The Tlell Fall Fair, the long-running August event that attracts 2,000 or so people for a day of entertainment, food and visiting, is in desperate need of fresh volunteers.
"It's the premier event of the year, we like to think, because it represents the whole island," said Don Richardson, who's been president of the fair committee for the past several years. "There's a stage show, really good food, and really good company. We get people from all over the islands to come and mingle, have a really good time, with no agenda."
A core group of about seven dedicated volunteers has been organizing the fair, along with 60 to 80 volunteers who help with set-up and on fair day.
This year, two of the core volunteers are retiring: Dr. Richardson and his mother, Alice Richardson. Both have been involved since the first fair was held, 20 years ago.
That means it's crucial for some fresh faces to come forward. The fair committee has called a meeting for March 6 for everyone who's interested in helping out.
"We're looking for a group of people to take it on," Dr. Richardson said. "We're just hoping we get the right enthusiastic group out here who wants to carry on with it."
The fair has a healthy bank account (you'll have to come out to the meeting to find out how healthy, Dr. Richardson said), and has never lost money (except one year when it was rained out), thanks to generous support from the community.
Right now, the fair is organized by a sub-committee of the Graham Island East Coast Farmers Institute, but Dr. Richardson said he will be recommending that the volunteers form their own society.
He's hoping that people from every community, not just Tlell, come out to the meeting, because the fair is so important for all islanders.
"It gives everybody a venue to strut their stuff," he said. "The bottom line is, we're there so everybody can build a better community."
The planning meeting will be held Thursday, March 6 at 7:30 pm in the Tlell Fire Hall.