Watts Consulting

More than you ever wanted to know about Alabama native Joe Watts

joewatts

Scenic Byway Happenings

by

Lots of good stuff going on with Alabama’s Scenic Byways program. Yesterday, we met to review grant applications for five projects and rank them according to a combination of factors. Very exciting to see the projects we’ve been working on since 1999 taking root in the local community and moving forward. Byways have some of the best potential to generate quality tourism in Alabama, particularly in the more rural sections. We also approved a logo for the byways program. Similar design to what I originally did, but we added an additional pine cone. Interestingly enough, in doing research on branding destinations, I’ve found that the general consensus is that people spend the most time and effort on developing a logo and a logo is one of the least important features of community branding.

Today, I’m off to Marion, Alabama to talk to the Cahaba Trace Commission about their interest in a scenic byway along their route. We’re up to seven state scenic byways and three national byways, now, so the pressure to build the program is still there, but not as great as it was when we only had one. While in Marion, I’ll take advantage of the trip and do a little photography of some of the architecture and landscapes for potential use on the Southwest Alabama Regional Tourism website: alabamasfrontporches.org.

In the News: The Lookout View

by

It is always fun to run across things on the web. I was searching for something that I did back in 2002 to use as a starting point for an article that I’m working on about Alabama’s byways program. I found it online even though I couldn’t find it on my hard drive–the power of Google.

Anyway, in the process of finding that article (something published in Alabama’s Treasure Forests, a publication of the Alabama Forestry Commission) I also found the article linked below. We held a meeting in late February and I knew the editor of the Lookout View was present. We did have a good article in the Gadsden Times, but I never saw the article in the Lookout View. Glad to have found it.

Here’s the first paragraph:

In late February the Lookout Mountain
Parkway Association met in Gadsden to discuss how to move forward on an
initiative that they hope will raise the profile of the mountain and draw
visitors off nearby Interstate highways. They are exploring the possibility
of creating a travel corridor similar to others in the state that have
received the Alabama Scenic Byway Program designation. The program, patterned
after the National Scenic Byways concept, will use community and citizen
input to identify, protect, and enhance the resources along the corridor.

http://thelookoutview.com/archives/mar%2008/lookout4ourmountain.htm

Early Hinson Family Photo

by

Went home to Octagon, Alabama over the weekend. Among other things, I did a bit of rummaging for old family photos. I brought back quite a few–still many more to go through. I’ve only scanned a couple, but thought this interesting, and in keeping with the other family gathering photos I’ve posted lately. This one is unlabeled, but I’d guess a late 1920’s date by the age of my mom.

At Long Last: American Mining Insurance Company’s Website

by

Well, almost. The site is now in a final approval phase. We’ve cut it down a good bit for now, but there are plans to slowly roll out additional sections. This was built very carefully with upgrades and modifications in mind. Everything is tied to one template and the sidebars are served via php includes files. I used a similar method on an architect’s website last year to what appears to be good effect. The point was to make this an easy website to upgrade and to make additions to.

Quick Job for my friends at AccuPrint, Downtown Birmingham

by

A quick postcard for my friends at AccuPrint. I’ve been working with AccuPrint since 1998 or so. Maybe before then. I got to know them when I was working with the Cahaba Group of the Sierra Club. I’ve continued to use them for much of my printing work. They are typically very fast and always entertaining. Best of all, they really are a family-owned and operated business. The dogwood blooms are particularly beautiful. Photo taken along Highland Avenue (unfortunately, the dogwoods by our house didn’t fare well during last summer’s brutal drought, so they are just barely alive and certainly not blooming).

 

Heads in Beds: Understanding the Tourism Industry

by

     I’m trying to understand the tourism industry a bit better. Seems as though reading the best books is a good way to do just that. This looks to be one of the better books out there, and I think it is next on my agenda. (And, if you buy it from this click through, I think I get a tiny amount of money. Not really sure how that all works, though.