The 2008 Beach Music Festival is collaborating with the Golden Isles Shag Club to present you with the biggest shag contest to hit South Georgia in years. Grab your partner and show off your best moves for tons of prizes and fun.

The Shag kick-off party will be held Friday, August 15th, beginning at 8 pm, in the Jekyll Island Convention Center, Atlantic Hall. Entry fees are $20 per couple. Cash prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

Following the contest, guests can relax to the upbeat tempo of the Swingin’ Medallions. Advanced tickets are on sale for $12 and $14.95 (plus tax) at the door. Doors open at 7:30pm.

Don’t miss out on all of the fun in the sun at the FREE beach concert Saturday from 10:00am to 6:00pm. The 25^th annual Beach Music festival is sponsored by Jekyll Island Authority, Georgia Tourism, Coca Cola, Bacardi, Corona, and Comcast.
For more information visit www.jekyllisland.com/beachmusicfestival or contact the Jekyll Island Welcome Center at 1-877-4-JEKYLL.

Tags: 2008 jekyll island beach music festival, georgia coast, golden isles shag club, jekyll island, shag contest
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Jekyll Island and the Golden Isles Shag Club is bringing the biggest and best beach concert in years to the Golden Isles. Why is it best concert in years? Well for starters, it is FREE! That’s right; we are going back to our roots in presenting the 25^th edition of the Beach Music Festival for no admission! Join thousands of your closest friends for an exciting concert on the beach featuring the musical sounds of the Rickey Godfrey Band, Second Chance, and the Swingin’ Medallions.

The entertainment will kick off at 12:00pm with the musical stylings of The Rickey Godfrey Band. This band’s unique combination of musical influences and professional talent will have the waves crashing. An energetic, talented, and entertaining group, they have been touring throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe since the 1970’s and are now looking forward to playing at this years Beach Music Festival, right here on the Golden Isles.

Back by popular demand is Second Chance! They opened for the 2007 Beach Music Festival, and they are returning again to do what they love best sing! At 2:30pm they will gift beachgoers with the smooth sounds of songs like “I Love Beach Music” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”! This is truly a talented group that has everything ranging from vocals to saxophone to bass guitar. Don’t miss out on Second Chance.

This year’s Beach Music Festival on Jekyll Island just keeps getting better, as we rock and roll with the Swingin Medallions at 4:30pm. Drawing inspiration from early R&B, the band has been described to have a beach music, frat rock, shag sound that keeps the crowds moving.

Bring your family to the beach Saturday, August 16th, to enjoy this free, live music event and you will be sure to have memories for a lifetime. For more information visit www.jekyllisland.com/beachmusicfestival or contact the Jekyll Island Welcome Center at 1-877-4-JEKYLL.

The 25^th annual Beach Music festival is sponsored by Jekyll Island Authority, Georgia Tourism, Coca Cola, Bacardi, Corona, and Comcast.

Tags: 2008 jekyll island beach music festival, rickey godgrey band, second chance, shag, swingin medallions
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Get ready for 3 times the fun and excitement at this year’s 2008 Beach Music Festival! We will bring you the Swingin’ Medallions not once, not twice, but three times in one weekend! Mark you calendars for this jam-packed event.

Along with the Swingin’ Medallions is Guest DJ Pat Patterson who is all set to delight the masses and give an unforgettable treat that you don’t want to miss.

If you are busy Friday night or you can’t enjoy the fun in the sun on Saturday afternoon, then you have one more chance to swing with the Swingin’ Medallions on Saturday night.
Doors open at 7:30pm at the Jekyll Island Convention Center, Atlantis Hall. Tickets on sale $12 in advanced, $14.95 plus tax at the door.
For more information contact the Jekyll Island Welcome Center at 1-877-4-JEKYLL. The 25^th annual Beach Music festival is sponsored by Jekyll Island Authority, Georgia Tourism, Coca Cola, Bacardi, Corona, and Comcast.

Tags: georgia coast, jekyll island beach music festival, pat patterson, shag contest, swingin medallions
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The greens are awaiting all golfers at this year’s 2008 Beach Music Festival Annual Golf tournament.

Friday, August 15th, participants can play in the most talked about summer golf tournament in South Georgia. Tee times begin at 9:00am until 11:00am at the Indian Mounds golf course. Registration is $80 per player with lunch provided by Morgan’s Grill.

All participants receive two tickets to Friday night’s Swingin Medallions concert with many prizes available for the winning players.

Don’t miss out on all the fun at the Friday night shag contest, hosted by the Golden Isles Shag Club, and the FREE beach concert Saturday from 10:00am to 6:00pm. The 25^th annual Beach Music festival is sponsored by Jekyll Island Authority, Georgia Tourism, Coca Cola, Bacardi, Corona, and Comcast.

For tee times call 912-635-2368 or contact the Jekyll Island Welcome Center at 1-877-4-JEKYLL.

Tags: 2008 Beach Music Festival golf, georgia coast, jekyll island beach music festival, jekyll island golf
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The following media release was distributed yesterday after hours by the Governor’s Office. Please note.

