The Magnificent River Rats Festival Society shook, rattled and rolled in a new executive board at its annual general meeting (AGM) last Wednesday, with the exception of one position: vice-president.
The River Rats Festival Society encourages anyone wishing to join for a mere $2 and weigh in on decisions regarding next year’s Magnificent River Rats Festival to step forward for the role.
The organizers of Athabasca’s largest annual festival begin their planning more than six months prior to the festival so they can form a new executive, finances and budget for the following year and get ahead on grant applications.
The Magnificent River Rats Festival Society’s new president is its former vice-president, Duane Fitzsimmons.
Ida Edwards accepted a nomination for Secretary/Treasurer, an amalgamated role that had been two separate positions until mid-last year, when those individuals were unable to continue and Irene Fitzsimmons stepped up and took on both roles.
Kurk Liew and Jessie Liew took on the volunteer coordinator positions for the 2014 festival.
Returning directors-at-large include Irene, Shelly Boersma and Tova Schwede. They are joined by a new director, Don Hutchings.
“We have such a vibrant community. There is so much going on every month in our community that that gets on the back burner … but to start building the momentum now (would be beneficial),” said Edwards.
“We’ve got to find that hook to keep people in town,” said Athabasca Lions president Gord Topps, who attended the meeting.
Topps was concerned that people flood into town for the Canada Day parade, but the same influx of people is not experienced by the festival.
Edwards said she is approaching the summer villages in the community with a letter requesting a Magnificent River Rats Festival promotional letter be slipped into the tax letter in May inviting people in the summer villages to the festival.
Topps said his Lions have “a few idea bouncing around,” but he is reserving his insight for a subsequent date when more details are discussed by the society.
The society was hoping to have a proposed budget in time for the AGM, but there was insufficient time to prepare as the financial statements were only received hours earlier.
Duane said a special meeting would be held by the executive this Sunday to address the budget; the group expressed concern with the fast-approaching new year and the predicament wrapping up the budget in the new year would pose.
The president said the society is good financial standing and, once a few numbers have been moved around, the society will have a balanced budget.
Though the total cost and revenue of the festival was not discussed, Cruthers noted the festival received $40,000 worth of in-kind donations.
“That just shows you the support that this festival has from a community, when you consider over $40,000 in in-kind is huge, let alone the (thousands of dollars) that’s provided in donations from the town, the county, Al-Pac, and so on,” said Cruthers.
