Spirit of Athens Director Celebrates 2nd Year!

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Mack Martin - Economic Development, Diane Lehr - Design Chairperson, Wyn Heisler - Treasurer, President Derrick Young, Shannon Bryant, Executive Director - Trisha Black, Tony McCormack, Milly Caudel, taking photo Teresa Todd - Vice President; not pictured - Shane Black, Jeb Lovvorn, Elizabeth McClary and Carole Foret

 

Have you been downtown lately? You can tell there is a new energy all around! It’s busy; there is activity on every street and in every shop, restaurant and salon. It’s as though people are delighted to be here! It feels positive, a friendly greeting coming from the owners and managers who are genuinely proud to see you and who welcome you to our great downtown!

Life wasn’t so positive a few years back. Some merchants were able to make do, but there wasn’t anything drawing residents to come and see the uniqueness of downtown and receive the personal attention you can only be given from a one of a kind shop or locally owned restaurant.

In the summer of 2006, these merchants banded together to establish an organization to increase awareness and promote the individuality of our downtown, as a result Spirit of Athens was established. After a couple of years of managing the organization with only a 15 member board of directors, another step was taken to hire an executive director to manage the day to day activities, to manage the committees, organize events, improve and encourage consistent store fronts/shops and increase relationships between merchants.  And... be managed in a 20 hour work week. But who would accept these conditions and actually be successful?

There were many candidates who applied for the position, but only one stood out as qualified and suitable by all the board members, Mrs. Trisha Black. That was August 2008, 2 years later Spirit of Athens is thriving as a ‘Main Street’ program. Under Mrs. Black’s direction, Spirit of Athens has grown to over 150 members, has secured a street front office, sponsors and co-sponsors events such as the ‘Market Street History Uncovered’ a walking tour which was a joint project with the History Department of UAH and SOA, Art on the Square Festival and our traditional Christmas Open House with Greater Limestone Chamber of Commerce to name a few.

In 2009 SOA sponsored the Cruise In around the Square with Bland Allen organizing the event and bringing in from 80 to 170 cars every month, which also brought customers to our shops and restaurants during a bad economic time.

Trisha also brings SOA to the residents of Athens in her quarterly newsletter. She invites new members to volunteer, and publicizes the past, current and future events the organization participates in. She, along with volunteers, organizes and publishes the newsletter in the News Courier and online by AthensPlus.com. 

From speaking engagements with power-point presentations at the Athens Technical School, annual member meetings, Athens Rotary Club and many other venues, Trisha & SOA also participates in local fundraising events such as the Jessica Elkins 5K Walk/Run, Art on the Square Silent Auction, Workshops & Film Festivals and the Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night.

Other events Spirit of Athens has sponsored are the annual 4th of July Fireworks display at the Athens High School football field, the Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt, i Walk – Be Healthy Campaign, 1st Annual Crank Off (homemade ice cream contest) and orchestrated a postcard handout for businesses to give customers on parking locations downtown.

Trisha is the wife of city attorney Shane Black, the mother of 2 beautiful, active children, Victoria and Harrison, and she does all this in 20 hours a week? Well, it is lucky for SOA Trisha loves her job! To inventory the entire downtown, attend out of state training classes, work on writing grants for a façade program and other initiatives, meet with her 4 SOA committees, oh yes, update the social media; facebook & twitter plus send information for the webmaster to include on the website would take even the most organized of directors 60 to 80 hours a week to begin to accomplish these tasks. But being the dedicated person she is, Trisha works it all in – "she is the Spirit of Athens"!    

Just recently the Spirit of Athens board of directors secured a new office location for their Executive Director. The new site located at 107 Jefferson Street next to LuVici’s is approximately 800sq ft allowing for Trisha and members to come in the office work on their projects with plenty of space to be comfortable and productive. 

The location has greater visibility for foot traffic with active retail on both sides. Anyone may stop by to visit or to discuss  member enrollment or how to volunteer.

Yes, we stuck gold “BLACK GOLD”, when we accepted Mrs. Trisha Black’s resume in 2008, and Athens is the victor of SOA’s wise decision.

Happy 2nd year Anniversary Trisha, I’ve been very proud to be a part of this organization for the past 4 years. With the accomplishments you have made these past 2 years, we have reached so many beneficial achievements for our town!     

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Teresa Todd
Vice President of Spirit of Athens
September 1st 2010