited Praise
To the Editor:
I’m a 27-year-old black man and I want to say to hell with The Commercial Appeal. The Flyer eats The Commercial Appeal’s lunch. I am very happy with the edge and the angle that your reporters take on their assignments. Memphis really needs a “liberal” newspaper. You are doing a really good service for all Memphians. Keep up the good work.
Marco Kee
Memphis
Leave Cops Alone
To the Editor:
I read with interest your recent article “The Overtime Club” [Cover, May 7th issue]. You seem to portray these hard-working officers as being members of an elite, exclusive club or worse, America’s Most Wanted. They were being paid for work performed for the city of Memphis and its citizenry. So what if they earned more than the director? They probably worked more hours than he did. You have done a grave disservice to all public servants (I’m a city school teacher) who work tirelessly and oftentimes long hours for our profession, but are yet to be properly compensated for past/lost wages. I say hats off to these dedicated men who are willing to pull a “double” just to keep our streets a little safer.
The city council should realize the impact the Memphis Police Department has on the community and pay for what we deserve: the best police. If the police department were adequately staffed, then overtime would be unnecessary. Please lay off our backs and give credit where it is due.
Calvin Lacy
Memphis
To the Editor:
I was appalled by your article regarding the overtime issue within the Memphis Police Department. The fact that you printed the photos of these officers and their earnings is totally absurd. Having lived in New Orleans and having worked in law enforcement, [I know that] Memphis crime is much worse. When you have a city complaining about “crime” and then you have a mayor who sets out to do something about it, well, it is going to cost. It is obvious that these officers have dedicated their available time and were paid according to policy. …
The fact that the city questions the cost of defense tells me that they would almost rather have the crime on the street. If I were those officers, even though they are public employees and subject to “public record,” I would [sue] your paper for the infringement of my privacy. Maybe Lt. Woods should have fired a bullet through the phone to get your attention. It’s not nice to fool with those that protect you.
Ben Cook
e-mail (Memphis)
To the Editor:
I’m calling in rebuttal to your story on the Memphis Police Department and the overtime incurred. You left the impression that the overtime hours were the fault of the rank and file of the Memphis Police Department and [you] kind of leave the blame on the officers who are out there doing the work. Overtime is a governmental and administrative problem of the Memphis Police Department. … I would appreciate if you might do a followup story highlighting these individuals.
Phil Valentine
Memphis
Worth a Second Look
To the Editor:
While I share writer Chris Davis’ skepticism [“Being There,” May 14th issue] regarding Grandmother (the Cherokee Elder who spoke last week at the Connection Center), I wish that your readers could have heard more about the Connection Center that I am familiar with.
Memphis is a rough ride for non-Christians. For people whose spiritual beliefs tend to be more free-form, it is an incredible relief to find a place like Rev. Anne Gillis’ center. Yes, it is located in a renovated 7-Eleven. Perhaps your writer was too blinded by cynicism to notice the original mural on the front wall of the center, created by members and friends of the Connection Center.
It’s easy to take a quick look and see only a dish of crystals for sale. Unfortunately, that’s all your readers will see because that is all you have shown them. Anne Gillis has many years of experience as a non-traditional minister of recovery process healing and metaphysics. Your readers deserve a second look at one of Memphis’ few spiritual alternatives. I hope you accommodate them.
Naomi Bourne
e-mail (Memphis)
A Blowhard?
To the Editor:
I question the National Weather Service in Memphis located at the Agricenter. The damage to my neighborhood and others in Midtown was extensive. I believe a small tornado touched down. It would take tornado-force winds to uproot the mature trees in this area of Midtown. Why can’t the National Weather Service admit a mistake on their part? The civil-defense sirens should have been activated!
Kelly Gookin
e-mail (Memphis)
The Memphis Flyer encourages reader response. Send mail to: Letters to the Editor, POB 687, Memphis, TN 38101. Or call Back Talk at 575-9405. Or send us e-mail at memflyer@aol.com. All responses must include name, address, and daytime phone number. Letters should be no longer than 250 words.