Oh, Miner. Oh, Sikeston. It has been a long and lonely month since I spoke to you last. As I told you I would last month, I attended the Snowbird Extravaganza in Lakeland, Fla. and the American Bus Association Marketplace in Virginia Beach, Va.
Alas, the sunshine and perfect weather in Florida and the waves on the beach in Virginia couldn't compare to you. As I look out my window at the sleet on the ground and the broken branches that simply could not bear the weight of the ice from our recent storm, I say fie on Florida and its perfect 70 degree and sunny days. Who needs 'em?
To be truthful, though, I didn't get much time to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather. What's that my lovely cities? You would have just lay on beach all day? That's not very professional of you. I would never be tempted by such thoughts. Stop snickering, you two.
Really, conferences are more work than play, but they were productive. I think they will yield many new visitors in the future, whether they are seniors traveling individually in their RV's or tour groups coming by bus.
So, I know you are all waiting with bated breath to hear about what is coming up this month and next. I told you last month that there was much more excitement to come, and I didn't lie. I have three, count 'em three, more shows to go before I'm done for the season.
The St. Louis Working Women's Survival Show will be held February 22-24. At this show, we encourage career women from St. Louis to take weekend getaways in Sikeston-Miner. When the hustle and bustle of the city gets to be too much, they can come on down to us to enjoy a relaxing taste of Southern Hospitality.
In March, there will be two GLAMER (Group Leaders of America) shows, one in Memphis, Tenn. and one in St. Louis. At these shows we will again be targeting the group travel market, this time in two cities that provide a couple of our biggest markets.
Around the time that I get done with these shows, we will hopefully be hearing back from the beautiful, intelligent, wise, just, and almost certainly not susceptible to flattery folks at the Missouri Division of Tourism regarding whether the CVB's Cooperative Marketing Grant has been approved. Assuming that the application is approved, it will be time to start booking ads and planning out next year's budget.
I see you drifting off there at the word "budget." Funny, you were so interested at the thought of sun and sand and now that I mention numbers your suddenly remember that thing you have to do at that place. I know how it goes. I guess it's time to sign off and leave the talk of budgets for another day. Adieu, Sikeston. Adieu, Miner. Parting is such sweet sorrow, and so on and so forth--