Northeast
Campground Association Event at Jellystone Park
Members of the Northeast Campground Association (NCA), representing eleven states, made a stop in Washington County in September as part of its 2007 Great Escape. Approximately 50 members of the NCA visited and met at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, as part of an annual conference. The NCA group enjoyed a delicious lunch of Maryland fried chicken, hosted by Ron and Vicki Vitkun, owners of the Williamsport Jellystone Park. Lunch was sponsored by Leisure Systems, the campground's franchisor. After lunch, everyone grabbed a golf cart to tour the campground and newly added water zone features. The Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) assisted with the event. The CVB's President Tom Riford addressed the group, and members of the CVB staff helped greet NCA members.
New Brochure Brings Appreciation To Washington County's Historic Stone Arch Bridges
The CVB has produced a new brochure called Bridges of Washington County Maryland. It showcases 21 historic stone arch structures that span the Conococheague Creek and the Antietam Creek and its tributaries. The concept for the brochure came from Katherine Campbell Francomano of DoubleDog Productions. The design layout was done by Icon Graphics. The brochure has current photographs of each bridge done by Francomano, an accurate background of each bridge as well as a few historical photographs, and two maps which show the location of each bridge. Some have notations that the bridge is on private land and may not be visited without permission from the owner; the bridges that have county picnic areas are also indicated.
The new brochure was reviewed for accuracy by the Washington County Historical Society, local historian Patricia Schooley, Washington County Special Projects Director Gary Rohrer, historians from the Western Maryland Room at the Washington County Free Library including John Frey, CVB Historian Roger Keller, Washington County Historical Society Executive Director, Jim Neville and others. The CVB had 15,000 copies of the brochure done in the first printing. They are available at the downtown Hagerstown Visitor Welcome Center, Prime Outlets, and the Valley Mall, as well as from area hotels and CVB members. .
Tom Riford Named to Board of Directors of the Maryland Tourism Council
CVB President and CEO Tom Riford has been named to the Board of Directors of the Maryland Tourism Council. The board meeting, where the vote was approved, took place at the 2007 Maryland Governor's Tourism Industry Conference held in November. Riford was named to a Director at Large position.
The Maryland Tourism Council, headquartered in Annapolis, is the statewide membership organization representing all private-sector segments of the hospitality and tourism industry - emphasizing Government affairs, business growth, professional development, and alliances with other tourism organizations, the business community, and state and local governments. For over 35 years, the Maryland Tourism Council (MTC) has represented and united varied segments of tour and travel, bringing together the entire industry to enhance business growth and to promote the development of Maryland tourism.
American Bus Association Names Antietam Illumination A Top 100 Event
The
American Bus Association (ABA) has announced that the Annual Antietam
National Battlefield Memorial Illumination, which next year will
be held on December 6, 2008, has been designated as one of the
Top 100 Events in North America for 2008 by an elite tourism industry
selection committee. Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as
a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations Magazine,
indicates that the Annual Antietam National Battlefield Memorial
Illumination offers excellent entertainment value to both tour
groups and individual travelers from around the world.
With the release of the American Bus Association's 2008 Top 100 Events in North
America, ABA celebrates 25 years of the Top 100 Events. What began as a way for
motorcoach operators to incorporate new product into their itineraries has grown
to one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals, motorcoach operators
and the general public.
ABA's 2008 Top 100 Events Selection Committee selected the Annual Antietam National Battlefield Memorial Illumination from among hundreds of U.S. and Canadian events nominated by state and provincial tourism offices and convention and visitors bureaus. Judges considered the event's broad appeal, its accessibility to motorcoaches and skill at handling large groups, and a variety of other relevant criteria. The Top 100 Events list is available online at www.buses.org.
During the 2007 Annual Memorial Illumination, the CVB was honored for being the major financial sponsor of the event which attracted more than 20,000 visitors to Antietam National Battlefield. The CVB's Tom Riford spoke at the opening ceremonies, and two buses were chartered by the CVB (with tour guides Charissa Stanton and Betsy De Vore providing commentary and information about the battle and the illumination).