STATE OF GEORGIA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Sonny Perdue
GOVERNOR

For Immediate Release

Contact: Office of Communications, (404) 651-7774

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the following executive
appointments. Brief biographies are provided below:

Chairman, Jekyll Island Authority Board of Directors

Robert “Bob” W. Krueger, 67, Hawkinsville, GA, - Krueger is the president and chief executive officer of ComSouth Corporation. He currently holds a seat on the Jekyll Island Authority Board of Directors. He is the chairman of the Middle Georgia Regional Development Authority and a member of the Hawkinsville Development Authority. Krueger serves as the director and treasurer of the Georgia Telephone Association and chairman and director of United Pulaski. Krueger serves on the board of directors for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State
University and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia. Krueger and his wife, Carol, have three grown children and two grandchildren.

Tags: bob krueger, Governor Perdue, jekyll island authority board of directors, jekyll island vacation, Robert "Bob" W. Krueger
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Thanks to Pat and Tim Lenz who sent in Jekyll Island to Good Morning America as their favorite place to visit! Jekyll Island was featured on Good Morning America’s “Weekend Window” segment.

Click here to watch the video!

Tags: driftwood beach, Georgia, georgia coast, good morning america weekend window, jekyll island
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Investopedia
Top 9 Vacation Destinations For Wall Street Geeks
Friday July 18, 12:22 pm ET
Tara Struyk

Renowned investor Peter Lynch came up with this his best investment ideas not by studying in his office, but out on the street, where he could see the value of companies/products in action. No matter where he was or what he was doing, the wheels of investment analysis were always whirring quietly in his head.If you’re geeky about Wall Street and investing, it may not matter whether you’re placing trades with your broker or standing in line at the grocery store - the world of finance is never far from your thoughts. So, rather than try to leave your investor- think behind when you go on vacation, why not embrace your obsession by taking a trip that will please you and your family - and appeal to your inner geek. Here are our top picks.

1. Financial District, New York City
   Assuming you don’t work here already, you’ll want to visit Wall Street, the heart of the U.S. financial system. This lower Manhattan area is the original home of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), one of the world’s largest exchanges, and the headquarters of many of the largest American brokerages and investment banks. You can also visit the famous Wall Street Bull, a 7,000-pound bronze animal, whose flaring nostrils are often rubbed by traders for good luck.While You’re There: Although the NYSE, and many of the other institutions on Wall Street, are closed to the public, you’ll be within walking distance of hundreds of other major museums and attractions, including the Museum of American Financial History, at 26 and Broadway.
2. U.S. Bullion Depository (Fort Knox) - Fort Knox, Kentucky
   According to the U.S. Treasury, the “Gold Vault”, located at Bullion Boulevard at the intersection of Gold Vault Road, houses 147.3 million ounces of the U.S. gold reserves. It is a classified facility that does not allow visitors on the premises - a presidential order is required to gain access - but you can get a good view by traveling along US 31.While You’re There: Visit the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor, one of the largest in the U.S. Army Museum System (”Guide to U.S. Army Museums” (1997) by Cody Phillips)
3. Home of Warren Buffett - Omaha, Nebraska
   If you’re obsessed with investing, you might want to check out the birth place and hometown of the richest man in the world in 2008. Omaha is where Buffett earned his first dollars delivering newspapers, bought his first piece of land and where he still lives in the modest house he bought in 1958. It’s also where the headquarters of his company, Berkshire Hathaway are located.While You’re There: Buffett is known to be very down to earth, and still dines in local restaurants. Hang around long enough and you could catch a glimpse of this investing superstar, or at least absorb a little bit of his Midwestern, common-sense approach to investing.
4. Mount Washington Hotel - Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
   This regal historic building, open since 1902, is where the Bretton Woods monetary conference took place in 1944, leading to the creation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Stories about the hotel’s ghosts also abound, so although the Bretton Woods agreement was signed more than 100 years ago, you could bump into one of its signatories along one of the hotel’s passageways.While You’re There: The hotel is open for business year-round and attracts visitors for its championship golf courses. The Mount Washing Resort is also New Hampshire’s largest ski area.
5. Caymen Islands
   Located 480 miles south of Miami, this island country is one of the world’s largest offshore banking centers, according to a 2006 report by the Bank for International Settlements. The Caymen Islands are also known for giant turtles. As you watch these creatures lumber up the beach, you may not be able to help but ponder the billions of dollars that are slowly accumulating tax-free gains.While You’re There: Snorkel or scuba dive off the islands’ many beaches and soak up some sun.
6. Bre-X Minerals Mining Area - Busang, Indonesia
   If you’re looking for some adventure, head to the dense and humid jungles of the island of Borneo. It is deep within these jungles, in Busang, Indonesia, that Bre-X Minerals claimed it had found huge gold deposits. The claim turned out to be a fraud, leading to the company’s collapse. An April 1997 article in Nothern Miner, stated that locals panning for gold in the nearby river came up empty-handed, but even if you don’t stumble across a gleaming hunk of ore, the jungle is likely to leave you feeling like anything’s possible.While You’re There: Getting to this remote part of Indonesia is difficult. In addition, ongoing ethnic and religious tensions in the country can result in violence and unrest, so check the U.S. Department of State’s International Travel Information before visiting this region.
7. Jekyll Island, Georgia
   This 12-mile-long island along Georgia’s Atlantic Coast became a part of U.S. financial history when, in 1886, it became a private club for some of the country’s richest capitalists, including J.P. Morgan, William Rockefeller and William Vanderbilt. As such, it was on this island that a secret group of the country’s financiers met in 1910 to discuss the establishment of what would become the Federal Reserve banking system.While You’re There: Check out Jekyll’s National Historic Landmark District and get a sense of how those 20th century “robber barons” lived.
8. The Louvre - Paris, France
   This Museum in France’s famous capital is the home of the Code of Hammurabi, which includes what may be the first official laws governing relations between creditors and debtors. According to an article by Tonietti Alphonse, which appeared in a 1928 edition of Credit Monthly, the code makes a distinct effort to protect debtors from creditors while also holding the debtor legally responsible for meeting his obligations. The sixth king of Babylon’s (now part of Iraq) reputation as a lawmaker is evident in the U.S. as well, as depicted on several U.S. government buildings, including the U.S. House of Representatives and the Supreme Court building.While You’re There: In Paris, you can enjoy the French lifestyle, sample some world famous cuisine and find just about any activity you can think of to fill your time.
9. Yap Islands, Federated States of Micronesia
   This group of Pacific Ocean islands make up the least Westernized state of the Federate States of Micronesia and is best known for its famous stone money, called “rai”. These giant, donut-shaped stone disks can measure between three inches and 12 feet in diameter, and are valued both for their size and their history. Islanders only use the money for ceremonial purposes - tourists will be happy to learn that the U.S. dollar is used for everyday transactions.While You’re There: Relax! This tropical island boasts relatively low rates of tourism and is known for its beaches and scuba diving.

