This is the time of year when Selma really cashes in. This is our busy season, our tourist season, and it’s time for us to wrap up all the little items on our punch list, our honey-do list or those weekend projects set before us when the weather turned reasonable.

In two weeks, thousands of visitors will come pouring into the Queen City to help mark the 46th anniversary of Bloody Sunday during the Bridge Crossing Jubilee. And, shortly after, another round of out-of-town guests will cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, taking part in the annual Selma Pilgrimage.

And while we continue to wrap up all of these items it’s also time we get to a key homework assignment of sorts.

It’s time we refresh our customer service, guest relationship skills and manners. It’s time we polish off the “how can we help you,” “are you finding everything to your liking,” is there anything you need” type of questions.

It is these guests who are proving to be our biggest resource, the most crucial part of our economy, and it is everyone’s job to make sure the experience our guests have is a good one.

We want them to make sure their time here is enjoyable and that they want to come back. We want them to tell their friends about how good a time they had, how friendly the people were and how professional everyone was.

It is time once again the heart of Alabama’s Black Belt be known for the being the heart of southern hospitality.