If members of the Anson County Chamber of Commerce marketing committee get their way, both Ansonians and those who live outside the county will soon be much more aware of the events and tourist attractions that this area has to offer.

At the committee's regular monthly meeting on Friday, March 13, revamping the brochures that the Chamber gives out to visitors was the major topic of discussion. The brochure project is what the committee has decided on as its project for this year, said marketing committee chair, Jeania Martin.

Currently, the Chamber puts out three separate brochures— one with photographs of life in Anson County, one with things to do and places to visit and one about business opportunities.

Don Altieri provided a little history on how the brochures got started, saying that "years and years ago," he and Elbert Marshall had decided the county needed some brochures, "something that would catch people's eye."

Over time, the Chamber added the more business-based brochure, and eventually came out with its newcomers guide, a 40-page full-color, glossy magazine.

Thomas Cureton, a new member of the marketing committee, asked about the likelihood of including information on attractions in a new brochure, along with a map illustrating how to find those attractions.

"I think that would be lovely but it would be more in depth," said Chamber executive director Lynn Edwards.

The group discussed which attractions should be included, such as the gallery at New Ventures Business Development, Inc. in the Lockhart-Taylor Center, the Rotary Planetarium and Science Center, the Pee Dee Wildlife Refuge, and the town of Wadesboro's municipal lake. Cureton also pointed out that it'd be great to include some of the county's old cemeteries and churches with interesting architecture.

The new brochure(s) would also need to include the many annual events that occur in Anson County each year, such as People Fest, the Anson Ag Expo and Fair, the Discover Anson Bike Ride, and the many parades.

Edwards also entertained the idea of someday having a fishing tournament to raise money for the Chamber, since fishing is a popular pastime throughout the county.

Cureton also suggested that with its airport, the county might consider doing an air show to help bring people in to the county.

"It is exciting what we already have going on but there's a lot of potential, too," Edwards said.

After a bit of discussion, the committee decided to try to pare down its list of brochure contents at the next meeting, which will be held on Thursday, April 9, at 8 a.m., due to the Good Friday holiday on the usual meeting date.

Also at the meeting, Edwards announced that the Tourism Development Authority had agreed to donate a flat-screen TV and DVD player for the Chamber to post in its front windows of the offices at 107-A E. Wade St. in Wadesboro.

The TV will likely display photos of Anson County, as well as information that would be helpful to both visitors and residents, Edwards said.