Lee VCB honors volunteers
The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau honored its 120 volunteers at the 20-year celebration of the Visitor Services volunteer program today at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs.
The program started with one staff person and 24 volunteers on Oct. 1, 1990, in two welcome booths at the Southwest Florida Regional Airport on Chamberlin Parkway. Three of the original volunteers are still with the program: Maureen Charlebois, Rosie Kershaw and Liz Paul.
Since 1990, the volunteers have donated 300,000 hours of service, saving Lee County $3.8 million in wages and have taken nearly 200 familiarization trips to hotels and attractions to better be able to assist visitors with their questions about the area. They have helped with dozens of special projects, conferences, meetings, consumer shows, sports and community events, festivals and work at the state welcome centers.
“Our thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who have aided our visitors over the past 20 years, serving as the welcome face of our community,” said Tamara Pigott, VCB executive director. “These ambassadors are one of the best assets of the southwest Florida tourism community.”
The program has grown over time, assisting a few thousand visitors the first year to more than 260,000 last year. “Our dedicated volunteers have always stepped up to the occasion whenever and wherever they were needed,” said Judi Durant, VCB Visitor Services director. “We are very fortunate to have great people who are willing to give back to the community by welcoming our guests.”
If you would like to become part of the next 20 years of the program, please contact the VCB Visitor Services staff at 590-4855.