Betty Bullard, the owner of the George Washington Ball House, is Vicksburg’s and Warren County’s choice for a joint seat on the board that works to bring tourists to the area.

Bullard, whose appointment Monday coincided with her 82nd birthday, said she was “pretty excited” to be a part of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau board, which she said “has the opportunity to make a huge difference” in the local tourism industry.

“We have history like no other place in the country. It’s not just antebellum and it’s not just Civil War,” Bullard said.

Her appointment by the county’s Board of Supervisors came a week after the city Board of Mayor and Aldermen picked her last week. The city also last week named Southern Culture Heritage Center Executive Director Annette Kirklin to a city spot on the 11-member board.

Bullard, along with the Vicksburg Bed & Breakfast Association and other tour home operators, are coordinating Tapestry: A Living History of Vicksburg, a reformulated version of the Pilgrimage tour home series. The concept of walk-throughs of historic houses remains — 16 significant tour homes and sites are hosting tours through April 6 — but has expanded to include interpretive presentations and Saturday evening events to encourage overnight stays. Part of the series also includes evening presentations the next three Fridays at The Cobb House, on the grounds of the Southern Cultural Heritage Center.

VCVB has promoted the series heavily with its advertising dollars and planning resources, including hiring public relations help to market the event to about 600 news outlets in the region. The promotion has cost about $25,000, executive director Bill Seratt has said. Its organizers will gauge the event’s success in the next few years to determine how much money from the VCVB will fund the event.

The VCVB budget is funded by a 1 percent tax on rooms rented at area hotels and motels, as well as food and beverages sold at local restaurants and bars. Five board members are appointed by the City of Vicksburg and five by supervisors, with one joint appointment.

Bullard replaces former member Nelda Sampey as the board’s joint appointment. Sampey resigned in November. The seat’s term ends November 2010.

Kirklin replaced former member Omar Nelson, who had vacated his seat in August. That term ends August 2010. Willie Glasper was appointed to the board March 2 from Warren County District 2.

The lone vacancy on the board is from Warren County District 3. Renay Jenkins left that post this month.

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Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com.