Chamber of Commerce Announces Roche Juane Award Winners
Recently, the
Billings area Chamber of Commerce
announced the Roche Juane awards. These awards are intended to provide
recognition to individuals and organizations that promote and "do great
things" for the city and people of Billings.
In the category of Tourism Excellence, the Billings Motorcycle Club was named as the 2007 winning organization.
This is truly an honor for our nearly 100 year old organization,
particularly given the other two finalists. Gloria Wester, owner of
the Laurel Outpost and Welcome! Visitors Guide, has been a long time
volunteer promoting tourism to Billings and Custer Country, and was
responsible for the efforts to raise funds that led to the creation of
the visitor's center at Pompey's Pillar. Steve Wahrlich, owner of the
Best Western Clock Tower Motel, serves as President of the Yellowstone
Lodging Association and was THE driving force behind the recently
created hotel/motel bed tax to be used for tourism publicity for the
Billings and Yellowstone County areas.
BMC is humbled and honored to
have been considered with the other well-qualified, experienced candidates. To have been selected as
the category winner is truly an honor for the club, and a testament to
the level of volunteerism and community 'give-back' that is practiced
by the club's members.
Since the early 1900's, BMC has operated
in the Billings area, promoting safe, healthy motorcycle competition
and family-oriented events. In the past two decades, the number and
quality of events held by the BMC has increased resulting in national
recognition. This has led to literally hundreds of competitors to come
to Billings from out of county and out of state, making BMC events
among the most well-attended sporting events in the area. For example,
the Great American Championship Motorcycle Hill Climb had 632 entries
in 2007. More than 50% of the competitors were from out of state and
traveled with an average of three other folks. The impact to just this
one event was over 1,000 motel room nights. BMC is a proud member of
the Billings community and is honored to be considered a finalist in
the Tourism Excellence award category.
Click here to read the Billings Gazette announcement...Click here to read the Oct 10, 2007 Chamber of Commerce announcement...Billings Motorcycle Club, Inc. - Billings, Montana
