|
Birch
Bay chamber gets Discovery Days back on track
By
Brendan Shriane
New
leadership at the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce has assured
that little yellow ducks will be meandering down Terrell
Creek and floats and people will march on Birch Bay Drive
this summer.
The
chamber has lost four of its seven directors, including
its president and treasurer, this year.
At
last month’s emergency chamber meeting, marketing director
and Worldmark resort manager Frederich Becker had expressed
concern that the traditional Discovery Days events, such
as the annual parade and art and craft fair, were in jeopardy
because of what Becker characterized as a “cash crunch.”
A lot
can change in a month and in this case it was the determination
of the directors that the show must go on.
“We
can’t let it (the parade) die,” said Bea Ball,
chamber member and chair of the arts and crafts committee.
Jerns
called for members of the chamber to come forward and volunteer
for the parade. “We need more help. We’re not
asking for money, we’re asking for a couple hours of
your time.”
Earl
Ball, Bayview RV park owner and former chamber head, then
volunteered to chair this year’s parade. The parade,
which opens Discovery Days, is scheduled for July 21 this
year. Jerns said he has heard comments from Birch Bay residents
saying, “‘Oh, it’s a shame you’re not
going to have it’ or ‘Jeez, we really wish you
would have it,’” but no one had offered to help
until Earl Ball volunteered.
Other
Discovery Days event planning is going well.
Ducky
Derby chair Ted Morris from Birch Bay State Park said the
annual race, in which small plastic ducks are released from
the banks of Terrell Creek, is progressing smoothly. The
chamber has 700 ducks and 300 more are on order. Tickets
for the derby are $5 a duck. Jerns wants chamber members
to take a hands-on role in this year’s derby, asking
each member to sell 15 tickets. “If we can sell this
event out, it should pay for all the rack cards and all
the brochures.” He said a sellout would generate $4500.
First
prize will be a week’s timeshare at any Trendwest resort.
This year’s derby will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, July
28, one week after the parade and arts and craft fair.
Bea
Ball said the fair that will be at the state park is also
progressing.
In
other chamber business, Jerns outlined some of the new committees
currently being formed. These include a fundraising group
that will look to acquire corporate sponsorships, a media
relations team and a prize committee.
Birch
Bay chamber’s next meeting will be noon May 15 at the
C Shop.
Back
to Top
|