Museum of Fine Arts Welcomes Picasso Into Collection
 The
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts proudly announced the major
gift of a distinguished print by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). Grand
Nu de Femme, a linocut made in 1962, is the first work by the great
Spanish modernist to enter the museum's collection. Mr. James R. Donnelley of Chicago, Illinois, is giving this important print in honor of his wife, Nina Herrmann Donnelley, and her parents, Phillip and Sarah Herrmann. The Herrmanns lived in Hagerstown, Maryland, for many years. In Grand Nu de Femme Picasso created an energetic rendering of a monumental female nude. The image takes a cubist approach that shows the subject from multiple view points at the same time, therefore the figure appears to have two faces looking in different directions. This print is number 14 from a relatively small edition of 50 prints.
Discovery Station Receives Donated PT-19 Model
Jack Garrott, a retired Hagerstown businessman and architect, recently donated his handmade Fairchild PT-19 flying  model airplane to Discovery Station. Garrott spent hundreds of hours over four years building the model. It is a 1/4-scale exact replica of the Fairchild-built plane that was used to train Army combat pilots during World War II. About 6,000 PT-19s were built for the Army in the early 1940s. More than 5,000 of those were built in Hagerstown. Garrott flew the PT-19 in World War II. After building the remote-controlled PT-19 model at his summer home in Florida and flying it once, he decided to donate it to the museum. The PT-19 now is on permanent display. Although it belongs to Discovery Station, it is being displayed in the Hagerstown Aviation Museum's showroom.
Local Park Ornaments Displayed on White House Christmas Tree
Ornaments from Antietam National Battlefield, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Catoctin Mountain Park, C&O Canal National Historical Park, and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park were prominently displayed on this year's official White House Christmas Tree. The tree was the centerpiece of elaborate decorations celebrating the theme of "Holiday in the National Parks." The 18-foor Fraser fir, located in the Blue Room, was adorned with handmade ornaments representing the country's 391 National Park Service sites. Each ornament was designed by an artist selected by the park. Models of icons such as the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Statue of Liberty shared space with paintings of scenic vistas from Grand Canyon, Zion, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. Holiday garlands intertwined with park objects including seashells, pine cones, and gold aspen leaves added to each room's festive feel.
Discovery Channel Films at Fort Frederick
 Halfyard
Productions, a Maryland-based network television production company
that has done a myriad of projects for The Learning Channel and
for the Discovery Channel, recently filmed an episode for "Weapon Masters" in Washington County. The new hour-long series airing on the Discovery Channel explores the technology and history of a different ancient or antique weapon. The filming in Washington County, mostly at Fort Frederick State Park, included the historical exploration and evolution of rockets. The episode should air in early 2008.
The Washington County filming included demonstrations of Chinese rockets, Indian rockets, Congreve Rockets and a cannon challenge against the Hale Rocket (said to be used by the U.S. Army in the Mexican War, and also later by the Confederate States Army). A cannon crew from South Mountain Battlefield State Park provided Napoleon Cannon demonstrations by firing live rounds in the safe confines of the Fort Frederick State Park's range.
CVB Assisting With Museum Planning for Doleman House African-American Collection
For more than 25 years, the Doleman House on North Locust Street served as a window to black history for visitors and school groups, brimming with five rooms full of old photos, bills of slave sales, quilts made by slaves to commemorate their freedom and other artifacts bought or donated from local families. Since its curator, Marguerite Doleman, died in 2000, public access to the collection has been limited, and the items have been packed into boxes. Local officials and historians recently took a first step toward the Doleman family's goal of opening a history museum in Hagerstown to preserve the collection and make it accessible to the public.
