Carefree Truth

Issue #217, February 3, 2013

 

 

 

Jo Gemmill gave the Christmas Festival report, stating that it was a great weekend with no serious problems encountered. The parade was wonderful but experienced a slight delay in starting, due to 3 floats going in the wrong direction on the Easy Street Parade Route. She received a frantic call about 3 minutes before the fireworks were due to go off, asking what they should do about the javelina that were standing 3 feet away. Fortunately, the javelina decided to hide under some nearby bushes rather than charge. The fireworks were spectacular! Here is a slide show that Herbert put together with the pictures he took of them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYfry6PQxh0

 

 

 

Mrs. Gemmill thanked Magic Bird Festivals owner Roberta Toombs-Rechlin for putting together the Vendors' Market, which had more participants than ever. The Market, which was held in the Gardens, was lovely during the day and "twinkly" at night, as many vendors decorated their booths for Christmas, creating a "winter wonderland". Each year, more vendors have participated, and there is already a waiting list for the 2013 Vendors' Market. (On a personal note, I was impressed by the quality of many of the vendors goods at the 2012 Festival, and I helped pump up the Carefree sales tax revenues with purchases made there!)

 

 

 

Sponsorship for the 2012 Christmas Festival was phenomenal and exceeded expectations. Sponsorship is always a guess, which is why she approaches to the Town requesting an annual investment. Mrs. Gemmill solicited the large corporate donations, and I asked local merchants, organizations, and individuals for the smaller ones. Through a combination of those generous donations, the Magic Bird Vendors' Market fees, the high degree of volunteerism, and some saved expenses, enough was raised that $10,000 of Carefree's $20,000 commitment to the event went unused and was returned to the Town. Many thanks to all of you who supported the 2012 Festival with such commitment and enthusiasm!

 

 

 

Mrs. Gemmill thanked Kim Prince, owner of Proven Media, for all her great PR work, without which those outside of the local area would be unaware of the Festival. Proven Media employed an all encompassing approach utilizing print, digital, social media, and TV, which covered the event on a local, regional, statewide, and national platform.

 

 

 

The Foothills Animal Rescue event on Sunday garnered more money for FAR than had been raised in previous years. 5 dogs were adopted that day, and the other 2 dogs present were adopted by families who had seen them there and came to get them at the Rescue the following day. Here are some photos that Herbert took of the Sunday Pet Parade and the FAR event.

http://www.carefree-desert-gardens.com/Carefree_Desert_Gardens/FAR_12-9-12.html

 

 

 

Mrs. Gemmill's thank you letter, which acknowledged all those who participated, was published in the newspapers, in Carefree Truth, and on the Festival website. She gave a special thanks to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department for both the paid and the volunteer members who provided well organized crowd control and a sense of safety.

 

 

 

Councilman Arthur Gimson remarked on his amazement about how clean the Town was the morning after the Parade and fireworks. Mrs. Gemmill and Councilman Glenn Miller credited the dedicated Carefree Streets crew, who worked until 1:00 AM to achieve that result.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZaoKzMXVq0

 

 

 

After the report, Mayor David Schwan surprised Mrs. Gemmill by presenting her with the Mayor's Award. Created by past Mayor Ed Morgan, at the discretion of the Mayor it is given for exceptional community service. The inscription reads, "Mayor's Award-Jo Gemmill. For her many contributions to the Town of Carefree and the Foothills community. Co-creator and Executive Director of the Carefree Christmas Festival, Chair of the Carefree 25th Anniversary Celebration, Carefree Town Marketing, and support of volunteer organizations. January 8, 2013."

 

 

 

The Mayor added that it is only the second such award he has bestowed in his two terms as Mayor. The other went to Juanita and Mark Wdowiak, owners of Desert Foothills Landscape, who donated the beautiful Carefree Desert Gardens.

Mrs. Gemmill received a well earned long and enthusiastic standing ovation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHqGDi_BOqU

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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