Historical Museum receives county funding for advertising
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
The re-established Nautical City Festival will have three new attractions in 2009 and more than likely will bring an entirely new audience to Rogers City. The Presque Isle County Historical Museum is planning to expand its powwow from last year, as well as bring in historical re-enactors and the tall ship Welcome.
Museum board president Dave Nadolsky and curator Mark Thompson requested, and received, $3,000 from the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners that will be used to advertise the events in local and regional newspapers, as well as on the radio. Before the funding request was approved, Nadolsky outlined the events that will take place, while Thompson provided details of the museum?s budget.
?THE WELCOME is bringing a contingent of voyagers in Great Lakes cargo canoes,? said Nadolsky. ?All will be attired in authentic garb. They will be putting on daylong entertainment and educational events. All these programs are family oriented. ?To date, all of those costs have been met by donations solicited from local businesses and civic groups. The community has been really generous. We feel like we’ve exhausted those resources. What yet remains is funding to promote and advertise.?
Thompson said, ?We don?t have money in our accounts to cover the cost of advertising the powwow, rendezvous, and the visit by the Welcome.? Thompson said the events are unlike others conducted in this part of the state. ?Cheboygan has not had a major American Indian powwow, which I find quite amazing, because they have a large American Indian population.? He said that includes Alpena and Montmorency Counties as well. ?We feel like we can market through that whole area, down into the Harrisville/Tawas City area. We feel we can market as far to the west as Charlevoix and Gaylord, Cheboygan up into the Straits.?
COMMISSIONER MIKE GROHOWSKI asked if the Rogers City Area Chamber of Commerce (RCAC) and local businesses have been asked to contribute. ?I think it is a good program,? said Grohowski. ?When you look at the benefits, and who is benefiting, that?s always my take on this.? ?They simply don?t have the money,? said Thompson. ?I think everybody is strapped. I am amazed at what extent the business community has supported the Nautical City Festival as they re-establish.? ?The chamber has helped,? said RCAC executive director Dave Snow. ?When we can?t physically go to our checkbook and write a check as a donor, we encourage and solicit sponsor to help support that effort and we have been active in that particular area with support for the Welcome. We have leveraged additional dollars.?
The chamber was able to secure $1,500 from Presque Isle Electric and Gas Cooperative for the advertising budget. County board chairman Carl Altman said, ?We have to look at this as a county-wide issue. This isn?t to just support Rogers City. We have to look at what the influx will be to the county. Vice chairman Bob Schell commend
?WE?RE NOT looking to be here next here,? Nadolsky responded. ?We think, with the success of this, perhaps, with some of the profits from this, it could be a self-sustaining event along with getting support from beyond this community and county, including tribal groups.?
Thompson added, ?We?ve had a number of people say this well could equal the re-enactment of the massacre at Fort Mackinac, which has been going on for 25 years. This is the kind of event that, communities, once they develop something like this, can continue it for a number of years. It has a tendency to grow.? The next step will be getting the word out.