Diane Bertrand This is Me

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1. 1. The Baytown Sun

   www.baytownsun.com/story.lasso - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/24/2004   Last Visited: 10/24/2004

   Diane Bertrand of the Anahuac Chamber of Commerce said Baytown should choose a name that says something unique about itself and makes people want to visit. Bertrand helped organize this year's Texas Gator Festival, a profitable annual event for Anahuac.
   
   "Ask yourselves, what do we have here that would hook people to come," she said. "My advice is to look to your schools (for suggestions) because people see their hometown in a unique way."
   
   Anahuac's festival was initiated 16 years ago because a group of citizens were concerned about their city's dwindling economy.
   
   "Having a festival was the only way to get people to come to Anahuac," Bertrand said. "It is not on the way to anywhere and you need an excuse to get off of I-10."
   
   Even though most of the money made through Gator Fest goes back into next year's event, Bertrand estimates the 2003 festival kept $83,000 in the city through hotels, restaurants and gas stations.

2. 2. 9/26/04 Nature maps to highlight Central Texas spots

   www.wacotrib.com/news/newsfd/a - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/26/2004   Last Visited: 9/26/2004

   But it's been a good thing for us and we do everything we can do to capitalize on tourism," said Diane Bertrand, Anahuac Area Chamber of Commerce general manager.

3. 3. The Baytown Sun

   www.baytownsun.com/report.lass - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/8/2002   Last Visited: 9/8/2002

   We're getting a great response on the festival," said Diane Bertrand, Anahuac Chamber of Commerce office manager. "Weather holding, we are looking for our best festival ever."
   
   ...
   "We're expecting him to come out and inspect the food booths," Bertrand said. "We're going to work with the health inspector and cooperate as fully as we can."
   
   This year's 25 food vendors will serve a number of Cajun, Mexican and traditional foods ranging from alligator dishes, pizza, kettle corn, chicken tenders, Philly cheese steaks, seafood and hamburgers to crawfish etouffee, gator balls, kabobs and blooming tomatoes, Bertrand said.
   
   Bertrand is confident that Gatorfest vendors will continue the festival's tradition of food safety.
   
   "We have never had anybody to be sick," she said. "It's their reputations that are on the line. They work in hot Texas festivals every weekend, and they're doing everything they can to keep things cold and sanitary."
   
   Texas Gatorfest 2002 will be held Sept. 13-15 at Fort Anahuac Park in Anahuac. More information can be found on Gatorfest Web site texagatorfest.com.
   
   ...
   "The purpose of Gatorfest is to put Anahuac on the map and to promote community cohesiveness," Bertrand said. "It also gives our non-profit and civic organizations an opportunity to bring in funding that would not normally be available to them, and we have fun."
   
   Festival organizers expect a record crowd of more than 25,000 to attend this year's three-day festival celebrating Alligator "mississippiensis." Bertrand attributes the impending success of this year's festival to increased advertising and the popular musical guests Charlie Robinson and Cory Morrow who will headline the Saturday show.
   ...
   "Either one of those guys brings a very large crowd at any place they play," Bertrand said. "To be able to see both of them just for the price of a gate admission is a great a great opportunity."
   
   The festival will also include carnival rides, kiddie rides, airboat rides, Trinity River boat rides, arts and crafts booths, Texas artisans, two beer gardens and a barbecue cook-off.
   
   On Saturday and Sunday, visitors can see live alligator exhibits and witness The Great Texas Alligator Roundup plus learn about the large reptile at an educational tent.