MONROE - The Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board voted not to hold the Balloon Rally in 2009 during a special meeting early Wednesday.
Members remained silent for two minutes after President Jane Monahan asked for the motion. The board had spent almost an hour discussing the shortage of sponsorship, volunteers and expertise in the community to pull off the nearly $28,000 event.
Treasurer Tom Purdy finally made the motion, "regretfully," he added.
Vice President Dave Gombosi seconded it.
Discussion before the vote lasted another five minutes. Members assured the public members in attendance that information to adopt the rally was available, and that the fate of Taste of Monroe, which has been held during the rally, has not been decided.
The final voice vote was 8-1, with Barb Gelbach opposed to canceling the rally.
Purdy laid out the expenses which had been cut from the $33,000 budget in 2008. Expected income still came up short by $4,900.
Past President Bryan Rach noted the Chamber's operating budget could not bear such a loss. The decision, Rach said, was whether to keep the rally or the Chamber.
Purdy verified that fact, stating that if the Chamber lost any money, it would have to close its doors.
"We cannot take a loss on any event. We cannot, cannot, take a loss," he said.
Monahan said the rally had not returned any profit in five years, and has struggled in the past two years to have enough volunteers.
Purdy said the average cost of a balloon is $1,200, up to $1,500, which sponsors could not commit to making this year.
To accommodate balloonists' scheduling, Wednesday was the last day the Chamber had to make a decision in hopes that more businesses would come forward to sponsor balloons.
"We are really holding up the balloonists today," Gombosi said.
Members remained silent for two minutes after President Jane Monahan asked for the motion. The board had spent almost an hour discussing the shortage of sponsorship, volunteers and expertise in the community to pull off the nearly $28,000 event.
Treasurer Tom Purdy finally made the motion, "regretfully," he added.
Vice President Dave Gombosi seconded it.
Discussion before the vote lasted another five minutes. Members assured the public members in attendance that information to adopt the rally was available, and that the fate of Taste of Monroe, which has been held during the rally, has not been decided.
The final voice vote was 8-1, with Barb Gelbach opposed to canceling the rally.
Purdy laid out the expenses which had been cut from the $33,000 budget in 2008. Expected income still came up short by $4,900.
Past President Bryan Rach noted the Chamber's operating budget could not bear such a loss. The decision, Rach said, was whether to keep the rally or the Chamber.
Purdy verified that fact, stating that if the Chamber lost any money, it would have to close its doors.
"We cannot take a loss on any event. We cannot, cannot, take a loss," he said.
Monahan said the rally had not returned any profit in five years, and has struggled in the past two years to have enough volunteers.
Purdy said the average cost of a balloon is $1,200, up to $1,500, which sponsors could not commit to making this year.
To accommodate balloonists' scheduling, Wednesday was the last day the Chamber had to make a decision in hopes that more businesses would come forward to sponsor balloons.
"We are really holding up the balloonists today," Gombosi said.