What's "Popping
Downtown" was the theme for this year's Spirit Awards
Luncheon held at the Rogers Center of First Presbyterian
Church on Tuesday
January 31st, 2012.
The event was catered
by LuVici's with chef Paula George providing a selection of
grilled chicken and pasta. To coincide with the theme, a
popcorn bar was available with assorted seasonings and
toppings.
SOA's organization
committee hosts the annual luncheon, providing everything
from beautiful table centerpieces created by Lisa Milby to
exceptional entertainment. This year, musician and songwriter,
Matt Prater, offered his talents and entertained the guests
with excellent song choices. The Organization committee
members are Diane Lehr; Chair, Pam Hartmann, Teresa Higgins,
Bree McConnell, Lisa Milby and Carol Morris.
Bree McConnell,
organization committee member gave an introduction to the
guest on the mission of Spirit of Athens and how to become
involved.
Shane Black, SOA Board
of Director member offered the invocation and welcomed
everyone as he introduced his beautiful and talented wife,
SOA Executive Director, Trisha Black.
Trisha provided a
visual look back at the accomplishments of SOA and a look
ahead of the ideas and events to come in 2012. (see Spirit of Athens
Accomplishments in 2011 below)
Spirit of Athens Board
of Directors President, Derrick Young, presented the Spirit
of Giving Award to the Athens Storytelling Festival.
Accepting the award was Wayne Kuykendall. Kuykendall
approached the SOA board along with Jim Hayes and Charlie
Hughes 2006 with the idea for the event. Storytelling brings
in hundreds of guest to Athens during the last week of
October each year as well as provides our City, County and
Private school children the opportunity to enjoy the event
free of charge.
Mac Martin, SOA Board
Member and Chair of Economic Restructuring Committee
presented the Downtown Revitalization Award to Athens State
University for their establishment of the Center for
Lifelong Learning. Accepting this award was ASU President,
Dr. Robert Glenn. Dr. Glenn, offered is appreciation for the
award,
but likened it to giving a man the "husband of the year
award because he enjoys kissing his wife." Dr. Glenn
continued by saying, "we are committed to Athens & do it
because it is in our best interest. We want to be apart of
Downtown and as we gather more resources to do more... we
will. We have been in the Athens community since 1822, we
plan to do even greater things.... the center is only the
first, there is more to come".
Spirit of Athens Board
Member and Organization Committee Chairperson, Diane Lehr,
presented the Friends of Downtown Athens Award to the TRAIL
group for its philanthropic contribution of adopting to keep
the downtown free of trash and for
volunteering at events. Accepting the award were Athens High
School Seniors, Logan Moore and Ryan Cole. Moore and Cole
echoed the love of downtown Athens and how proud they are
for the opportunity SOA afforded them to learn, grow and
give back. Moore stated "we are the future of this
community, and as we grow up we will always be proud of
Athens."
Spirit of Athens Board
Member and Vice President, Teresa Todd, presented the
Volunteer of the Year Award to fellow Board Member and
Athens City Planner Mac Martin. Martin began his position
with the City of Athens in July 2009. He joined the board of
SOA shortly afterwards. Martin said there were 3 cities
with an opening for a city planner and Athens was the one
that was set apart from the rest. There are two kinds of cities a city
planner can plan for, he can plan to allow his city to die
slower or he can plan for a city to grow in a manner the
city can serve the entire community. He said he is blessed
to have the opportunity that has been given to him by the
city and community of Athens and Limestone County.
SOA Board Members
are Derrick Young-President, Teresa Todd-Vice President,
Shane Black-Secretary, Wyn Heisler-Treasurer, Letisha
Brinkley-Promotions Chair, Mac Martin-Economic Restructuring
Chair, Diane Lehr-Organization Chair, Shannon Bryant, Carole
Foret, Tony McCormack, Diane Sauers, and David Seibert. (New
members for 2012 are Holly Hollman, Mike Davis and Carl
Hunt)
Special Thanks to
First Presbyterian Church, RSVP, LuVici's, Lewis Crews,
Vicki Camp, Diane Lehr and the SOA Organization Committee
Spirit of Athens
Accomplishments in 2011
The downtown historic
district area covers a 15 block area that includes 147
buildings, over 90 of which are listed on the National
Registry of Historic Places. There are currently 127
businesses with approximately 650 employees.
Traffic counts according to the ALDOT on Hobbs and Jefferson
Street that run through downtown Athens are between
8,000-10,000 daily.
In 2011, ten businesses opened downtown resulting in 21 new
jobs. The new businesses include three law practices, two
photography studios, three retail, and one facility owned by
Athens State University that offers continued education
classes.
An existing business extended store hours and added three
part time employees to their staff. Two vacant buildings
have recently been purchased and are in the renovation
process. Plans for these spaces include at least two new
retail businesses, office space, and two loft apartments.
Spirit of Athens has also experienced organizational success
this year. With the guidance and training offered at Main
Street Alabama quarterly meetings, SOA has built a
supportive Board of Directors, completed an inventory of our
focus area, built up resources, all of which has helped us
prepare to becoming a certified Main Street program.
Last year, SOA brought Jan Miller, Director of Mississippi
Main Street Program Services, to Athens to offer Main Street
training to the Board and committees during a two day work
shop.
In October, SOA also hosted a speaker to talk about downtown
loft development.
SOA has Four distinct committees- Design- Organization-
Promotion- and Economic Development
Other activities include:
-hosts the Annual Spirit Awards Luncheon that honors key
supporters of SOA progress for the downtown.( Jan)
-host to every other month volunteer meet-ups at businesses
on the downtown Square in order to recruit new volunteers
-Distribution of SOAP e-newsletter-
-Cooperative advertising for holiday television
commercials--
-Launched no interest loan program for building facade
rehabs--
-Hosts Easter Egg Hunt on the Courthouse lawn ( April) ,
-July 4 Fireworks Show,
-By Invitation Shopping Event - brought multiple local
businesses together under one roof for a shopping event in
order to highlight local businesses ( Nov.),
-Sipping Cider Festival - local retail businesses stayed
open late for last minute shoppers and competed in a cider
competition in ( mid Dec).,
-Sponsored a window decorating contest downtown enlisting
the involvement of many businesses on the Square. ( Dec)
- and worked with the Chamber to organize the highly
anticipated Christmas Open House ( November weekend).
-Enlisted the involvement of TRAIL - a service organization
of high school students in Limestone County who have adopted
the downtown - they cleaned the downtown holiday
decorations, volunteer regularly for special events needs
and help to maintain the clean appearance of downtown.
SOA’s committees are all active and producing results. SOA’s
volunteer base also tripled in 2011, which is attributed to
the results and publicity our program has generated at the
local level.
To become a member contact Trisha Black Executive
Director Spirit of Athens - 107 North Jefferson Street -
Athens, Alabama 35611 - 256.278.6436 -
tblack@athensal.us
www.spiritofathens.com
Teresa Todd
January 31, 2012
AthensPlus.com
