The Catskill Chronicle

Edited by Carol Montana, Photos by Jeff Siegel (Spencer Daniels Agency)

LIBERTY, NY (December 12, 2010) – The Sullivan County Visitors Association celebrated the holidays with its Annual Meeting yesterday evening at the Monticello Casino and Raceway.

Paul Carlucci, (in photo at left) Vice President of the Villa Roma Resort and Chairman of the Visitors Association, welcomed the members and addressed the dignitaries who were attending from the state, county and local governments. He also recognized the Sullivan County Visitors Association staff, members and businesses for their efforts promoting tourism in Sullivan County.

Carlucci also awarded the Tourism Advocate Award to Jonathan Rouis, Chairman of the Sullivan County Legislature, for his support of the tourism industry in his tenure as Chairman.

Rouis (photo right) praised the SCVA membership on their dedication to Sullivan County and their deep commitment to generating economic growth and quality of life to the county. He also quipped that in a county where nothing is secret, he was totally surprised by the award.

County Manager David Fanslau praised the SCVA on its ability to utilize additional funding for small businesses to advertise locally and the benefit that it made to tax generation and the small businesses in the county. He assured the SCVA that that funding would be available for 2011.

President/CEO Roberta Byron-Lockwood (in photo left with Rich Delia) discussed the many and varied accomplishments of the SCVA over the past year and outlined some of the marketing and goals the association will take in the coming year.

Richard Delia of the Ferndale Antiques Marketplace announced the results of the Board of Directors election. Paul Carlucci of the Villa Roma, Jim Rafferty of the Monticello Casino and Raceway and Jill Wiener of Earthgirl Pottery were re-elected to serve another three-year term on the board. In addition, the group  welcomed newly elected board members Larry Steiger of Last Licks, Jeanne Tulp of Lazy Pond B&B and Alan Rosenblatt of ECCE B&B.

The officers for 2010 were also announced: Paul Carlucci of the Villa Roma is Chairman of the Board, Rick Lander of Landers River Trips is Vice Chair, Michele Caltabellotta of The Dog House is Secretary, and Norman Duttweiler of Forestburgh Playhouse is Treasurer. Richard Delia was also re-elected to the Executive Board.

The Association awarded their 9^th Annual TOAST (Tribute to Outstanding Associate Serving Tourism) Award to Fran Gager (photo below) from the Rally New York at the Annual Meeting. Kathleen Ferris (photo right) from Crystal Run Healthcare, this year’s runner up for the TOAST award, was presented with a certificate of appreciation.

Each year the Visitors Association honors an employee involved in the tourism industry who has shown outstanding dedication and hospitality to the industry nominated by the membership business. Association members were asked to nominate someone who they felt met the criteria. Ivan Orisek from Rally New York nominated Fran Gager who, with an outstanding manner, recruits and manages a staff of 100-150 members who carry out the Rally New York events taking place in the county several times each year.