Through the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, the city has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the MHAA to hire a museum conservation professional to review the collection and recommend solutions for its care and display. The city plans to request bids for a consultant to review the collection within the next couple of months. The group also agreed to set up a 10-person board of directors by early January so the collection can apply for a status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, she said. This will allow them to apply for additional grants, such as one from the Maryland Historical Trust's Museum Assistance Program, to help with the cost of acquiring and setting up a museum.
CVB Assisting With Municipal Stadium Upgrades
Approximately $35,500 worth of upgrades are needed at Hagerstown's Municipal Stadium and the cost is expected to be shared by the county, the City of Hagerstown, the Washington Nationals, the Hagerstown Suns, and the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The county will pay for its share of the project out of the hotel-motel tax. The City of Hagerstown has agreed to contribute $10,000. The Washington Nationals will pay $5,000, the Suns will pay $5,000 and the Convention and Visitors Bureau will pay $5,000.
83rd Annual Mummers Parade A Success
Approximately 200 units made their way down Potomac Street on October 27, 2007, for the 83rd Alsatia Mummers Parade that attracts as many as 100,000 spectators each year.The parade was about three hours long, starting in the city's North End and disbanding at South Hagerstown High School. Tom Riford, president of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, was the 2007 parade grand marshal. Prizes were awarded to best-dressed mummers, best floats and the best marching bands.
The Alsatia Club is a civic organization that supports local youth sports programming and other community activities, House said. The Club, based in downtown Hagerstown, hosted its first Mummers Parade in 1921 as a way to keep kids from getting into mischief on Halloween. The venerable parade is considered one of the largest nighttime parades on the East Coast.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for New Rural Heritage Museum Building
The Washington County Rural Heritage Museum broke ground for the construction of its second building in November. The Washington County Rural Heritage Museum's new building will be a 60-foot by 120-foot building (7,200 square feet). The new building will be located on the south side of the existing Rural Heritage Museum. This second Rural Heritage Museum facility will house the museum's collection of large farm equipment, which includes corn shellers, horse and tractor-pulled mowers and rakes, corn crackers, cultivating plows, single and double trees, horse drawn planters, ladders, scythes, antique wooden buckets, farm wagons, sleighs, cupolas, and dairy equipment. Also part of the collection is a rare and historic thresher machine, which was made by the Geiser Manufacturing Company of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
The museum has additional plans for future growth. The Rural Heritage Farmstead and Rural Heritage Village will consist of features such as a blacksmith shop, post office, country store and bank. A small log cabin has already been restored, and a one and a half story log home is on site and offers 1800's cooking demonstrations. A German Four-Square Garden is filled with heirloom plants including vegetables, herbs, and flowers. An 1800's log church will be completed within the next few months. This Village will complement the existing Rural Heritage Museum and Rural Heritage Farmstead.
Nationals Announce 2008 Hagerstown Suns Coaching Staff
 The
Washington Nationals have announced the Hagerstown
Suns coaching staff for the upcoming 2008 season.
The Suns staff features former Major Leaguers with
plenty of Minor League coaching experience. Darnell
Coles will serve as the Suns manager, and Tony
Tarasco will be brought in as the hitting coach
to complement returning pitching coach, Paul Menhart.
Completing the staff are Sergio Mendez and trainer
Atsushi Toriida. The Suns' home opener is set for April 11th. The Suns are a Single-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals and are owned by Los Angeles-based Mandalay Baseball Properties. For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact the Suns a 301.791.6266 or visit online at www.hagerstownsuns.com.
Welcome
New Members
The
CVB is proud to have more than 250 members!
