via Rose Wilson:
Please accept this posting notifying you that regardless of what you may have heard, MOONDANCE IS ON! We are excited to present you with the best Moondance ever and look forward to your participation in the event!
Vendors: If you have already signed up and/or paid for vendor booths please contact Nate Larson at nate@nlwilson.com or call him at 917-748-5139. We are looking forward to making sure we have you on the list and having you at the event.
Sponsors: If you have already contributed funds to the event we thank you very much. If you haven’t received an e-mail from Nate confirming we have you listed as a sponsor please contact him at nate@nlwilson.com or call him at 917-748-5139 so so we can properly recognize you in our marketing efforts.
Performers: If you have already signed a contract to perform at the event and if you haven’t received an e-mail from Nate confirming we have you listed as a performer please contact him at nate@nlwilson.com or call him at 917-748-5139.
Press: If any newspapers, radio and TV personnel receive this e-mail, please place a public announcement that MOONDANCE IS STILL ON.
We thank you all for your support, and again, we look forward to bringing you the best Moondance ever!
Sincerely,
Rose Wilson
Director, Windsor Downtown Program
(802) 649-1000
September 30, 2009 at 12:42 pm |
As a matter of background here, the long-time organizers of the very successful Moondance have pulled out due to a disagreement of some sort between them and with the WDP. The WDP and the Larsons have picked up the ball and plan on carrying the event through.
There is bound to be a lot of discussion about all of this in the community and beyond. It would be nice if the concerned parties would let us know what is going on, but sucn is the way with the world nowadays. It’s sad that something that people have worked so hard on to make a really fun, unique and successful event has become threatened by the petty bickering that permeates society.
- Jim Bennett
September 30, 2009 at 1:18 pm |
Jim,
I think petty bickering has always permeated society. Hopefully it will continue to go out of favor.
It saddens me that this messed up such a fun event. I suspect a lot of the vendors still won’t show, having already canceled their supply orders. But I hope that’s not true. Having already lost Heritage Days due to burnout, I think Windsor needs this.
Hopefully all concerned can put the public’s need ahead of their own.
September 30, 2009 at 1:38 pm |
Stew,
The loss of Heritage Days was not really due to “burnout,” that was the public excuse we used. In fact, many of the organizers of that event had the feeling that hurdles were continuously being placed in front of us for the last few years. When things become muddled with bureaucracy and petty bickering we all see the results- fewer volunteers, fewer people willing to help, fewer initiatives, fewer events, etc. Besides, it is not just the loss of Heritage Days, or the near loss of Moondance, it is the loss of the Pow Wow, Halloween event, and the other smaller events that really take its toll. When it feels like your swimming up-stream all the time, eventually the stream wins…….Rudy
September 30, 2009 at 2:21 pm |
Rudy,
Thanks for the brutally-honest update. I guess I’d still classify/abbreviate what you said as burn-out. I’ve been on an event committee for over 10 years and I know it’s tough to keep that energy going. Between the logistical hurdles, too-many-things-to-do and the egos, there have been times we’ve struggled. I’m on the committee for the 50 mile race based at Ascutney this past weekend (there was a great photo from it on the front page of Monday’s Valley News).
We frequently have to keep reminding ourselves about the bigger picture of why we spend so much time to do the 2 races every year. We actively seek new blood and we work hard to keep cliques from forming. We still have individuals burn out and walk away sometimes, but there’s a big enough core with a distribution of talents that the events keep happening for the past 20+ years.
I hope these Windsor groups can re-form, put aside the petty differences, grow so the work is spread out more, and get back to putting on these great events.
Before you ask, no, I don’t have time to join, sorry!
September 30, 2009 at 10:16 pm |
Well, I think the sad thing here is that the Moondance is and has always been something that Jill and Gina created and tweaked every year to keep it fresh and it’s success has always been based on that and their hard work and dedication. There is no real theme for the event, nor is it really a celebration of anything in particular. It’s appeal has always been it’s quirkiness and creative uniqueness, and I cannot see how that can be recapitulated in any way by anyone else. It’s not formulaic lie running a race, or organizing an alumni event, or even hosting the Shrine Game, all of which have common themes and rules and formats.
