In 1991, the City of Hattiesburg and the

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1 Your Service Summer 2013 H a t t i e s b u r g C o n v e n t i o n C o m m i s s i o n - In this issue - _ Rise Up & Rebuild _ Summer@Saenger _ Birthday Bash _ Event calendar Lake Terrace celebrates 15 years Center generated more than $37m impact in 2012 In 1991, the City of Hattiesburg and the Hattiesburg Convention Commission began working toward the creation of a Hattiesburg Convention Center that would boost the economy on the local and state levels and facilitate growth in Hattiesburg. With a primary focus on the development of a convention center that would be the finest in the State of Mississippi, the Commission began the task of building something F i r s t - C l a s s F a c i l i t y M a n a g e m e n t not before found in our community. Much evaluation, community input and study was conducted to ensure the investment would produce dynamic results many years into the future. In July 1998, as testimony to the hard work that was put into its creation, Lake Terrace celebrated its grand opening. Fifteen years later, Lake Terrace has helped show more than two and a half million visitors what Hattiesburg has to offer and has brought these visitors back time and continued on page 2 >

2 H a t t i e s b u r g 2 C o n v e n t i o n C o m m i s s i o n < continued from cover > time again to enjoy Hattiesburg s signature hospitality. In 2012 alone, the Center hosted well over a quarter of a million guests during 1,119 event days, generating $37 million in economic impact in Hattiesburg s local economy. [ Cover Story ] Lake Terrace has proven to be a strong attraction in Hattiesburg, said Rick Taylor, Executive Director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission. After 15 years, we are still seeing new clients each year, and we continue to hold on to and build relationships with those who have been coming to the Center for years. Lake Terrace has consistently topped other convention centers in the state in number of events held, and significantly out-performed like centers in similar markets in other areas of the Southeastern region. The Lake Terrace Convention Center has been named Best of the Best seven times in the Readers Choice Awards presented by ConventionSouth magazine. Lake Terrace Convention Center is among 100 convention and visitor bureaus, meeting facilities and hotels located across the South to receive this year s Readers Choice Award. Being named Best of the Best is a high honor because it is voted on by meeting planners who have dealt with us directly, many on a repeat basis, Taylor continued. It is a testament to the quality for which our staff strives. PHOTO: Guests to Junior Auxiliary s Charity Ball walk through the Center s decorated atrium in November With events ranging from conventions to consumer shows, performances to special events, Lake Terrace has exceeded the expectations of its guests and introduced new friends to the Greater Hattiesburg Area. As a result, this facility continues to be a significant player in Hattiesburg s broader tourism industry, creating a lasting impact on the local economy that transcends to many areas of our community s quality of life. Spring 2013 brought a strong convention season, hosting state and regional events including the Mississippi Order of the Eastern Star Convention, S-RESA Reading Fair, Mississippi School for Addiction Specialists Conferences, Mississippi Association for Marriage and Family Therapists Conference and the Gulf States Conference. Hattiesburg Convention Commission Andy Stetelman Chair Charles J. Brown Secretary/Treasurer Bud Kirkpatrick Commissioner Iola Williams Commissioner For more information on the Lake Terrace Convention Your Center, call or visit LakeTerrace.com. Service is the official newsletter of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission. Lewis Myrick Vice-Chair Clyde Bryant Commissioner Dr. Aubrey Lucas Commissioner Richard Taylor Executive Director To update your contact information or to share comments, please contact us at: One Convention Center Plaza Hattiesburg, MS HattiesburgConventionCommission.com

3 Following the devastation of the tornado that tore through Hattiesburg and the surrounding areas on February 10, the African American Military History Museum Committee has organized a campaign to raise funds for the rebuilding of the Historic USO Club and the African American Military History Museum. The African American Military History Museum Committee welcomes financial support from the community to help the rebuilding process begin. Through the Rise Up & Rebuild campaign, friends of the Museum may provide tax-deductible financial donations by texting the word RebuildUSO to or by visiting the website: HattiesburgUSO.com/Rebuild. This Museum represents many deeply-rooted sentiments across our community. There are so many who have cherished stories, fond memories [ Historic 6 th Street USO ] Rise Up & Rebuild the AAMHM Museum to recover from Feb. tornado special connections to this building. The Committee hopes that through the Rise Up & Rebuild campaign, we can help ensure the tradition and heritage enjoyed by the Museum s supporters is passed down for many more generations yet to come, said Sheila Varnado, President of the African American Military History Museum Committee. During the storm, large sections of the roof were blown away, including sections that covered the Archives Room, as well as, the Theater that is located in the back of the Museum, said Rick Taylor, Executive Director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission. As the only surviving USO built exclusively for African American soldiers that remains in the United States, the Museum is a cultural and historical landmark, as well as, a place of pride for many in the Pine Belt, and we are dedicated to the restoration of this historic site. Volunteers from The University of Southern Mississippi History Department, the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History were instrumental in assisting Museum staff in their efforts to preserve artifacts saved from the Museum immediately following the storm. These important artifacts represent more than 150 years of African American military history and are being safely kept until they once again will be displayed for public viewing when the Museum reopens. For updates on storm-related activity and a photo gallery chronicling the impact of the storm, as well as rebuilding efforts, visit the Museum s website at HattiesburgUSO.com. F i r s t - C l a s s 3 F a c i l i t y M a n a g e m e n t

