cktimes.ca Archives for Cultural Musings on Chatham-Kent
Cultural Musings on Chatham-Kent
Heritage Days in need of your support
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
If you are like me, you are sick and tired of being pestered through the mail and over the telephone by groups wanting money. A friend of mine has gotten so fed up, that she purchased a "tele-zapper" that automatically weeds out tele-marketing calls. I understand her frustration. I dislike being rude to people but I am afraid that I even run out of patience once in awhile and I have been known to be less than my usual understanding self with some of the more insistent callers.Having said all of that, I am afraid I am being forced into playing the role of a "fund-raiser" ,of sorts, this week; however, I promise it will be very low key and as compared to many other ěpitchesî I can assure you that any money raised will be used within Chatham-Kent and you will be able to witness, first hand, the impact of your donation.
The project needing your help is, as you might have guessed, Heritage Days – "The Faire At The Forks". Since the horrible events of September 11th, our insurance costs as well as several other festivals and celebrations have to say the least, sky rocketed.
A few years ago we were paying @ $500.00 for out three day event. Since 9/11 we have paid $8000.00!! I know, it's almost unbelievable. That is, if my math serves me correctly, an increase of 1,600% and this is for an event that has NEVER ,in its thirteen years of operation, had a claim!! So, for example, if you were making $50,000.00 one year and you got this kind of increase you would be making $530,000.00 the following year!! ( I always knew that I should have stayed away from teaching and got into insurance!)
During this same time period we attempted to keep our admission prices for "The Faire" to prices that would allow all people from all age groups and economic backgrounds to attend this "Disney World of Local History". While our insurance costs went up 1600 %, our admission prices went up a dollar or two over thirteen years. In addition, "The Faire" kept getting bigger and bigger every year with more entertainment , more participants and more activities and, of course, our other expenses also increased.
The Municipality has made overtures that they might be able to help us with our insurance problems but as of yet we have received no firm commitments and have experienced a number of delay tactics that cause us to wonder if there is any real help on the way or not.
We have also applied for a Trillium Grant in order to provide new initiatives to ensure that the "The Faire" maintains its reputation as a cutting edge, value-packed local festival. Living history festivals must always be cognizant of the need to keep the past alive, vibrant and "new". However, there is no guarantee that we will get a Trillium Grant as there are so many other worthwhile projects within the area vying for a limited number of funds.
Our fund raising activities (Christmas House Tour, Ghost Walks etc) continue to be a source of income but to run "The Faire" for three days takes approximately $80,000.00 and once again we are competing with several other fund raising ventures that have many more resources and often paid fund raising staff. We run "The Faire" with an all volunteer group of people who work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure the success of what has become one of Chatham-Kent's premier festivals and an unique venture in Canada.
Since "The Faire" appeals to all age groups and all economic groups, we thought that a small "grass roots approach" to helping our event out might be the best approach. To this end, we are respectfully and humbly asking that the general public, as well as local businesses of course, consider submitting a small donation in order to "Keep "The Faire" Functional".
Although members of the general public may not have hundreds of dollars to help us out, they probably do have $25.00 or $50.00 that they might consider donating (we provide charitable donation receipts to anyone who contributes) in order to keep an all local, educational and entertaining aspect of Chatham-Kent's community alive and well for future generations.
If you feel that celebrating our past and educating thousands of young people about that past is a valuable venture, we hope that you will consider a small donation. Cheques can be made out to "HERITAGE DAYS" and mailed to Heritage Days, 508 King Street West Chatham, Ontario N7M 1G9.
No matter how small your donation, it will be much appreciated. It will also be a donation that you know will be used locally and one in which you can actually see in action. Too bad all tele-marketers and fund raisers could not make the same claim.
Jim and Lisa Gilbert are local, national and international award winning educators and historians.
