The first organizing meeting for this year’s fall fair happened on May 31, but the only attendees were Malcolm and Brenda Fleeton from Port McNeill.
“The fair can not happen without a group of people to take on a small share each of the responsibilities,” noted the Fleetons in a news release. “There is still lots of time to organize a great fair, and the fair is always easier in Port Hardy because all the fair properties (dividers, trophies, paperwork etc.) are stored right near the arena. Port Hardy residents - it’s time to step up to the plate!”
According to the release, if a number of volunteers haven’t stepped forward in the next couple of weeks, “this year’s fair will be cancelled,” confirmed the Fleetons.
The duties which need to be covered include the following:
Choosing a theme for this year’s fair, to be used in handout materials and in decorating for the fair;
Advertising - putting stories and ads into the newspapers;
Social Media - running our Facebook page and doing updates with fair documents, events, etc. (these can be the same person, or can share stories back and forth);
Decorating - how to make lobby, arena, display tables look great;
Handout distribution - taking exhibit lists and booth rental forms to pick up locations, checking if more forms needed;
Raffles - going around North Island soliciting raffle prizes and collecting;
Organizing judges for exhibits - making a list of volunteers for judging and what categories they want to judge and reminding them right before the fair;
Organizing helpers for convening - accepting entries the days before the fair and arranging them on the tables;
Recruiting volunteers for the fair weekend - taking entry money, selling raffle tickets; and
Entertainment - talking to local entertainers and arranging a schedule for performances.
“We will also need set-up and take-down assistance right before and after the fair, but we can recruit those helpers later,” noted the Fleetons. “Please, if you want a fair to bring your family to attend, or a place for your child to enter their carrots or lego structures, or want to show off your own handicrafts, or if you have a home-based business you’d like to bring to the fair, or a non-profit society which needs the fair to publicize yourselves or raise money, we need you!”
Please contact the Fleetons by June 14 either by phone 250-956-0452 or send a text to 250-949-0311.
“If we get volunteers, another meeting will be held by mid-June.”