4 H a t t i e s b u r g Following a very successful Spring Season, the Saenger Theater s line-up for the Summer will not disappoint! From FestivalSouth to the 64th Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant, the Saenger doors will be welcoming audiences as they fill the theater for quality entertainment. FestivalSouth returns to the Pine Belt as Mississippi s only multi-week, multi-genre arts festival during June, with events to satisfy every artistic taste. This year s Festival expands to offer events from across the spectrum of the arts music, dance, art and theatre and the Saenger Theater is thrilled to host five of the Festival s events, including Hairspray, the Musical on June 12, 15 and 16. C o n v e n t i o n C o m m i s s i o n [ Historic Saenger Theater ] Summer at the Saenger Theater: Hot & Sizzlin Entertainment for the whole family For a full list of FestivalSouth events happening at the Saenger, visit the website or call the Saenger Theater Box Office. This summer, the Saenger Theater partners with Click Boutique to bring some of your favorite sizzling hot movies to the big screen! Catch the classic favorites 9-5 in June and Funny Face in July. In August, don t miss the premiere of Subsippi, a documentary exploring the subcultures of Mississippi. For dates and times, visit HattiesburgSaenger.com. With tickets at only $3, these movie nights are sure to add some heat to your summer calendar! Following last summer s successful run, Missoula Children s Theatre returns to the Saenger with another week-long workshop for local students. Missoula Children s Theatre is an international touring project offering students a fun way to gain theatrical experience through workshops and rehearsals. The week culminates with two public performances of The Tortoise Versus the Hare on July 13. Approximately 50 roles will be available for local students. For audition and pricing information, contact the Saenger Theater Box Office. Wrapping up the Summer will be the 64th Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant on July 26 and 27. Forty young ladies from across the state will compete to become Mississippi Miss Hospitality 2013, a title that comes with a ticket to travel the state promoting Mississippi s tourism and economic development programs. For more information on the Miss Hospitality Pageant, visit MissHospitality.com. For more information on any of these events, visit HattiesburgSaenger.com or call the box office at

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6 @ H a t t i e s b u r g 6 The Hattiesburg Zoo celebrated its 63rd birthday with the return of the annual Birthday Bash on Saturday, April 13. The unveiling of a new flamingo exhibit set the stage for a day of family fun that was Pretty in Pink and full of adventure for the young and young at heart! Sponsored by Forrest General s Cancer Center, a new Chilean flamingo exhibit located in the South American region of the Zoo was the highlighted unveiling for guests to enjoy. Acquired from Zoo Atlanta s flock, the flamingo exhibit showcases more than twenty of these captivating tropical birds, also classified as a near-threatened species. Also unveiled that day was a pair of African Zebu calves a friendly addition to the African region of the Zoo. A newly crafted drum station was also C o n v e n t i o n C o m m i s s i o n Zoo Celebrates 63 rd Birthday New Flamingo exhibit opens [ Hattiesburg Zoo ] on display for the first time during the Birthday Bash. Located right inside the African region, the interactive drum station has become a favorite for creative play. The Zoo s Birthday Bash is always an exciting event to celebrate the animals at the Zoo and unveil a continuation of progress in the Zoo s development, and this year was no different, said Rick Taylor, Executive Director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission. Throughout the past year, the Zoo has undergone significant improvements to existing exhibits, as well as the addition of several animals and attractions within the Zoo. Progress like this is certainly cause for a great celebration! Throughout the Birthday Bash, mini celebrations took place within the Zoo at each geographical region, along with a series of animal shows presented by Education Curator, Krissy Hamilton. At noon, the crowd gathered for ZOO SUMMER CAMPS Children will experience a mysteriously fun time this year at the Hattiesburg Zoo s Summer Camps! During the week, campers will solve hypothetical Zoo mysteries, create treasure maps with clues for animal conservation and even produce a wildlife show. The opportunities for adventure are unlimited! Visit HattiesburgZoo.com for more details. JUNE 6-7 Zoo Tots :: Ages Animal Super Sleuths :: Ages Animal Super Sleuths :: Ages 8-10 JULY 8-12 Extinction Distinction :: Ages Extinction Distinction :: Ages Nature Rangers :: Ages the headline celebration as Kaylie Rowell, Hattiesburg s Miss Hospitality 2012, and the Forrest General Hospital Sweet Teas led everyone in singing Happy Birthday to the Zoo. For more information about events at the Zoo, call , or visit us online at HattiesburgZoo.com.

7 JUNE 1 Hattiesburg Annual Daylily Society Show 8 Hub City Derby Dames Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative, Inc. Conference Mississippi Health and Information Management Association Annual Conference 25 City of Hattiesburg Senior Fair JULY 5-7 EURO Reunion Friends of Children of Mississippi, Inc. Summer Institute This is a sample of events. For a current list of events at Lake Terrace, call Event Calendar ] thesaenger JUNE 1 Spotlight Dance Academy 8 Blues Brotherhood Band, presented as part of FestivalSouth 14 Top of the Chairs, presented as part of FestivalSouth 15 Hairspray, presented as part of FestivalSouth 22 ARIA! presented as part of FestivalSouth Dance USA National Competition Miss Mississippi South States Pageant JULY 8-12 Missoula Children s Theatre Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant This is a sample of events. For a current and complete list of events at the Saenger, visit HattiesburgSaenger.com or call PHOTO: A Tar and Feather bloom at the annual Daylily Society Show. PHOTO: An acrobat performs on a silk ribbon at ARIA! at FestivalSouth. F i r s t - C l a s s 7 F a c i l i t y M a n a g e m e n t

8 Presort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Hattiesburg, MS Permit One Convention Center Plaza Hattiesburg, MS Your Service