Fernie Fest?

After a hugely successful FernieFest #1 our lead organizer Sandra Small received news that her husband was to be transferred up north to Terrace BC.

Requests have been up on this site, and on the radio, and many people have come forward that are willing to "help out" with the festival.

The issue is that even if 100 people "help out" a key organizer is still required to hold a successful event.

If anyone wants to step up to the plate and organize a keen group of volunteers to pull off the second annual FernieFest you can respond to this thread.

Hmmm, I heard that rumour too! It's a helluva shame. I loved the first one - I got there just after the rebuild was done and things were just getting started. It was amazing that it happened at all after that huge storm, but you could hardly even tell, it was awesome - a great job even without dealing with a rockies hurricane. I was really looking forward to this year. I really hope someone takes it on, the kudos alone is worth the effort.

Pretty please???

I wonder if there would be a way to do some fundraising or get some sponsorship to hire a key organizer. If no one is volunteering for the job, perhaps that is the only way to get it done.

So according to the latest issue of the Fix (and therefore, the Fix readership,) the FernieFest was the favourite event of 2007 - that and the Mogul Smoker. Without a lead organiser, our favourite event isn't going to happen. Isn't there anyone out there who could do this? There's still time if it became an end of summer event instead of at the start - the Canada Day weekend wasn't the most popular choice anyway.

V's suggestion of sponsorship is a great one - is there a business out there that perhaps can't commit the time but could pay for an organiser to run the event? Were there any funds left over from last year's event?

There is approx 300 in the FernieFest bank account.

Does the Chamber of Commerce have a special events arm?

Listen, way back when Sandra announced her move, a friend of mine phoned and left a msg volunteering to run the show. Nobody bothered to even call them back!! They have since gotten longer hours at work and don't have the time for such a project.

A two day festival really needs a full time event organiser...period. Running the risk of buying into all the negativity that routinely circulates on this site and in the gossip circles at the coffee houses, maybe one of our new residents recently arrived from elsewhere that doesn't need to have to work three jobs to pay their mortage might be gracious enough to volunteer - oh no they can't do that as they live somewhere else in the week!

Ooops, sorry, it just slipped out and I am normally so upbeat, optimistic and tolerant! Just reeling from the recent loss of two sets of really good friends as they join the crowd abandoning Fernie due to high costs of living, over inflated house prices, RCR, reduction in community spirit, full steam ahead Disney resort status blah, blah.

There I go again. Focus...lets all pull together (positively) and make this happen. Embrace the diversification that is happening, exercise tolerance and temper our (thoughts) & words.

I think that I am trying to suggest that as the percentage of permanent residents dwindle, so does the pool of volunteers for community events. So please all you newcomers get involved, don't be shy, we don't bite, or at least we didn't use to....after all, isn't that one of the reasons why you chose to move here, the community spirit in the town; and as for the rest of us, lets all do our bit, however small.

It really was an awesome event and it deserves to grow.

Now if we could just find an organiser or some money to pay for one.................