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Tourism association honors volunteer Cucullu
Convention center, Lc ; 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.
J.
Cucullu
For years, Cucullu has tirelessly promoted the state and the Hay 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-
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 I lancock County Welcome Center near the
state line on Interstate 10. Bob Tate, supervisor of the Welco Center, nominated her for the awa Cindy Schoonmaker was stafi the welcome center Tuesday. "I?m happy for her,? Schoonmaker s; ?She?s very dedicated. Anytime run short, she?s here, and she?s hi at least once a week because ; wants to be. She loves what : does.?