Mapleton Lions Club teams up with Balloon Fest
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A new host organization hopes to take the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest to new heights.
The Mapleton Lions Club has stepped up and accepted the primary host responsibility of the annual festival which includes providing the non-profit status, as well as the insurance coverage of the event.
The eighth annual Crown of Maine Balloon Fest will be held Aug. 25-28 in Presque Isle.
“[As host] we become more of the upfront folks who will integrate members into the organizing committee to work right alongside one another,” said Terry Sandusky, secretary of the Mapleton Lions Club and COMBF coordinator. “We have the 503 (c) non-profit status covering the event, as well as the insurance. Because of that, the Lions clearly have to be significant players and that’s what we’re going to do. We have much the same relationship with Mapleton Daze.
“The club will continue to work with the COMBF organizing committee — with the support of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce — to assure the long-term continuance of the fest,” he said. “Our decision to come on as the host came about very quickly and everything was already in place for this year’s festival. This year we’ll be learning about the operation and what will be needed to organize and conduct the event next year.”
Sandusky said the club is “not looking to make drastic changes to the festival” but rather “work with them to coordinate, improve things and implement new ideas.”
“Most of the improvements aren’t around the balloons and the flights themselves,” he said, “but around side events that make it a bigger festival overall.”
The Mapleton Lions Club will have a food booth onsite at the Northern Maine Fairgrounds where they will be selling Italian sausage sandwiches.
“If people want to express their appreciation to us for helping out the festival, buy a sandwich,” said Sandusky. “It’s a great value; you get a sandwich, chips and a soda for $5. The sale of these tasty sandwiches is the only financial income to the club from the Balloon Fest.”
Sandusky said the Lions appreciate the support of the volunteers, sponsors and spectators alike that make the Balloon Fest such a popular event.
“We hope to have a long, productive relationship with everyone for many years to come,” he said, “and we look forward to seeing everyone at the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest.”
For more information, call the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce at 764-6561 or log onto www.crownofmaineballoonfest.org.
