Tourism council hosts annual meeting on CR-30A

Story and photos by DOTTY NIST
Accomplishments of the Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and the local tourism community over the past year were celebrated at the council’s Oct. 14 annual meeting at Lakehouse, just off CR-30A at WaterColor.
More than 200 people, including TDC staff and council members, were present for the yearly event.
“We’re just one-sixth of the equation…” TDC Executive Director Jim Bagby told community members, speaking of the tourism organization, “this is what you’ve done in the past year.”
Among the highlighted accomplishments were 3.2 million visitors, $2.8 billion direct economic impact to Walton County, 12.5 percent growth in visitor rental revenue, 19,500 jobs directly related to tourism, 137 percent shoulder season growth, 27 marketing and public relations industry awards, 1.2+ million web site visitors, 600 tons of trash picked up by TDC personnel, 84 sea turtle nests marked and 78 nests hatched.
Also reported was $202 million spent on visitor accommodations in June and July 2015, making “South Walton” the top coastal economy in Florida for tourism for those months.
Bagby noted, as well, $8.3 million worth of in-progress and planned destination improvements funded by the TDC, among those parking, bike paths, dune walkovers, signs, restrooms, and beach safety, plus $210,000 provided for artificial reef projects by South Walton Artificial Reef Association.
The meeting included announcement of winners for the annual Perfect in South Walton Awards to top local businesses, along with the Artist of the Year and Van Ness Butler, Jr., Hospitality Award.
The latter award went to Mike Ragsdale, owner and originator of the 30A brand. Ragsdale is active in fund raising, having raised thousands for Walton County nonprofit organizations.
In accepting the award, Ragsdale identified the passion that residents share for south Walton County “what makes this community special.”
Ragsdale credited the TDC for “an amazing job.” He also spoke to the importance of the marketing done by the organization in that it is aimed at attracting people who respect nature and appreciate what the community is about, for example those who prefer YOLO boarding over driving a go-kart around a track.
Melody Bogle, an oil and pastel painter, received the Artist of the Year Award. Bogle specializes in painting outdoors, also known as “en plein air.”
“My art is representative of this area,” Bogle said as she accepted the award. She thanked the TDC for what it does to keep the area “environmentally so awesome.”
“Because of that, I’m able to get out and paint this beautiful area,” she said.
Also recognized were Acrylic Painter of the Year Gordie Hinds, and Mixed Media Creator of the Year Sara Lierly.
With Bagby scheduled to serve his last day as TDC executive director on Oct. 16, he received tributes from attendees for his work over the past 2 1/2 years in the position.
Art Miller, TDC treasurer and a member of the Institute of Senior Professionals (ISP), noted that an number of years ago the ISP had done a study of the TDC and had make recommendations for 25 things that needed to be done in connection with the organization. “He has done all those things in the past 2 1/2 years,” Miller said of Bagby, leading attendees in a toast.
Suzanne Harris, president of Edgewater Condominium and obviously an Alabama football fan, spoke on behalf of bed tax collectors.
“We thank you as Coach Bear Bryant and Nick Saban rolled into one,” she told Bagby.
Bagby expressed appreciation for the kind words but said that the praise should go to TDC teams, the tourism community, and, with a credit to Ragsdale, “everybody in this destination who gets up every day with a passion for ‘South Walton.'”
“It’s y’all,” he told the group.