The Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau has elected a new leader. During Monday’s regular board meeting, Dewitt Hicks was unanimously chosen to serve a one-year term as board chairman. He replaces outgoing chairman George Swales. Hicks, who was appointed to the board by the City of Columbus, urged his board members to work together.

“We have a very important responsibility,” Hicks said. “We represent a wonderful community. We’re not always going to agree on everything, but let’s treat each other the way we want to be treated. We have made great progress through tough times and we will continue to move toward being a united board.”

Nadia Dale was elected to serve one year as board vice chairman and Bart Wise was reelected as board treasurer.

Recently re-appointed city representative Bernard Buckhalter asked the board to consider adding The Legends concert to the agenda.

“I think we need to add The Legends to the agenda,” Buckhalter said. “We need to give them the opportunity to fill out another application (requesting CVB funding) because they withdrew their first application.”

At its June 18 meeting, the board, acting under the advice of CVB Executive Director Nancy Carpenter, was set to vote against funding the October concert. Before the vote could be taken, Legends committee member Steve Rogers withdrew the application, which called for a grant of $23,000.

Rissa Lawrence said she felt there was no need to discuss funding for the event.

“They have not submitted a new application,” said Lawrence. “I see no reason to even discuss this.”

Wise said it would be difficult to adjust the budget by $23,000 with three months left in the fiscal year. Former board vice chairman Mark Castleberry said he could not see the board subsidizing $27.50 per ticket for an event not widely supported by the community.

“They already submitted an application and they withdrew it,” Lawrence said. “Why are we going to beg them to come back?”

No motion on Monday was made regarding The Legends concert.

During the director’s portion of the meeting, Carpenter told the board about an upcoming advertisement deal between the CVB and Mississippi State University.

“We have a contract to be on the Jumbotron this year during MSU home football games,” Carpenter said.

Former Caledonia High School football standout Derek Sherrod will appear in the commercials. Sherrod was an All-SEC offensive lineman at MSU and he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

“Derek has agreed to be the voice of the CVB in the commercials,” said Carpenter. “We will begin filming his parts in Wisconsin later this week.”

Also on Monday, the board heard festival grant requests for MLK Dream 365, Caledonia Days and the 30th Annual 7th Avenue Heritage Festival.

Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.