Destination Amarillo

Jutta Matalka, has been with the Amarillo Convention and Visitor Council since moving to Amarillo in 1995. A native of Munich, Germany, Jutta now spends much of her time speaking with visitors to Amarillo from her office in the Visitor's Center located just north of the Box Office in the Amarillo Civic Center. Jutta said that approximately 21% of the visitors who stop at the Center are from out of the country and want to experience the cowboy way of life and travel on historic Rt. 66. In Amarillo, there are approximately 6,000 hotel rooms and many of the visitors will take the time to visit Palo Duro Canyon, the Panhandle Plains Museum in Canyon and do some shopping while they are here. In 2012, Amarillo played host to 1.9 million visitors who contributed $334 million to the Amarillo economy.

This week, was National Tourism Week and the Travel Center hosted a Tour Expo on Friday. Tourism is one of the top 5 businesses to stimulate growth and the economy. So, who is coming to America? Seems that the Germans make up the largest group of international tourists to America. Danke to Paul Borchardt for introducing our program today.

Congratulations to Denise Blanchard! Denise has been named Amarillo Junior League Sustainer of the Year. President Renee Wilson presented Denise with a blinged out Rotary pin for her lapel. The Junior League of Amarillo is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. It's purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

Thanks to those who helped run our meeting today, including:

Renee Wilson, our President, who presided over the meeting

Beaumont Boyce, who led us in the national anthem and pledge of allegiance

Bill Summerhill, who offered the invocation

Melvin Edes, who announced we had no visitors and guests with the exception of one late arrival!

Rick Matchett , program chair for May.

While today's drawing did not result in the drawing of the ace of spades, it did yield winners who went home with beef jerky and Papa Murphy's pizza coupons.

At our next meeting, May 16, we will welcome Glenn Runyon who will share some information about the Lions Club Kids Camps.