Monday, October 11, 2021

Rob a No-Show During Shoals Fest

 



There are a whole lot of people wondering where in the world Big Rob Carnegie, Florence Lauderdale Tourism Director, was last week while Shoals Fest was taking place. It was only the biggest tourism event in the Shoals area in 2 years, the last being Shoals Fest in 2019 since Covid shut us down in 2020. 

Surely the highest paid tourism director in the entire state was present for this event? After all, most of the area hotels were sold out and restaurants were full all weekend long. Well, according to these pictures, and believe me, we have several pictures taken throughout the day where the “SHOALS Tourism” booth remained totally empty all weekend long, well, except for one guy who actually hung his rain coat on the back of the empty chair. 


It was good that the chairs were used for something handy. As you can see, there were no brochures, no materials explaining where other tourist attractions are and what the hours were for this special music event. Just an empty table that kinda matches the offices at the tourism department now. Lights are on but no one is home. 


But, when you have a board of directors as misinformed as that of the current board, who is gonna say a word about the poor performance and not showing up at a big music festival where at least 18 states were represented with visitors. Wake up Lauderdale County Commissioners and Florence City Council!!!







2 comments:

  1. Is 'The Voice' still conducting blind auditions?

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  2. Your observation leaves one big question for me... Who paid for that booth? I wasn't able to attend because of grandchildren business, otherwise I would have been there. Had I been there I certainly would notice an empty booth as I have seen this type of thing before. Why bother signing up for a booth if aren't even going to leave material for someone to view.

    The tourist pamphlet containers at our interstate welcome centers and rest stops are full. The odds that a visitor to those rest stops are headed to the Shoals are slim compared to those visitors already here looking for supplemental activities. While local businesses saw a huge benefit from the event, maybe they should ask about what they may have missed.

    Here's something to ponder: Have they wondered if some of us care enough to have volunteered to work at that booth? I don't remember seeing anybody being asked if they could help. Granted that doesn't make the high salary for the person responsible all that attractive, but it would have at least helped the community.

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