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Tourism association honors volunteer Cucullu
Convention center, Lc J honored as outstanding CVB, friend of tourism
By CHARLES BUSBY
THE SUN HERALD
BILOXI ? If it?s good for tourism in Hancock County, you can count on Patt Cucullu being there to help.
For years, Cucullu has tirelessly promoted the state and the Bay St. Louis area by greeting visitors, handing out brochures and organizing promotional efforts ? all as a volunteer. Last year, she helped Hancock County form a tourism bureau.
On Tuesday, the Mississippi Tourism Promotion Association honored Cucullu with its Community Volun-
Cucullu
teer Award at the Governor?s Con ference on Tourism at the Grand Casino Biloxi Hotel.
The association also honored the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau as ?outstanding CVB or chamber with a budget over $500,000? and honored Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott with the Governmental Friend of Tourism Award.
Harrison County tourism director Steve Richer, Tourism Commission member George Watson and Supervisor C.T. Switzer accepted the award
for the bureau. Three out-of-state judges selected the bureau based on marketing and promotion of the Coast and the state. Tupelo won the award last year, when MTPA began giving the awards.
Cucullu, who also is a longtime member of the Hancock County Historical Society, coordinates a volunteer greeter program at the Hancock County Welcome Center near the
state line on Interstate 10. Bol Tate, supervisor of the Welcc Center, nominated her for the aw;
Cindy Schoonmaker was staf the welcome center Tuesday. ?I?n happy for her,? Schoonmaker s ?She?s very dedicated. Anytime run short, she?s here, and she?s h at least once a week because wants to be. She loves what does. ?