Nordic officials seek input as they consider changes
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Since 2006, the Nordic Heritage Center (NHC) has hosted three IBU World Biathlon competitions, and now local officials are asking community members if the center should focus more on world-class or community events.
An informal, town hall meeting was held last Tuesday night at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Campus Center to see where residents would like to see the NHC go from here.
“We find ourselves at a crossroads at the Nordic Heritage Center,” said Paul Towle, president of the Nordic Heritage Sport Club. “We’re faced with a pretty big decision in the next month or so. It’s a decision that’s even bigger than the board that currently runs Nordic Heritage Center, so we felt strongly that we needed to involve the community and get as much input as we can before we proceed further in the decision-making process as to what we want to do out there.”
Presently the NHC is slated to host the World Cup in 2016.
“That’s ours to be held here if we want it, and if we get the support and community input that says, ‘Yes, let’s go in that direction,’” said Steve Towle, who previously has been the event manager of the local biathlon events. “Our crossroad is that we’ve stopped and are reassessing where we are and the direction we’re going to go in.”
Should the NHC continue down the road of hosting the 2016 event, Steve said there are a few obstacles that will need to be overcome.
“We would be required to construct a two-story media/IBU building,” he said, noting that the structure could cost around $100,000. “World Cups are all about live broadcasts, TV, and millions of viewers in Europe, and we fell short last time on providing the facilities for the media. We have time to build it, and we know approximately where it’s going to go, but it’s going to cost money. That building is something we’re going to need if we go down that avenue for big events.
“Is now the time to say, ‘We’re done. We’re not going to spend any more money to create a bigger infrastructure simply to hold big events?’” asked Steve.
Another hurdle should the NHC move forward with the 2016 event is the recruitment of a new event director and event manager.
“We’re stepping down from those roles,” said Jane Towle, former event director for the local biathlon events. “We’ve made that decision not because either one of us didn’t like the roles or are disinterested; we’re interested and enjoyed what we did, but in any large organization of 500 volunteers, this type of leadership position has to roll over.
“If we don’t change out the leadership at the top, then it’s very hard to bring in new leadership. We need to stretch, and this organization needs to stretch in order to keep it fresh and new. We’re certainly not walking away; we’ll be here to help the next event manager and event director. It’s just that we need new leadership who will be able to reach out to new volunteers,” she said. “We need new people to step up soon. It doesn’t have to be someone that’s been involved in previous biathlons. It can be someone entirely new who doesn’t even know how to spell the word ‘biathlon.’ They don’t need to know how to spell it; they need to know how to be a community leader and have a sphere of influence.”
Paul Towle said by focusing on bigger, world-class events, the NHC would see an ever-increasing demand on resources.
“We’ll see increased demands on infrastructure, operations, the budget and our volunteer base,” he said. “However, the income will help us sustain NHC going forward, and it continues to put Aroostook County on the world stage.
“If we shift to a more ‘community focus,’ we would be offering more family- and community-based programming,” said Paul. “We’d still host competitive events, just not IBU. We would have a smaller annual operating budget, and would need to explore new funding sources.”
Recognizing that the community events are always “well attended, they’re fun, there’s no stress or gray hair involved in putting them on,” Steve Towle said it would “take quite a bit to replace that shortfall if we gave these [World Cup events] up.”
Jane told the more than 50 community members who attended the forum that “it costs us about $1 million to host a World Cup and all of that money comes from a variety of sources including sponsorships.”
“About 75 percent goes right directly to local businesses. We do as much business as possible locally whether we’re building infrastructure or buying jackets, or buying food or lodging,” she said. “It’s really, really good for the economy. That doesn’t even take into account the amount of money that is spent by the athletes, coaches, support staff and spectators.”
Jane explained that should the NHC not host the 2016 World Cup, “we will never have another opportunity.”
“You can’t not do a World Cup and then expect to ever be offered it again,” she said. “We’d be off the grid forever for World Cups, and that might be OK. That might be what the community wants.”
In addition to large-scale biathlon events, NHC is also home to middle and high school races and championships.
“Regardless of what we decide on big events, you’re still going to have the kids out there,” said Paul Towle. “We’re going to have adult programming. We’re going to have mountain biking. We’re going to have what this community wants to do in that magnificent playground we have. The only question that we have to solve is, ‘Are we going to have people standing on the podium out there or not [to receive medals]?”
Dave Cambridge said both the small and large events are critical to the success of the Nordic Heritage Sport Club.
“Without the fund-raising engine of the World Cup, I think it will be very difficult to fund the programs that you want to have, to maintain the facility the way it needs to be maintained, and to continue the Nordic Heritage Sport Club,” he said.
“I think it’s very important that the club continue with the larger events, as well as the smaller ones. I see the economic impact in the community be it from the local handyman, the building contractor, the earthwork guy, hotels, restaurants, so on and so forth. It’s huge,” said Cambridge. “If it’s something that can be done every couple of years to help raise money for the club, I think we’re very willing and able to continue to do that.”
Elaine Hendrickson said she likes how hosting a biathlon “brings the world to us.”
“I’ve always felt that it’s a benefit to our students here in Aroostook County who sometimes are not exposed to the world. This brings the world to us, and so many different cultures are here at this particular time that it just opens up a whole new bright light to some of our students,” she said. “I really support what you want to do and certainly agree with keeping with the larger model, but I also see the benefit to the community model. I do worry about the funding. There are a lot of other things that people have to spend their money and their volunteer time on, so I worry about that, but I would love to see us go forward.”
Cheryl Martin, a retired elementary school teacher, remembered how her students felt the very first time they saw the World Cup.
“When the first World Cup happened in Fort Kent, we went up,” she said, “and a German television crew followed my class and brought us down to the winner’s circle. That event does inspire kids.”
Lee Thomas said he hopes the NHC keeps its hat in the ring for large events.
“I think there’s a variety of funding that’s available; we just have to look in a broader manner. We have to look nationally. There’s a lot of philanthropic organizations out there that we could possibly explore,” he said. “I think it’s something that can happen. You just have to have that can-do spirit. It’s a titanic challenge, but I think we’re up to any kind of task because that’s the kind of community we have up here.”
Others in attendance noted that merchants are “dancing on the stars” when the biathlon is held because they realize the immediate economic benefit which helps them “get through the winter and pay the bills,” while another resident who grew up skiing all his life feels inspired knowing that “you’re skiing at a place where the big boys come” to compete.
Steve Towle said a decision will likely be made by the end of January regarding the future of world-class events at the NHC.
“We need to get this wrapped up and have a clear direction that we need to be focusing on,” he said. “Are we going straight, right or left? Backwards is not an option.”
Anyone wishing to email Steve Towle or Jane Towle with their thoughts and opinions can email info@biathlon-presqueisle.org.