Alter
Ego
Katie Trent
4 South Potomac Street
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301-797-7033
www.alteregomd.com
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Antietam
Ironworks
Natoma Reed-Vargson
3768 Harpers Ferry Rd.
Sharpsburg, MD 21782
301-432-2250
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Bitner-Henry Insurance
Carol Henry
401 E. Anietam St - Suite B
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-739-2260
www.bitnerhenry.com
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Blue Mountain Retreat Center
Sylvia Ehrhardt
1032 Hoffmaster Road
Knoxville, MD 21785
301-834-9247
www.bluemtnretreat.com
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Fountain Head Country Club
Mark Litrenta
13316 Fountain Head Road
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301-739-6933
www.fhcc1924.com
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Governors Landing Deli & Restaurant
Mike Fotta/Sam Cool
10212 Governors Landing Deli & Restaurant
Williamsport, MD 21795
301-223-1919
www.governorslandingdeli.com
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Knob Hall Winery
Richard Seibert
14108 St. Paul Road
Clear Spring, MD 21722
301-842-2777
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Remember When Antiques
330 Frederick Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-791-0200
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Western Maryland Rail Trail Releases New Brochure & Map
The Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT) has a new brochure that includes phase three of the popular recreational trail. The map shows the recently added two and a half miles of trail and a parking lot at Pearre Station. The brochure was a partnership between the Hancock Chamber of Commerce and the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). It was designed by Icon Graphics.
The new WMRT brochure is the third edition, but it won't be the last. In 2005, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., awarded $5 million to extend the trail another four and a half miles to Little Orleans, Md., in Allegany County, with access through the 4,000 foot Indigo Tunnel. Additional funding is being provided by the National Park Service, but before the trail can be extended, the in-process environmental assessment and environmental impact study must be completed. This expansion could begin as soon as this year.
In December 2006, the Urban Research and Development Corporation of Bethlehem, Pa., completed a WMRT Economic Impact Study for the Town of Hancock. It found that the trail created more than $2.9 million in annual gross direct spending from approximately 95,000 user visits in Washington County.
A group known as the Western Maryland Rail Trail Supporters (WMRTS) is working to promote and support the extension of the WMRT through the Paw Paw Bends area of the Potomac River. The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is seeking donations from both the private and public sector. The organization already has the support of the C&O Canal Association, the County Commissions of Morgan County, WV, and Allegany and Washington County, MD, the State of Maryland, the State of West Virginia, and the Potomac Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development Program, as well as the Hagerstown-Washington County CVB.
The Western Maryland Rail Trail Supporters, in partnership with the Hagerstown-Washington County CVB, is currently working with DH WEB Inc. in developing a new website promoting the extension of the trail from Pearre Station to Little Orleans, and the next fourteen miles known as the Paw Paw Bends. The new extension would include two more tunnels, Kessler and Stickpile and six high trestle bridges. It would cross and re-cross the Potomac River between Maryland and West Virginia.
The WMRT opened in 1998 and is managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (Parks). It begins just west of Fort Frederick State Park and follows the former Western Maryland Railroad line through the town of Hancock, ending 10.5 miles west of Hancock at Pearre Station. The trail follows the bends and curves of both the C&O Canal and the Potomac River but is almost completely flat and is paved. The WMRT is a popular recreational spot for cyclists, walkers, joggers, and cross country skiers, weather permitting. For more information about the WMRT, visit www.westernmarylandrailtrail.org.
2008 National Pike Festival Set; CVB's Tom Riford Named to Maryland National Road Association Board of Directors
The 20th annual National Pike Festival and Wagon Train is set for May 16-18,
 |
| CVB
President Tom Riford waves from the lead wagon
during the 2007 National Pike Festival and Wagon
Train. The photo was taken as the wagon train
crossed Wilson's Bridge, along the National Pike. |
2008.
Washington County is just one of many counties throughout
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio that celebrate
the 300-mile route with authentic wagon trains and
other old fashioned activities, and the only Maryland
County participating in the annual festival.
The National Pike Festival and Wagon Trail is sponsored
by the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and
Visitors Bureau and the James Shaull Wagon Train Foundation.,
Inc. More than 30 wagons participated in this past
year's wagon train. The 2007 festival was part of what's been come to be known as the "World's Longest Festival." Stretching some 300-miles, from Ohio through Maryland, the festival celebrates what's been called "The Road That Made The Nation." Celebrations happen in communities along 300 miles of the Historic National Road. As organizers point out, the National Pike was the first federally-funded road built in America. In 1806, over two hundred years ago, the National Pike became the first federally funded highway in the United States...and the first macadam road in the country was built in Washington County.
