Town volunteers charm conference attendees

CLAYTON -- Townsfolk here know the true meaning of Southern hospitality.

For three days last week, the town welcomed several hundred planning professionals, town managers and elected officials from across the state as host of the North Carolina Main Street Conference.

And it went off without a hitch courtesy of a small army of volunteers and town employees who worked behind the scenes to ensure visitors left with a warm impression of Clayton.

Laurie Partlo began formulating her game plan a little over a year ago. A member of The Women's Club of Clayton, she was approached by the Downtown Development Association and asked to coordinate a volunteer staff to assist conference attendees. Partlo attended last year's conference in Shelby where she shadowed their coordinator and "picked her brain" for tips.

Partlo was successful in recruiting nearly 50 men and women from within the community to serve as greeters, staff registration tables and assist in vendor set-up. Others helped out as drivers of shuttle buses to nearby hotels, collected tickets at the opening reception and monitored rooms during the conferences' breakout sessions.

But, she said, their main priority was to band together and show just how friendly Clayton is.

"This has been a real community effort," said Partlo. "I've been amazed at the great response we've had from those willing to help out. I am so proud of this town and this conference was a great way to show off Clayton."

Joyce Blackley, owner of Blackley's Printing & Sign Shop, spent time greeting registrants as they checked in on Wednesday afternoon and afterward led a group on a walking tour of downtown Clayton. Among the highlights were the new Clayton Police Department building, the Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library and various businesses and restaurants along Main Street.

"I'm doing this because it's so important to share our town with others," said Blackley. "This event is spotlighting Clayton, it really is."

Agreeing with Blackley was Women's Club member Sharon Speaks, a recent transplant to Clayton from Springfield, Ill. She signed on to help because serving the community is one of group's basic tenants.

"This was such a great showcase for the town of Clayton," Speaks said. "I think Clayton has made a positive impact on the attendees."

In the days and weeks leading up to the event, the town's Public Works department spent countless hours preparing downtown for visitors.

"Generally, we keep the downtown area in pretty good shape but we gave a little extra attention and special effort for our guests," explained Tim Simpson, the department's director.

Simpson said workers concentrated on projects such as curb line painting for improved parking and a general clean-up and sweep of downtown streets and sidewalks. Crews also pruned and planted new landscaping around Horne Square.

The Clayton Center, the conference's home base, also received new coats of paint in several of the meeting rooms that were used for the event.

Downtown development coordinator Bruce Naegelen noted the event was a success largely because of the group effort among the town including staff from the Parks and Recreation department, Chamber of Commerce, DDA Board members and Clayton Morning Rotary.

"If it weren't for all these groups and individuals pitching in, we wouldn't have been able to prepare and make this conference happen," he said. "We are so appreciative of how the community has really pulled together to make our visitors feel welcome and go home with a glowing view of Clayton."