Offer Your Help, Opinions
• If you would like to support a balloon or make a donation, contact the Chamber by calling (608) 325-7648 or e-mail at MCCI@TDS.net.
• The Chamber will be meeting at 7:05 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, in the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Board Room upstairs at the Chamber office, located at 1505 9th St. to make a final decision. The public is welcome.
• The Chamber also welcomes suggestions and comments. These can be directed to Pam Christopher, Chamber executive director, or any of the executive committee listed below:
Jane Monahan, President (328-8818)
Dave Gombosi, Vice President (325-3731)
Tom Purdy, Treasurer (329-6400)
Bryan Rach, Past President (328-8181)
Web site address: www.monroechamber.org
MONROE - The Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) board will decide Wednesday whether there will be a balloon rally this summer.
MCCI announced in a news release that the public is invited to the board meeting, which will be at 7:05 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, in the board room in the upstairs at the Chamber office, 1505 9th St., Monroe.
"We, the board, deeply understand and feel the passion of this event and understand the longstanding traditions it has within our community," MCCI said in the news release. "We, however also need to make responsible decisions to ensure the financial security of our organization. Realizing a loss in 2009 similar to what was experienced in 2008 would create serious concerns with our ability to keep MCCI doors open."
MCCI Director Pam Christopher told the Times on Wednesday the board has looked at ways to make the event, scheduled for June 26-28, more cost-effective and to find more businesses willing to become sponsors. MCCI lost $8,000 on the 2008 rally, Christopher said.
"We're trying to be very smart about this," Christopher said. "It's a good community event, and we're trying to make it financially sound and put on a good event."
The board, in the news release, said it's "reviewing all options that will allow continuation of this event. We are actively seeking more sponsorships, donations and volunteers. We also have had conversations with community leaders on transferring the event to a community committee. This option would most likely not be viable for 2009."
MCCI has lost money running the balloon rally for at least each of the past five years. Christopher said the cost to hold the rally in 2008 was about $33,000. There were 22 balloons at last year's event.
MCCI is a nonprofit organization. Financial backing for the rally requires support from the community.
The Chamber said the future of the balloon rally will depend on its ability to tighten the event budget and secure the needed sponsorships and donations to minimize or eliminate a loss.
The board has been reviewing past financials and consulting with past rally volunteers to better understand how to make the needed adjustments to allow them the confidence in continuing the event. The board also met Jan. 22 with past sponsors to explain the current situation of the event.
The Chamber will need to make a final decision in the next few days as to whether the event will be scheduled for 2009.
"It is our hope and desire to see this event continue, but the continuation is dependent on our ability to collect the needed sponsorship and donations," the Chamber said.
MCCI announced in a news release that the public is invited to the board meeting, which will be at 7:05 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, in the board room in the upstairs at the Chamber office, 1505 9th St., Monroe.
"We, the board, deeply understand and feel the passion of this event and understand the longstanding traditions it has within our community," MCCI said in the news release. "We, however also need to make responsible decisions to ensure the financial security of our organization. Realizing a loss in 2009 similar to what was experienced in 2008 would create serious concerns with our ability to keep MCCI doors open."
MCCI Director Pam Christopher told the Times on Wednesday the board has looked at ways to make the event, scheduled for June 26-28, more cost-effective and to find more businesses willing to become sponsors. MCCI lost $8,000 on the 2008 rally, Christopher said.
"We're trying to be very smart about this," Christopher said. "It's a good community event, and we're trying to make it financially sound and put on a good event."
The board, in the news release, said it's "reviewing all options that will allow continuation of this event. We are actively seeking more sponsorships, donations and volunteers. We also have had conversations with community leaders on transferring the event to a community committee. This option would most likely not be viable for 2009."
MCCI has lost money running the balloon rally for at least each of the past five years. Christopher said the cost to hold the rally in 2008 was about $33,000. There were 22 balloons at last year's event.
MCCI is a nonprofit organization. Financial backing for the rally requires support from the community.
The Chamber said the future of the balloon rally will depend on its ability to tighten the event budget and secure the needed sponsorships and donations to minimize or eliminate a loss.
The board has been reviewing past financials and consulting with past rally volunteers to better understand how to make the needed adjustments to allow them the confidence in continuing the event. The board also met Jan. 22 with past sponsors to explain the current situation of the event.
The Chamber will need to make a final decision in the next few days as to whether the event will be scheduled for 2009.
"It is our hope and desire to see this event continue, but the continuation is dependent on our ability to collect the needed sponsorship and donations," the Chamber said.