The executive director of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau was nudged to do more by board members Thursday who changed her job description to say she is “to take the lead position” in tourism development.

Chairman Eric Biedenharn said he believed the job description needed specifics, following up on his statements last fall that the agency is not aggressive, innovative or competitive enough. “I think we need more in the job description,” he said.

Biedenharn has been working on the local agency’s job descriptions and said the change reflected the state law that created the bureau. The job isn’t management only, he indicated, and includes doing all possible to foster the growth and development of tourism.

The board then approved a motion to add “The job of the director is to establish, promote and develop tourism and convention and related matters within the City of Vicksburg and the County of Warren, Mississippi, as provided in the authorizing legislation.”

Director Lenore Barkley, a 20-year veteran in tourism, accepted the change and said VCVB has worked in development of tourism and tourism assets as well as facilitating visits. “Our office is frequently contacted to assist on many projects to broaden the tourist assets of Vicksburg,” Barkley said.

In the past some of those projects have included Riverfront Park and the Vicksburg Convention Center.

“I recognize the importance of strengthening and developing local attractions,” she said, adding the bureau will continue to broaden its efforts in that regard.

In reporting on the most recent meeting of the Community Alliance, Biedenharn said the group sent requests for proposals to about a dozen advertising agencies and received actual proposals from four.

The Alliance is seeing an advertising agency to formulate suggestions and plans for an image campaign for Vicksburg to help attract more visitors, especially from nearby cities.

A committee made up of the Alliance, VCVB and Vicksburg Convention Center boards and city and county officials will hear proposals from the four agencies beginning the week of Feb. 103.

The Alliance is an organization made up of representatives of many local organizations, businesses and government officials to promote communications.

The board also:

Heard a report from Barkley that the bureau had received resumes for the tourism director and a marketing person. She said a committee will meet Jan. 28 to review the resumes.

Received a report from Barkley that the check from the Mississippi Tax Commission received in January was for $54,599.75. She said the check was $1,901 less than January 2002.

The VCVB is funded by a 1 percent tax on rooms rented by the night and meals and bar tabs at larger volume restaurants.