I just don’t see how the event can continue to exist without them.
BTW, can anybody elaborate on what the WDP is or does? I get the newsletter, but it occurs to me that I have no idea what their function is, or whether or not it is related in anyway to the CoC or WIC.
Rudy or Stew, can you elaborate?
September 30, 2009 at 10:56 pm |
Hi Jim, Rudy & Stew:
Thanks for the thoughtful posts. Having been involved in events for a long time, there are certainly a number of challenges to making something work long term. The organizers of Moondance are nothing short of miracle workers. They did a wonderful job and donated what seemed to be endless energy and time when it came to assembling such a diverse and interesting event. I do not think anyone can argue with what has been built over 10 years. Anything else that is discussed in the community is simply fabrication, they are wonderful and amazing assets to Windsor.
I serve on the Windsor Downtown Program Board, and when we learned the current volunteer organizers no longer wanted to proceed with the event, we were very, very interested in picking up the baton and getting the WDP moving to continue organizing for 2009. As you all mention, the town needs it. Luckily the time between the news of cancellation and the WDP’s action to reconfirm vendors was incredibly short. And luckily for all of us, this is a town operated event with a number of interested volunteers ready to help make it happen. We are very happy to have a great group of vendors, musicians, and local businesses involved in this town sponsored event and we are only looking to add more in the days before the event.
I hope you each have time to attend Moondance this year and contribute to what will continue to be a positive, fun, entertaining, and surprising night in downtown Windsor.
All the Best,
Nate
September 30, 2009 at 11:03 pm |
Jim,
Specific to your comments. The Windsor Downtown Program is organized under Windsor Improvement Corporation. There is a paid executive director and a volunteer board of directors.
http://windsorvermont.net/downtown/index.html
The about page of the site has a lot of info, but as stated in the site:
“The mission of the Windsor Downtown Program, (WDP), is to revitalize the downtown area and to increase visibility for, and preserve and beautify, Windsor’s designated downtown so that residents and visitors will experience this area as a commercially viable and cultural community. The WDP operated under the auspices of the 501-C3 not-for-profit Windsor Improvement Corporation, the economic development arm for the town of Windsor, Vermont.”
In addition, what is great about the volunteers who have given so much time to this town event is that they have laid out a blue print over ten years. Along with other community members they have formulated a unique festival–as you mention. The town should look forward to continuing the event and adding new and unexpected items each year as any event of this size is going to see changes in volunteers and boards over time. The events will hopefully outlast all of us!
All the Best,
Nate
October 1, 2009 at 9:19 am |
Nate,
Thanks for the excellent comments and information.
I hope the vendors will still come afterall.
Vermonteratlarge wrote:
“…I cannot see how that can be recapitulated in any way by anyone else.”
While there’s no exact formula for Moondance, as you’d suspect there would be for a race, I think you’re implying this is totally unique and unreproducible. NOT to take away from what Jill and Gina created and nurtured, I think an event like this COULD be passed on to others to carry the torch, with the right leaders. It’s about constantly remembering that initial vision, then getting the right people together, motivating them to help achieve the common goal, always thinking of new ways to keep it fresh and entertaining.
For these ultra races, we’re constantly working each year to bring in new themes, add new features, bring in more vendors and give the participants more value to keep people coming back. This year we had over 1200 racers plus their families and friends. I know the local hotels, restaurants and stores must have felt some effect from all these people.
While I don’t have time to volunteer for one more thing, we’ll definitely be at Moondance. See you there.
October 1, 2009 at 12:03 pm |
Stew,
You are already a Moondance volunteer, as well as a volunteer for Heritage Days. Everytime you take pictures of the events and activities and make them available to the organization for publication purposes you help the events for years. Your photos help reduce the need to pay photographers to “capture” the event, and give the organizers the tools to properly promote the event for the future. So when you attend Moondance-Bring your camera and snap away
October 1, 2009 at 5:36 pm |
Gina and Jill have always done a beautiful job. Now, isn’t anyone at all curious as to why they “pulled out”? This close to the 9th–when all the hard work and organizing has been done? Then hooray, here come the rescuers of the moon dance !!!!! Bunk—I would like to know what happened because both of these women are responsible professionals and would not have “pulled out” without a damn good reason.
