The Washington Parish Tourism Commission was created by Washington Parish Police Jury (now Parish Council) Ordinance #46 on May 26, 1992. All tourism commissions were officially established by Acts of the Louisiana legislature. The mission of the Washington Parish Tourism Commission is to promote Washington Parish attractions and events in order to encourage visitors to our area; to increase knowledge of the resources available throughout our community, region, and state; to create an awareness of the impact of tourism on the local, regional, and state economy. The second largest industry in Louisiana is the travel and tourism industry.
The Washington Parish Tourism Commission business office is located at 908 Mill Street in Franklinton. The office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 am until 4 pm. Washington Parish holidays are observed. The phone numbers are local: 985-839-5228; toll-free: 1-888-827-7118; fax: 985-839-7950.
E-mail addresses are wptour@bellsouth.net and wptour@washingtonparishtourism.com.
Our web site is www.washingtonparishtourism.com.
The Office manager is Kathi Mayor.
The tourism office maintains brochures, flyers, maps, and other informational items from the local area, as well as surrounding parishes and state-wide information such as literature from the Louisiana Office of State Parks, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, etc. Examples of these are Louisiana State highway maps, Washington Parish maps, the official Louisiana Tour Guide, and our own locally-produced brochure, Scenic Byways and Backways. Our local brochure is made available to State Welcome Centers and other visitor's centers across the state, and it is available through order at the Louisiana Office of Tourism and the local web sites. It is the primary fulfillment piece sent to anyone who requests a visitor's packet for Washington Parish.Tourism information is also available at the Bogalusa Chamber of Commerce 608 Willis Avenue, and on weekends at the Varnado Store Museum 936 Pearl Street in Franklinton. Through these cooperative agreements, tourism information is available seven days a week in the parish. However, it is the long-range plan of the Tourism Commission to have our own full-service, full-time visitor's center in the future.
The Washington Parish Tourism Commission meets on the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm. In Franklinton the meetings are held at the office on Mill Street. Meeting notices are submitted to both local newspapers to be published in advance of the meeting. Variation in place and/or time of the tourism commission meetings will be noted. The Tourism Commission makes an effort to convene at other locations around the parish in order to allow attendance by those members of the public who may not be able to travel to Franklinton, and to allow the Tourism Commission to become knowledgeable regarding our local attractions, events, and hospitality-related businesses. As a public body, the State-defined open meeting law must be observed.
Tourism Commissioners are appointed by the Washington Parish Council for three-year terms. Below is a list of the current Tourism Commission, their offices, term expiration dates, and brief biographical remarks.
Marilyn Bateman, President
Term Expires December 31, 2010
Mrs. Bateman is Executive Director of the Bogalusa Chamber of Commerce, is a past president of the Bogalusa Rotary organization, and also serves on the Zachary Taylor Parkway Commission. She has overseen the Chamber’s Festival in the Park for many years and has represented the event at the LAFF (Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals) annual meeting.
Henry Harrison, Vice President
Term expires December 31, 2009
Mr. Harrison is employed by the LSU/Southern AgCenter as the county agent and Parish Administrator for the Washington Parish AgCenter office. He also serves on the Franklinton Area Economic Development Foundation and is a past president of this organization, and is active in the WP Fair, frequently overseeing the Ag Building and its exhibit. He also participated in the Washington Parish Watermelon Festival and the Bogalusa Farmers Market organizations.
Cynthia August, Treasurer
Term expires December 31, 2009
Mrs. August is employed by the Washington Parish School system. She also serves as Commissioner and Secretary for the Washington Parish Communications Emergency 911 district. She also serves on the Stage committee of the WP Fair Association, the Franklinton MLK Celebration committee, and is active in many other women’s-, church- and youth-related groups in the community.
Aline K. Smith, Secretary
Term expires December 31, 2010
Mrs. Smith is retired from the Washington Parish School System. She currently serves as a Washington Parish representative on the East Florida Parishes Retirement District. She has also been involved with Riverside Hospital, the American Legion Auxiliary organization, the senior citizen retirement complex under development in the Franklinton area, the Mile Branch and Fair Associations, and remains a very active community and church member.
Rev. James Cyrus, Commissioner
Term expires December 31, 2010
Rev. Cyrus is the pastor of Second Baptist Church in Bogalusa. He was a past president of the Bogalusa Chamber of Commerce. He sits on boards of organizations and participates in Christmas in the Park, Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity, the Bogalusa Community Medical Center (now LSU), among others.
John N. Gallaspy
Term expires December 31, 2009
Mr. Gallaspy is a local attorney, in the practice of law for 50 years. Mr. Gallaspy is also the owner/operator (along with his wife, Dixie) of a local bed and breakfast, Smoky Creek Plantation. He has been a long-time participant in the Washington Parish Watermelon Festival, and remains an avid grower. He is a veteran, and a member of American Legion Post 24, participating in their Memorial Day and July 4th activities in Bogalusa. He is a lifetime tree farmer and gardener, member of the Washington Parish Forest Landowners Association and the Washington Parish Melon Growers Association. He has also been an advocate for local cultural events and historic preservation.
Lou Ann Thomas, Commissioner
Term expires December 31, 2008
Mrs. Thomas is currently the owner/operator of Florida Parishes Resources for Independent Living. Mrs.Thomas has been a long-term volunteer for several local and civic organizations, including the WP Fair Association, serving as Historian 2002-2003, the Mile Branch Settlement, and the Varnado Store Museum. Along with Mrs. Ann Nevers, she helped organize a tour for the Legislative wives, which brought the group to our area, a first time visit for many, introducing them to our parish attractions and scenic beauty.