Tourism Industry Provides
$10,000 In Sweat Equity
By JIM KEVLIN • for allotsego.com
COOPERSTOWN – Three dozen volunteers from Tourism Cares are painting the bleachers at Doubleday Field at this hour, part of a national effort that allows hundreds of tourism professionals to “give back” annually.
The volunteers will be able to say, “I painted the outfield wall at Doubleday Field and swung a bat at home plate,” said Jay Smith of Sports Travel & Tours, Hatfield, Mass., the official travel agent of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He estimated the volunteers will do $8,000-$10,000 worth of work today.
Smith, who worked with Mayor Jeff Katz, Destination Marketing of Otsego County exec Deb Taylor, and tourism agencies in Albany and Oneida counties, pointed out that the NTA (National Tourism Association) logo includes the phrase, “Save Our Sites,” and that the intent of the undertaking, as well as to familiarize tourism professional with attractions around the country.
Director of Events Jessica Ahern, who has been with Tourism Cares for 13 years, said the Doubleday project is one of three or four smaller “private label events” done annual, but there are usually two major ones that draw 200-400 volunteers.
She was involved in a major tree planting at a Civil War battlefield in Leesburg, Va., this spring, and will be a the Grand Canyon National Park Nov. 1-3, painting tourism sites in Williams, Ariz., the “gateway community,” and doing plantings at the canyon itself.
Editor’s Note: Here’s the workscope issued by Tourism Cares.
TOURISM CARES WELCOMES VOLUNTEERS TO GIVE BACK TO BASEBALL AT HISTORIC DOUBLEDAY FIELD
Two dozen travel and tourism professionals gather in Cooperstown, NY to enhance iconic facility
WHAT: Local travel & tourism industry partners will roll up their sleeves to help preserve and enhance historic Doubleday Field in partnership with Tourism Cares, a Massachusetts based non-profit with a mission to preserve and enrich the travel experience for future generations. This unique opportunity allows for volunteers to spend the day at “the birthplace of America’s pastime” to complete a variety of unique landscaping and construction projects including painting and rejuvenating bleachers to leave a lasting impact that will be felt by countless future visitors as well as the local community. Volunteers will show the travel and tourism industries commitment to giving back and taking care of the places visited by so many.
When: Friday, June 12, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. News media is invited to tour and cover this volunteer effort, beginning with opening remarks by Cooperstown mayor Jeff Katz at 10:15 a.m on Doubleday Field.
Where: Doubleday Field, 1 Doubleday Ct., Cooperstown, NY 13326
Additional Interview Opportunity:
Jessica Ahern, Director of Events, Tourism Cares
Jay Smith, Owner, Sports Travel & Tours
About: Tourism Cares brings together the tourism industry to preserve American icons and travel experiences. Tourism Cares, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity that benefits society by preserving the travel experience for future generations by awarding grants to natural, cultural and historic sites worldwide; by focusing on workforce development through student programs which provide support from classroom to career; and by organizing volunteer efforts to restore tourism-related sites in need of care and rejuvenation. Since 2003, volunteer restorations have included culturally and historically significant destinations such as Ellis Island, NY, New Orleans, LA, San Francisco, CA, Miami, FL, Gettysburg, PA, Washington, DC and the Grand Canyon. For additional information, visit www.tourismcares.org.
Jessica Ahern
Director of Events
