Thank you to all who who helped make The Party on the Square possible

Wow! Another year has come and gone… that is, if you count the years by “The Party on the Square”…

I want to give a great big thank you to everyone who had a part in making the party a fantastic success. Forty-nine groups/businesses/organizations played an active role in some way, not to mention the entertainers and many individual citizens. There is no way I can describe everyone’s contribution in this letter, but I do want to acknowledge four who are the foundation on which others have built.

Melvin Price, our soundman/MC, you have been with us since the very first- even when your store burned, you were there for us. (And Linda Price, for all of your behind-the-scenes work and the scores of green campaign t-shirts we see around the county.)

Roger Miller and Farmer’s National Bank- you’ve bought our all-beef hotdogs and buns for three parties and you’ve been there with your great employees, rolling up your shirtsleeves and helping out in any way you can.

Chris Thomason, Coordinator, Solid Waste Management, you were hired just before Earth Day 2007 and on June 1st of that year, we had our first party. Thanks to you, we had a second party that year and Solid Waste Management was able to help fund it and joins Farmer’s National Bank as one of our two largest financial contributors.

Shari Bivaleque and Leslie Worley from T.E.A.C.H., two of my very best friends. Thank you for always asking, “What can we do to help?”- for your encouragement since day one, and for T.E.A.C.H.’s financial support.

We’ve grown, from an idea three years ago, to this year, having four quadrants full of fun. I so much appreciate the enthusiastic thoughts expressed by so many people involved.

Everyone who helped with setup, concessions and cleanup couldn’t have worked harder, as they pulled together to get their jobs done. (My hat goes off to them a thousand times!!) But, there was one big problem. Even though, as stated above, we had 49 groups/businesses/organizations helping in some way, we did not have enough help in this area.

So that’s why, as I look forward to the third Friday in June 2010 and our annual Party on the Square, I’m sending out this S.O.S. now. We need volunteers who will commit to donating about an hour-and-a-half of their time to help with setup, concessions or cleanup. With your help, we can share the load and everyone can have a wonderful time, perhaps making new friends while volunteering and then talking to old ones while enjoying the rest of the party.

Please consider taking an active role in your community and joining those already helping with The Party on the Square. Call me at 859-792-6704 or e-mail beautifygarrard@gmail.com and ask to be added to the Party on the Square volunteer list and I’ll contact you in 2010.

Karla Sefcak, Coordinator,Beautify Garrard County, Letter to the Editor, Garrard County Central Record, June 25th.