WELCOME CENTERS TO GET NEW SIGNS

Members of the Missouri Tourism Commission, in Cape Girardeau as a group for the first time ever this week, were treated to the sights local visitors bureau staff want all tourists to enjoy, including downtown and the new river campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

The commission -- 10 members strong -- meets quarterly, but in the past, meetings have been conducted in Jefferson City, Kansas City, St. Louis or the Branson area.

"Missouri is a state of diversity," said Louis P. Hamilton, who chairs the Missouri Tourism Commission. "We have big-city excitement. We also have a proud heritage showcased in small communities such as Ste. Genevieve and Cape Girardeau."

He said individual commission members have visited Cape Girardeau in the past.

A new welcome center sign was included on the commission's formal agenda on Friday. The new signs were requested by the commission to designate former information centers as official Missouri Welcome Centers.

Hamilton said he could envision the river campus as a new tourism center and has discussed the idea with university officials.

The state has seven welcome centers, including one in New Madrid that serves Southeast Missouri. Others are in Hannibal, Jefferson City, St. Louis, Rock Port, Kansas City and Joplin. More than a million visitors walk through the doors of Missouri's welcome centers each year.

The centers hold a special annual celebration to observe Missouri Day. This year, the celebration will be held Oct. 18.

Visitors who stop by any one of the seven official welcome centers that day will be greeted by staff in an extra special way.

Visitors will enjoy Missouri-grown apples, apple cider or promotional items that will be given away randomly. And, as always, visitors can receive a wealth of information on the state's history, culture and travel opportunities.

"We're looking at other locations" for the centers, said R. B. "Bob" Smith, special projects administrator, who serves as principal liaison with the General Assembly and Missouri Press Association.

Smith is also responsible for the long-range development of the welcome centers.

He told the commission Friday that he had been in contact with the Missouri Department of Transportation to discuss potential locations in the state.

"There is nothing definite, but we're looking at possibilities of three to four more locations," he said.

The Tourism Commission discussed a number of other items during its session at the Holiday Inn. Topics included a brief discussion of billboards, the group's cooperative marketing program and the 2001 Governor's Tourism Conference.

Nine of the 10 commission members were present for the meeting, including Lt. Gov. Robert B. Wilson, who is a former chairman, and State. Rep. Marilyn Williams of Southeast Missouri.