In this issue...

Features

Dayton Welcomes Prestigious Southern Christian Leadership Conference

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) will hold its 48th annual conference in Dayton, July 28-August 2, 2006. The Crowne Plaza Hotel Dayton is the headquarter hotel and the majority of the convention activities will occur at the Dayton Convention Center. Over 2,000 delegates are expected to attend this prestigious event which rarely meets as far north as Ohio. Dayton last hosted the event in 1992.

Dayton’s own Reverend Raleigh Trammell is serving as the national SCLC Chairman of the Board. SCLC program initiatives include: voter registration/education; conflict resolution/non-violence training; economic empowerment; health care; youth development; and collegiate chapter development. Confirmed speakers for the 2006 Conference in Dayton include Al Sharpton, Rev. Jessie Jackson, Susan Taylor, William Shaw and Martin Luther King III among others.  Convention entertainment will range from Charles & Taylor and Keith Wonder Boy Johnson to Nova for Jehovah. The 2006 Conference in Dayton will also include National Youth Conflict Resolution Training, youth day camp, and youth and adult workshops on a variety of topics. For registration information and convention details visit www.sclcnational.org.

SCLC is a pivotal organization with a proud history. The first convention was held in Montgomery, Alabama in August of 1957. Basic decisions made by the founders at early meetings included the adoption of nonviolent mass action as a cornerstone strategy, the affiliation of local community organizations with SCLC across the South, and a determination to make the SCLC movement open to all, regardless of race, religion, or background.

The very beginnings of the SCLC can be traced back to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The Montgomery Bus Boycott began on December 5, 1955 after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white man. The boycott lasted for 381 days and ended on December 21, 1956, with the desegregation of the Montgomery bus system. The boycott was carried out by the newly established Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA). Martin Luther King, Jr. served as President. It was one of history’s most dramatic and massive nonviolent protests, stunning the nation and the world.

The boycott was also a signal to Black America to begin a new phase of a long struggle, a phase that came to be known as the modern civil rights movement. As bus boycotts spread across the South, leaders of the MIA and other protest groups met in Atlanta in January 1957, to form a regional organization and coordinate protest activities across the South—The Southern Leadership Conference on Transportation and Nonviolent Integration was formed. They issued a document declaring that civil rights are essential to democracy, that segregation must end, and that all Black people should reject segregation absolutely and nonviolently. Further organizing was done at a meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana in February 1957. The organization shortened its name to Southern Leadership Conference, established an Executive Board of Directors, and elected officers, including among others Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as President.

SCLC is a nationwide organization made up of over 75 chapters and affiliates with programs that affect the lives of all Americans: north, south, east and west. Its sphere of influence and interests has become international in scope because the human rights movement transcends national boundaries.

Summer—a TON to do each DAY in DAYTON!

The lazy days of summer are here but there is certainly a TON one can find to do each DAY in DAYTON! Whether it's watching the spectacular aerial formations and maneuvers of the US Navy Blue Angels at the Vectren Dayton Air Show, enjoying the savory delights of baklava at the Dayton Greek Festival, marveling at Rembrandt's many masterpieces at the Dayton Art Institute, or testing your mettle at the USAF Marathon, look no farther than Dayton for tons of fun options.

Below is a small sampling of some of Dayton/Montgomery County's many activity offerings. For a more complete listing and details please visit www.daytoncvb.com/calendar or contact the Dayton/Montgomery County CVB at 800-221-8235.

July 13, Big Band Night--Dayton Jazz Orchestra 7:30-9:30pm RiverScape MetroPark, Free
July 21, Smooth Jazz on the Greene, Carillon Historical Park, $ 293-2841
July 22-23, The Butterfly Festival, Cox Arboretum & Gardens MetroPark, Free
July 28-29, Dayton Celtic Festival, RiverScape MetroPark, Free
July 29-30, Vectren Dayton Air Show presented by Kroger, Dayton International Airport, $
August 5, FitFest! RiverScape MetroPark, Free
August 11-13, German Picnic, Carillon Historical Park, $
August 19-20, Mountain Days Festival, Eastwood Five Rivers MetroPark, $
August 30-September 4, Montgomery County Fair, Montgomery County Fairgrounds, $
September 1-3, Giant Scale Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft Air Show, National Museum of the US Air Force, Free
September 2-4, Draft Horse Days and United States Plowing Contest, Carriage Hill MetroPark Farm, Free
September 8-10, Dayton Greek Festival, Greek Orthodox Church, Free
September 15-16, Taste of Dayton, RiverScape MetroPark, Free
September 16, 10th Annual USAF Marathon, National Museum of the US Air Force, $
September 23, US Air Force Band of Flight Concert, National Museum of the US Air Force, Free
September 23, Hispanic Heritage Festival, RiverScape MetroPark, Free
September 23-24, Aullwood Apple Fest, $
September 24-December 31, Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art: Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Dayton Art Institute, $
September 30-October 1, Oktoberfest, Dayton Art Institute, $

