Pres. Andy: We received a note this week from Stephanie Beck, Executive Director of On-Belay, thanking us for our support of their organization ... He noted that this would be a single-issue forum focused on considering whether the club should restart the 4th of July Celebration and that we will make a final decision on the matter at this meeting.  To build on the read-ahead email he sent out earlier, he asked Will to summarize his work with UNH, Durham and Atlas Fireworks.

 

Will: UNH is on board and is prepared to absorb a lot of the costs of hosting the fireworks.  It will make its ticketing system available to us; this includes purchase of tickets on its website.  The dining operation will work with food vendors and is prepared to operate a buffet in the premium seating Victory area of the home stands (they will split their profit with us).  The jumbotron will be available for still images, e.g. ads, as well as videos, e.g. high school competitive filming.  There will be no tailgating, but alcohol will be available in the premium seating area ... The Durham-UNH Fire Department and ambulance service are prepared to participate.  Durham PD will again provide traffic control.  Durham Recreation Dept is ready to conduct on-field activities for the children; they don't have $4,000 in the budget this year, but would for next.  There's a good possibility we could book the Oyster River Middle School Jazz Band ... Atlas Fireworks has booked us the date (Tue, July 3rd; rain date Sat, July 7th).  If we used 6" - 8" shells, the cost for a 20 minute program would be about $20 - $25 thousand.  The company recommends smaller shells to suit terrain, along with music.  The cost would drop to about $12 - $14 thousand.  A downpayment of $2,500 would be expected.  Once a launch location is selected, the company will apply for the necessary permits.

 

Member contributed their thoughts and concerns:

   Frank R: Lee will be doing fireworks this year.

   Anon: We'll have to look into insurance.  Our RI insurance may or may not cover a fireworks event.

   Will: In answer to a question about food expenses - there will be none.  If UNH Dining operates a buffet in the premium seating area, they will need a number 5 days prior.

   John: July 3rd is a workday.  It is unlikely that families will arrive as early as 4 PM.  We should go back to 6 - 9:30 PM.  The Rec Dept estimate of cost for the children's activities should be closer to $900 than $4,000.  Ed: Perhaps they could cover that much.

   Anon: We should not charge at the gate for general admission.

   Tom B: In reaction to the concern whether we can raise that much money this year, he doesn't believe we should go into a serious fundraising effort with the idea that we can bail ourselves out with a loan from the Endowment.

   Brian B: Businesses build their budgets in the Fall.  Late to get advertising now ... Candace: We've got to take ownership of this.  Steve: Every member has to buy in if we expect success.

   Russ: He believes that we should decide to do this not because we are going to make a profit (we probably won't) but because its the right thing for the community.  If you look at it that way, the more modest financial objective is to cover our costs.

 

Pres. Andy: There being a quorum, he called for a show-of-hands vote to restart the 4th of July Celebration this year. 

Yea: 13   Nay: 5   Abstain: 2    Thanks to Will for all his work with UNH, Durham and Atlas Fireworks.  Let's get to work.