The James Shaull Wagon Train Foundation Inc., which
organizes the event, partners with the Hagerstown-Washington
County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is the
main financial sponsor. The CVB's Tom Riford was named
to the Maryland National Road Association's Board of
Directors, and he is participating in the planning
of further promotion to the byway known today as "the road that built the nation."
Around
Washington County Tourism |
27th Annual Maryland Governor's Tourism Conference Held Nov. 14-16
 Tourism officials from across the State of Maryland gathered at Solomon's
Island, Maryland, for the 27th Annual Governor's Tourism Industry
Conference, November 14-16, 2007. The theme of the conference
was "Illuminating New Horizons."
The conference facilitates the education of the tourism community, provides networking opportunities, teaches about the role of the Maryland Office of Tourism and creates a strong industry to encourage elected leaders to increase funding. More than 500 industry professionals attend the conference.
Tom Riford was a speaker and served as MC for the annual industry awards banquet. Also in attendance from the Hagerstown-Washington County CVB were Betsy DeVore and Charissa Stanton.
CVB Sponsors Interpretive Markers Which Attract Heritage Travelers
On July 12, 1863, Union cavalry under the command of Gen. George Armstrong Custer rode into Hagerstown and drove out dozens of Confederate soldiers who were occupying the city. The Confederates entered Hagerstown on July 6, during their retreat from the Battle of Gettysburg a few days earlier, and held the city until Custer's decisive charge. Before the Confederates relinquished their grip, however, battles raged in the city's streets, houses and graveyards.
This story and others recounting the Battle of Hagerstown are inscribed on two interpretive signs that hang on the parking garage off North Potomac Street. A third sign, on the side of the Elizabeth Hager Center, describes Civil War troop movements in Washington County.
The signs were put up last spring as part of a local and state program known as Civil War Trails. They are three of 19 Civil War Trails signs or waysides that have been placed at significant sites throughout Washington County
Medal of Honor Presented to Antietam National Battlefield in Moving Ceremony
First Lieutenant George W. Hooker was awarded the Medal of Honor for his capture of 116 Confederate soldiers on Sept. 14, 1862, days before the Battle of Antietam. Recently, Hooker's great-grandson Henry Willard recently donated the medal to Antietam National Battlefield. The Medal of Honor is generally a very personal award that is passed down as a family heirloom and rarely displayed to the public, but Willard thought it was best to give it to the battlefield where it could be kept safe and shared with the public. The medal was formally presented to the battlefield during a special ceremony held the week of the battle anniversary in September.
First Hilton-flagged Hotel in Western Maryland Opens in Hagerstown
 Hilton,
the international brand of upscale, all-suite, residential-style
hotels, has opened a 102-suite Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel
in Hagerstown, Maryland. It is located near the Halfway Boulevard
exit off of Interstate 81. The 5-story hotel is the first Hilton-flagged
hotel in Western Maryland, and is owned by Bowman 2000, LLC and
managed by Bowman Hospitality & Convenience, Inc.
Launched in 1989, the Homewood Suites by Hilton brand today has more than 206 hotels open with another 125 planned. Beyond its spacious suites and home-like amenities, Homewood Suites guests can find at each hotel an on-site Suite Shopâ convenience store, exercise facility and guest laundry at most locations. Guests can also enjoy a daily complimentary Suite Start® hot breakfast and a Welcome Home reception featuring a complimentary light meal and beverages Monday-Thursday evenings. Additional guest services at Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels include a complimentary grocery shopping service and a complete business center at most locations.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 12-noon on January 22.