$2.5 Million Renovation Planned for the Dayton Convention Center

The Dayton Convention Center is planning to take on a new look. Major renovations of the exterior of the building have begun and construction is expected to take six months. The updates, totaling almost $2.5 million, include a new facade complete with a giant LED video screen. Other modifications include making the main entrance more user friendly from both Fifth and Main Streets, and overall changes of the current color and texture schemes of the building. There will be public access throughout the construction process via the skywalk, which is accessible from the Transportation Center. The Dayton/Montgomery County CVB offices, located on the first floor of the Dayton Convention Center, will be open throughout the renovation.

President's Corner

On behalf of the Dayton/Montgomery County CVB I would like to extend my appreciation to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and its partners, Aviation Trail, Dayton History, the Ohio Historical Society as well as to AAA Miami Valley for their recent valuable partnerships with the CVB.

Great partnerships help the CVB showcase some of Dayton/Montgomery County’s wonderful attributes.

When convention and event attendees arrive in our community they will enjoy vibrant blue and white welcome bags with a welcome to Dayton/Montgomery County message on one side and promotion of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park on the other side. The welcome bags are stuffed with information ranging from Destination Dayton Visitors Guides, dining guides, calendar of events, area attraction brochures and client event specific materials. The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park images and message will increase visitors’ awareness of our wonderful National Park and its four unique sites, and build the attraction’s visitation numbers .

The Dayton/Montgomery County CVB July-December 2006 printed Calendar of Events is now available thanks to the support of AAA Miami Valley. This attractive booklet provides residents and visitors alike with up-to-date information on events and ‘happenings’ open to the public in Dayton/Montgomery County July through December 2006.

A special thanks for the valued sponsorship support and partnerships of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Aviation Trail, Dayton History, Ohio Historical Society and AAA Miami Valley. Through cooperative efforts we are better able to promote Dayton/Montgomery County, Birthplace of Aviation and so much more!

Jacquelyn Y. Powell

Fast Facts/News

• Contact the Dayton/Montgomery County CVB today for your own complimentary copy of the July-December 2006 Calendar of Events. 937-226-8211 or www.daytoncvb.com.
• The 2006 Vectren Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger featuring the U.S Navy Blue Angels and more will take place at the Dayton International Airport July 29-30. On-site ticket prices: Adults $19 and Kids/Seniors $16 ($16 and $13 at Krogers—advance purchase). Call 937-898-5901 or visit www.usats.org.
• The National Aviation Hall of Fame will host the 45th Annual Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony Saturday, July 15th at the Dayton Convention Center. For more information call 937-256-0944 ext. 10 or visit www.nationalaviation.org.
• Too hot to cook? Sunday, July 30—Friday, August 4, 2006 treat yourself to dinner out! The Miami Valley Restaurant Association Restaurant Week will feature $20.06 meal deals at a number of area restaurants. Call 937-461-6872 or visit www.themvra.org for more information.
• Discovery Concours d'Elegance Car Show featuring over 100 vintage, classic and specialty cars and motorcycles will take place at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery September 17th. Call 937-275-7431 for more information.
• Experience the Members Exhibition of the Dayton Visual Arts Center July 10-August 19. Or check out “Borrowed Icons” with Pat Antonick and Heather Freeman opening September 9-October 14. Free. Call 937-224-3822 for more information.

On The Road

Here’s a sampling of where Bureau staff has recently been and is headed in our ongoing attempt to bring business to Dayton/Montgomery County:

July
Fraternity Executives Association Tradeshow	Tucson, AZ
August
Ohio Society of Association Executives Conference	Columbus, OH
American Society of Association Executives	Boston, MA
September
Affordable Meetings National Tradeshow	Washington DC

Help Us Welcome These Groups!

Following is a sampling of some of the meetings and conventions coming to Dayton/Montgomery County during the third quarter of 2006: