New, unique opportunities may entice local residents to step up and volunteer at the Rock Creek and Boundary Fall Fair.
A memorial wall to honour past volunteers has been proposed for the Tea Garden. Each commemorative would include a photo and 200-word biography.
Fair records, handbooks and other archival material will be searched to generate a list of nominees. If anyone has such information stored in a box up in the attic, they are asked to contact Mary Lautard or a member of the fair board.
Phil Gunhouse is working on a new television ad for Okanagan TV stations and anyone with video footage of past fairs is asked to contact him.
Fair committee chair Ilana Fraser said they are looking for volunteers to take photos during fair weekend for the archives. The pictures would also be used for posters and social media.
Other highlights from the June 18 Rock Creek and Boundary District Fair Association meeting included the introduction of RCMP Corporal Judson Mayes, who has recently taken command of the Midway detachment.
Treasurer Lisa Sims reported that a meeting with the RCMP was scheduled for June 23 to discuss the financial review file. Corporal Mayes asked that the membership have confidence that the RCMP will move forward with the investigation.
In a phone interview with the Times on Tuesday, Staff Sgt. Jim Harrison confirmed that the Monday meeting had taken place and the file is still active. “We were hoping to look at getting a forensic audit, but I don’t think that’s in the cards at all. But there are certain things that we can continue to investigate,” he explained. “I anticipate that by September we will have a rather large report to forward to Crown Counsel, but again that is subject to the results of the investigation.”
The membership heard that a loan contract has been signed with the Art Gallery of Grand Prairie will see the Levine Flexhaug murals, which hang in the pavilion, displayed in Grand Prairie, St. Catherine’s and Regina following the 2014 fall fair. They will be returned before the 2015 fair.
Work continues on upgrades to the kitchen, pavilion plumbing and yard lighting. Director Ted Rexin distributed a year-to-date budget versus actual comparison and treasurer Lisa Sims reported that everything is on track to come in on or under budget.
Planning for fair weekend itself is progressing with the Marron Valley Drill team returning to do a demonstration on Sunday of fair weekend. The fair website is being updated with current information on sponsors, registration forms, entertainment and schedule.
New signs along Hwy 3 are up. “We had a real fine morning climbing up and down ladders and catching ourselves on barb wire, but they are up,” reported Phil Gunhouse.
Fraser reported the most recent constitution registered with the province is from 1974. “It is therefore very out-dated and obsolete.”
It was decided that more time was needed to deal with the issue and the board agreed to table further discussion until after the fair.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16 at 7 p.m.