Conventions booked till 2008
"Armageddon-ain't-a-coming-arm-a-gonna-get-it-on"
Jehovah's Witnesses plan return to Gainesville
Gainesville Sun, FL - 1 hour ago
... Meanwhile, mostly Florida members of the Christian Congregative (sic) of Jehovah's Witnesses will hold the second of its previously planned 2005 O'Connell Center ...
Jehovah's Witnesses plan return to Gainesville
By CINDY SWIRKO [email protected]
Sun staff writer
could swell more than $40 million into the local economy.
Meanwhile, mostly Florida members of the Christian Congregative (sic) of Jehovah's Witnesses will hold the second of its previously planned 2005 O'Connell Center conventions - which primarily focus on Bible instruction - here Aug. 26-28.
"We certainly enjoyed our first convention there and I'm sure we will our second. The cooperation and help from the O'Connell Center, the convention bureau, University Police and so many others - they just worked so hard," said Steve Sassard, contract negotiator for the Jehovah's Witnesses. "These conventions are like a class reunion for us. People come from different congregations and different parts of the state, so we get to see old friends."
Sassard said dates are booked at the O'Connell Center for more gatherings through 2008 but added that the final decision on where the events will be held will be made each year.
O'Connell Center staff said the Jehovah's Witnesses have booked about four gatherings a year.
The Alachua County Visitors and Convention Bureau said Monday the conventions have a sizable economic impact.
July's gathering drew about 7,500 participants who spent more than $2 million in hotels, restaurants and stores plus about $120,000 in taxes.
The bureau is estimating future Jehovah's Witness conventions would add about $40 million to the local economy.
Given those numbers, bureau officials are ecstatic over the Jehovah's Witness decision to hold more conventions here.
"It is a very big deal. It's big from a tourism standpoint but it is also very big for the community because of the way they spread out and spend money," said Nancy Fischer, the bureau's sales director. "The people are very nice to deal with."The Jehovah's Witnesses had earlier agreed to hold two conventions in Gainesville this year. The second of those will be at the O'Connell Center Aug. 26-28.
O'Connell Center Director Lionel Dubay said traffic will move slowly around campus that weekend because of the convention and the return of classes that week.
Parking will be created in several fields including those at Flavet, the front of Florida Field and the Baughman Center. Bus service has also been set up.
Future Jehovah's Witnesses conventions will be at less busy times, Dubay said, adding that the group is an ideal guest.
"It is a super convention to host. They are very well organized and courteous. They clean up the building after themselves. They are a pleasure," Dubay said. "We just hope the university and the local community will be patient and understanding on Aug. 26, recognizing there will be an influx of traffic, and look at the positive impact this will have."
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Footnote:The WatchTower Corporation is a media publishing, real estate development, and convention sponsoring company and their literature all promotes the corporation and those goals. --Gary Buss
----------- Watchtower Whistleblower: Danny Haszard Bangor Maine Jehovah's Witnesses are the 'perfect storm' of deception-in a word they are the cult of Innuendo