Chamber Leadership Paducah Drops Anchor at Birdsong Resort

Established in 1984, Leadership Paducah is a program to develop the leadership potential of men and women in the Paducah/McCracken County area. It is sponsored and coordinated by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce

Stacey Thomas, the chamber's Business Education Leadership Director, explains that "Leadership Paducah consists of nine (9) monthly sessions beginning with a weekend orientation retreat and ending with a graduation ceremony. Each day-long session deals with a broad topic that is explored through speakers, discussions, field trips, and other activities."

For the third consecutive year, the Leadership Paducah has made Birdsong Resort, Marina and Campground their destination for the "kick off" event. Bob Keast, owner of Birdsong, commented, "We make it an essential part of our theory in business to do business with those who do business with us. We have produced the Paducah Boat, Sport and Travel Show at the Paducah EXPO Center since 2002 and look for many, many years to come." Keast has been a member of the Paducah-McCracken County Chamber of Commerce – as well as a dozen other Chambers in various counties that his production company hosts events in – for several years. Tourism is a vital part of the Birdsong's lifeblood. "The Chamber can see and feel what tourism is all about", said Keast.

HeavyWeight Promotions produces a series of boat, sport, travel and RV shows geared to the outdoorsmen and family with locations in Paducah, Kentucky, Jackson, Tennessee and Franklin, Tennessee. The shows generate a tourism aspect for the towns they "land" in, with hotels, gas, and food revenue from exhibitors and attendees alike. The Jackson-West Tennessee Boat, Sport and RV Show will celebrate its 20th Anniversary in February of 2006. For more information about all the cities in the 2006 show season, visit www.HeavyWeightPromotions.com. Heavyweight Promotions is in its' 30th year, based out of Birdsong in Camden.

Tim Todd, Murray State University educator took one of the lead roles in the event organization. Todd said, "The retreat featured teambuilding activities for the participants to experience in meshing together for their year's worth of programs which run thru the early summer of 2006. Birdsong Resort is an ideal venue for the retreat stay and the 'coming together' of the participants. We will definitely be back again in the future." "The Keast family really knows how to show their true southern hospitality at Birdsong."