Germanfest receives new name, fresh start

For a fresh start and to open more options for vendors, the chamber of commerce Germanfest name has been changed to The Spirit of Pulaski County.

At a regular meeting on May 20, Pulaski County Chamber Board members approved a recommendation to change the name of the festival for several reasons.

“Things are going very well and everybody seems to be very motivated,” Hoover said.

Board members Amy Hoover and Mike Kasten Jr., along with executive director Angie Anspach, have been preparing for the event the last several months and have recommended a few changes that include changing the name, moving the location to the parking lot of the train depot on Main Street and bringing in more entertainment.

“We have also been contacting vendors because this year we are opening it up to both food and craft vendors,” Hoover said.

Hoover said Kasten Jr. has been working hard to schedule the entertainment that will include two disc jockeys and two bands. She said the group is also talking to different organizations to offer kids’ activities.

Another suggestion made by the group of Hoover, Kasten Jr. and Anspach, is to host a motorcycle ride. The weather will be the biggest problem with the ride.

“Other than insurance, you really don’t have any expense or cost in it,” Kasten Jr. said.

Along with the suggestion of changing the name, Hoover suggested that the board look into the festival having a website. The cost of the site would be about $10 a month and would feature the festival. She said the site would help promote the festival. The group is also planning additional advertising.

Hoover said she would receive more information about the site. A motion was approved to proceed with the website.

Heater encouraged the idea of a Web page to attract those who are outside the county.

Pulaski County Community Development Commissioner Executive Director and chamber secretary Nathan Origer said a Web page can also be created on the Pulaski Online website. Members agreed.

Hoover said plans are underway and going well.

In other business:

• The minutes from the April 15 meeting were approved.

• A financial statement presented to the members by Hoover was approved. Hoover said the recent fundraiser of flower baskets raised an estimated $3,000. Heater said this was the first year for the fundraiser and “we will only keep building on that.” More than 600 plants were sold.

• Hoover said she filed the nonprofit federal and state tax returns.

• A review of changes to the bylaws was tabled.

• Origer questioned if the members want to change the date of the meeting. A three-month trial has ended since the date was changed to the third Wednesday of the month at noon. It does not appear to have increased the number of members who have attended the meetings. Origer said he will check the attendance numbers. Members discussed how other members might be able to attend the meetings if they were changed to evening times again. Heater suggested that the board members should be polled on a new time and date.

• Further discussion was held on the flower basket fundraiser. There was a concern that the flower baskets should be purchased from local businesses instead of an outside company because the fundraiser could be considered competition for Mother’s Day sales. There was a suggestion that the local businesses be talked with.