Celebrate your inner financial geek by unwinding at one of these destinations. If you’re inspired along the way, it could mean many happy returns.

Tags: coastal georgia, georgia coast, jekyll beach vacation, jekyll island, vacation destination
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After helping to educate more than 30,000 4-Hers and Jekyll Island visitors about wildlife conservation, Dylan the sea turtle moved from the Jekyll Island 4-H Center to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta in November 2005. While there, another 4.6 million people were able to see her and learn more about conservation.

See the UGA web page about Dylan . . .

Tags: Dylan the Sea Turtle, jekyll island, sea turtles, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center, the university of georgia, tidelands nature center
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Jekyll Island Club — Jekyll Island, Georgia

It may be the smallest of Georgia’s barrier islands, but what Jekyll Island lacks in size it more than makes up for in grandeur. Pulitzers, Astors, and Rockefellers docked their yachts here throughout the early 1900s, and while the Club’s guest roster today is decidedly more inclusive, a game of croquet and high tea on the 240-acre estate is still on the agenda. A comprehensive renovation of this National Historic Landmark’s 157 rooms in the 1980s preserved the signature turret while returning robber-baron elegance to the dining room’s impressive marble fireplaces (from $189/night; jekyllclub.com). Getting There: From Brunswick, Ga., cross a causeway to Jekyll Island.

Read the whole story!

Tags: georgia coast, jekyll island, jekyll island beaches, jekyll island vacation
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Reprinted from The Brunswick News

By ANNA FERGUSON

With shovel in hand, C. Jones Hooks scooped up a mound of dirt Monday and tossed it into a vacant lot.

It was a momentous occasion. In about a year, the lot the new executive director of the Jekyll Island Authority was standing in will sprout the first new commercial structure to be built on Jekyll Island in three decades.

Hooks, authority board members and elected officials were gathered around what used to be the site of the now-torn down Holiday Inn on the south end of the island to celebrate the ground- breaking of the Hampton Inn, slated to open summer of 2009.

Known as the Jekyll Ocean Oaks project, the hotel is a joint effort among the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, the Jekyll Island Authority and Hampton Inn.

The groundbreaking was a long time coming, said Kevin Runner, general manager of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.

“A lot of time and effort has gone into making this a reality,” Runner said. “This is a special day for Jekyll Island and the community.”

More than just a ground-breaking ceremony, the event marked the first step in the process of revitalizing the island, said Hooks. The hotel will be the first new structure on the island since the Holiday Inn was built in 1974.

The 138-room hotel also will be the only mid-priced hotel on the island and is intended to revive interest from state groups and associations, Hooks said.

“We need to attract Georgia conventions back to Jekyll Island,” he said. “We have had enough of Hilton Head, enough of Amelia Island. It is time to come back to Jekyll.”

The site of the new hotel is unique, said Dave Curtis, managing partner of Jekyll Ocean Oaks project. Located on more than 14 acres of beachside property and maritime forest, it will be a Hampton Inn like no other in the region.

Preserving the delicate natural landscape that surrounds the building is a top priority for the project leaders and has been a major reason why the development has taken so long to bring to fruition, Curtis said.

“This hotel will offer first class hospitality while accentuating the character of the area,” Curtis said.

Tags: , georgia coast, jekyll island, jekyll island ground breaking, jekyll ocean oaks, new hotel on jekyll island
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