Maryland Association of Agricultural Fairs, Shows, and Festivals Holds Annual Convention in Hagerstown
More than 200 members of the Maryland Association of Agricultural Fairs, Shows, and Festivals (MAAFS) gathered in Hagerstown for their annual convention November 9-10, 2007. The convention theme was "Fair Branding . . . Get Connected!" The convention was held at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center at Antietam Creek and the CVB provided convention services to the group.
MAAFS was founded in 1984 and was incorporated in 1994 as a 501c(3) non-profit. The organization provides a stable mechanism for sharing ideas, methods, practices, and regulations that affect fair management operations and contribute to the best interests of the fair-going public. Its mission is to create and promote a healthy and friendly environment for visitors, exhibitors, animals, and vendors at Maryland and Delaware agricultural fairs, shows and festivals, proactively offering effective strategies and solutions through education, networking, and the sharing of information. Membership eligibility is extended to any agricultural related fair, show, or exhibition in Maryland with associate membership open to any fair-related support business, industry, or organization. For additional information visit www.maafs.com.
Maryland Civil Air Patrol Conference Held In Hagerstown
More
than 230 members of the Maryland Civil Air Patrol (CAP) gathered
in Hagerstown for the annual Maryland Wing Conference at the
Clarion Hotel and Conference Center October  26-28. The conference
included 24 training sessions, along with a general session,
the annual awards luncheon, and a Military Ball on Saturday.
Training topics included operations, finance, safety, logistics,
Drug Demand Reduction (DDR), personnel and professional development,
chaplains, website development, cadet programs, water survival,
emergency services, inspector general, legal, aerospace education,
and public affairs. A separate cadet conference offered training
sessions on how to be an officer, how to be a non-commissioned
officer (NCO), premier cadet activities, leadership outside
the squadron, running an effective cadet program, and working
with officers. A Military Ball on Saturday evening included
a parade of flags and guidons from around the Wing, awards,
and special guests.
The U.S. Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into World War II. CAP is a nonprofit organization with more than 55,000 members nationwide. The organization's members perform 95 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions, as tasked by the Air Force's Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC), and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 58 lives in 2006. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 22,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program.
Preservation Group Holds Annual Meeting in Hagerstown
 Pioneer America Society: Association for the Preservation of Artifacts and Landscapes held its 39th annual meeting in Hagerstown, Oct. 10-13, 2007. Approximately 70 people from across the United States attended. In addition to business meetings and paper presentations, participants toured the area, including the area along the National Road, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Antietam National Battlefield and Monocacy National Battlefield. Convention and Visitors Bureau President Tom Riford addressed the group during the awards banquet.
Pioneer America Society is a national, nonprofit organization that encourages the study of preservation of buildings, sites, structures and objects representing North American history, cultural landscapes and material culture. The society was organized in 1967 and carries out its mission by identifying, documenting, analyzing, and interpreting significant cultural landscapes, architecture and artifacts and by encouraging educational programs, scholarly research and preservation. For more information about the Pioneer America Society, visit www.pioneeramerica.org
Mid Atlantic Germanic Society Fall Meeting Held In Hagerstown
Hagerstown hosted 150 members of the Mid Atlantic Germanic Society (MAGS) for their Annual Fall Meeting, October 6, 2007. The theme for the meeting was "Putting the Family Puzzle Together: Research and Writing." John P. Colletta, one of America's most premier genealogical lecturers, presented several lectures on research, using federal records, uncovering the stories of immigrant ancestors, and researching Alsatian and Lorrainian families.
Mid Atlantic Germanic Society is a genealogical society founded in 1982. The MAGS Mission is to stimulate and facilitate research on Germanic genealogy and heritage in the mid-Atlantic region and to promote genealogical research of Germanic ancestors who settled in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. MAGS has approximately 500 members, mostly from the Mid Atlantic region, though membership does span nationwide. For more information about MAGS, visit www.magsgen.com.
