Birmingham Torch Awards
The Birmingham Torch Awards was a large-scale recognition organized by the Birmingham Torch Alliance, founded by businessman Allen Montgomery which hosted more than 900 entrepreneurs from the former Soviet Union at a a large ceremony at the BJCC Coliseum on September 29, 1995.
Montgomery, s former aide to Senator John Sparkman was operations director of the American People Ambassador Program, an offshoot of former President Dwight Eisenhower's People to People International. He conceived of the program as a celebration of the end of the Cold War. The awards, in the former of crystal torches, recognized individuals for their "entrepreneurial spirit". Entrepreneurs from the Commonwealth of Independent States were invited to visit the city for the event, representing "the biggest group of foreign visitors ever to be feted in Birmingham." Michigan-based organizational consultant Margaret Molinari helped produce the event.
In addition to the awards ceremony, the visitors were entertained at a "Magic City Moments" barbecue at Sloss Furnaces, a "Friendship and Business Fair" at Boutwell Auditorium, an awards luncheon split between The Club, the Harbert Center, and the Wynfrey Hotel. The awards dinner, at the BJCC, featured an address by former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Jeane Kirkpatrick.
In addition to the formal programs, visiting business owners were invited on tours of local businesses like BellSouth. Some visitors complained that they were never certain of their itinerary and had hoped for more one-on-one engagement with American business peers, but in general appreciated the enthusiasm and warmth of their hosts.
References
- Rupinski, Patrick (March 8, 1990) "Alabamian sells Moscow keys." Birmingham Post-Herald, p. C9
- Rupinski, Patrick (September 16, 1995) "Russian entrepreneurs to be honored." Birmingham Post-Herald, p. C12
- Rupinski, Patrick (September 26, 1995) "900 coming; don't call 'em Soviets." Birmingham Post-Herald, p. D1,D6
- Rupinski, Patrick (September 29, 1995) "Different worlds: Russian visitors dealing with confusion." Birmingham Post-Herald, p. B1,B4
- Graham, Jed (September 30, 1995) "Lighting the torch of capitalism: Commonwealth of Independent States visitors receive award for their entrepreneurial spirit." The Birmingham News/Birmingham Post-Herald, p. C12