GRAPEVINE -- When is a visit to Grapevine a "mission" or a "wine-guzzling junket"? When it is being done by members of the other political party.
In Grapevine's sister city in Scotland, West Lothian councillors from the Labor Party are being accused by members of the Scottish National Party of planning a "junket" to Grapevine during this September's GrapeFest.It was just a few years ago that Labor, which was out of power, was accusing the SNP, then in power, of planning to spend money for the same type of trip."Heard through the Grapevine: Wine guzzling councillors cause controversy," says one headline for the online story of the Deadline News. "Labour backtracks over opposition to council wine tasting trip," says another headline from the news.scotsman.com website.For Paul W. McCallum, the director of Grapevine's Convention & Visitors Bureau, who has gone to West Lothian for these types of visits, it is all just politics. He grew up in Australia with a parliamentary government."The current opposition is trying to be more dramatic than the former opposition who used similar language," McCallum said. "It is the nature of the parliamentary system."He prefers to describe these visits between Grapevine and West Lothian as "missions." In Scotland, the visits are called "twinning," as in being twin cities. However, West Lothian is actually a district consisting of a number towns and villages."Every even year they come here; every odd year we go there," McCallum said, saying those missions have a serious purpose, beyond enjoying the local hospitality."What develops out of these visitations are educational exchanges," he said. One such exchange is going on currently with four chefs from West Lothian working in four Grapevine hotels. Last fall, an intern spent three months working for the visitors bureau to learn more about attracting tourism. She was to take those lessons back to West Lothian for a report on getting more tourists to visit. Also, a Grapevine Parks and Recreation Department official has spent time in West Lothian working with its parks department. McCallum said one of the main discussions this fall when West Lothian officials visit Grapevine will be arranging a visit next year by the Grapevine High School band to Scotland.However, these trips back and forth do cost public dollars. Though no figures were readily available for Grapevine official visits to West Lothian, the Deadline News reported that the councillors approved 10,000 pounds, equivalent to $15,710, for the trip "funded from the public purse."The News quotes the SNP "group leader" on the West Lothian Council, Peter Johnston, as saying, "We continue to be supportive of the Texas link. But we recognise in tough times the delegation has to be at a minimum."It says that in addition to the officials making the trip there will be "several senior pupils from the area ... to take part in 'education and sporting activities.'"Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