250 People Gather in Hagerstown for Regional Arboriculture Annual Meeting
More than 250 arborists from the Mid Atlantic region were in Hagerstown September 30 through October 3 for the 2007 Mid Atlantic Chapter -International Society of Arboriculture (MAC-ISA) Annual Meeting. The event was both an educational meeting and trade show.
Monday's field session was held at the University of Maryland Western Maryland Research and Education Center (WMREC), near Sharpsburg, with outdoor sessions including demonstrations of Aerial Rescue, tree removal by Crane, and other classes in pruning, pest identification, tree inventory and more. On Tuesday and Wednesday attendees participated in indoor classes at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Hagerstown. The exhibit hall featured vendors with supplies and equipment for arborists, plant health care products, service providers, and more.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a worldwide, non-profit professional organization of arborists, urban foresters, and others involved in the caring of trees. Members are arborists from commercial, utility, and municipal sectors and other green industry related fields. Their mission is to foster research and education that promotes the care and benefits of trees. The Mid Atlantic Chapter is based in Haymarket, Va. MAC-ISA has approximately 1100 members in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. For more information about Mid Atlantic Chapter -International Society of Arboriculture, go to www.mac-isa.org or visit the International Society of Arboriculture website at www.isa-arbor.com.
Christian Motorcyclists Hold Annual Rally at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park
 The
Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) held its Tri-State
Rally, September 20-23, 2007, at Yogi Bear's
Jellystone Park, on Lappans Road near Williamsport. Approximately
175 people attended. The CMA Rally was hosted by the Kingdom
Heirs Chapter, based in Hagerstown. Members from Maryland,
New Jersey, and Delaware joined together for four days of fellowship.
Those in attendance enjoyed seminars, bike games, and opportunities
for guided as well as self-guided motorcycle rides on local
roads. There was even a Civil War Tour ride that included a
visit to Antietam Battlefield as well as many other historic
sites in the area.
The CMA is not a motorcycle club, but an inter-denominational ministry organization. The organization was formed in 1975 when Herbie Shreve, an Evangelist, saw the need for the Gospel message to be presented to motorcyclists at local events and rallies. Since its inception, the CMA has grown to a membership of over 100,000 members. There are over 800 chapters throughout the United States, and the CMA has a presence in 18 countries around the world. The vision of the CMA is "Changing the world, one heart at a time." The CMA partners with three other ministry organizations which have a global impact; Open Doors, The Jesus Film Project, and Missionary Ventures International. For more information about the Christian Motorcyclists Association, visit www.cmausa.org.
45th Annual JFK Attracts More than 1,300 Competitors
The annual JFK 50-Mile took place on November 17. The event is the largest, oldest, and most prestigious ultra-marathon in North America. The CVB is significant financial sponsor of the event, which creates a local economic impact of nearly $500,000 (according to the State of Maryland's Office of Tourism). The JFK begins in Boonsboro, follows the Appalachian Trail, follows the C&O Canal NHP Towpath, includes county and state roads, and finishes in Williamsport. International competitors, runners from more than 25 states, and teams from every branch of the US Military, come to Washington County to participate. The event attracts hundreds of volunteers, family members, and media from throughout the nation.
On
The Road With Betsy DeVore
MD Economic Development Association
Jan. 10, 2008
Annapolis, MD
(Kathy Reed attending)
American Bus Association
February 2-5, 2008
Virginia Beach, VA
Society of Government Meeting Professionals
February 5, 2008
Washington DC
(Jean Carbaugh attending)
Religious Conference Managers Association
February 5-8, 2008
Orlando, FL
Home Builders Expo
March 8 & 9, 2008
Hagerstown Community College
(CVB Staffers attending)
 Extra! Extra!
Want
to see your business or organization featured in the next newsletter?
Do you have news to share, special events, staff changes or promotions?
Contact Charissa Stanton, Newsletter Editor at charissas@marylandmemories.com
or fax to 301-791-2601 to be included in the next edition!
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