October 3, 2009 at 12:32 pm |
Since the moondance is still on, why have most windsor merchants removed all moondance signs—-hmmmm——sure points to a BIG
problem somewhere. As I have said before, why did Gina and Jill
“pull out ” ?
Remember the old adage, “you can fool some of the people all the time and all of the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time”
October 3, 2009 at 4:16 pm |
Without going into detail, this is my take on why G & J pulled out. You’re right…it wasn’t a decision made lightly after 9 years of blood, sweat and tears over their baby Moondance…with, I might add, very little help from any of the players now jumping in to take it over and claiming responsibility for its success. For now, suffice it to say that there was a negativity creeping into what for nine years had been a positive, fun, energizing and magical community event. They felt it was changing Moondance and not for the better. They just didn’t have the heart to go forward. That being said, I don’t believe they wish anything but the best for Moondance. They’ve wanted to pass the torch, but not this way. No one ever stepped up to the plate before to offer…until now, under these unfortunate circumstances. Just my 2 cents.
I’m looking forward to Moondance and I hope it’s a great success this year. I also hope Gina and Jill get the recognition they deserve for creating, growing, organizing and managing it these many years.
October 4, 2009 at 3:38 pm |
http://www.facebook.com/moondancevt
You can visit here to see up to date info on performers booked for this year.
Thanks!
October 5, 2009 at 8:24 am |
My understanding was that a conflict between 2 major vendors got very ugly and stressful.
While I believe having good vendors helps make the event fun and sponsors are necessary to fund it, that’s not what Moondance is or should be about. So having the tail wag the dog was the ultimate distraction.
October 5, 2009 at 12:33 pm |
Sorry Stew, I doubt there was a major conflict so bad that the women threw up their hands and quit. Naaa !!!
October 5, 2009 at 4:23 pm |
Kadee,
You asked why Moondance was canceled and I provided the information I had, without naming names or getting into the gory details that I’d heard.
Yet you dismiss it with just a “I doubt [it]“? That’s based on what?
On the other hand, I don’t think it adds any real value to traffic further in gossip, which I now realize is what I was spreading. How about if we just go and have a good time, then some good people volunteer to help out next year?
October 5, 2009 at 4:34 pm |
Stew, I stand corrected—there was a major conflict, but whether or not that was the only reason remains to be seen.
October 6, 2009 at 2:50 pm |
Wow, from what I understand, this seems like a classic case of communication breakdown and misunderstanding. Hey, it happens. Let’s not waste a lot of energy looking for scapegoats or bad guys, or questioning people’s motives. That would be more destructive in the long run. It’s not a perfect world and best intentions can go wrong. I hope when all is said and done, Moondance organizers can take a step back, mend fences and make the appropriate adjustments to ensure the continued success and longevity of this event.
carl
October 7, 2009 at 6:27 am |
I think all of you should read the editorial in this week’s observer!!!
October 7, 2009 at 7:35 pm |
Sadly, I do agree that Gina and Jill did a wonderful job with Moondance, and they will be missed. I do believe Moondance will suffer without their participation. Sometimes town politics, small town politics, can be a little shady or unfair. It may be that way in all towns, but it hits closer to home in a small town, where everyone knows everyone. I know that those that know the “nasty” details about how this event came to take place will not forgive the person that caused it to transpire, in fact, will always be a skeptic of that person’s motivations. In a small town talk is everything, and word of mouth is how to spread a reputation, bad or good. Perhaps Gina and Jill wanted to pass on the torch, or perhaps they needed a bit more help. Perhaps it’s all an “excuse”, but I have to agree with Kadee, though she sounds rash, truth lies in what she says about quitting in the twelfth hour. No one quits in the twelfth hour without due cause.
October 9, 2009 at 4:06 pm |
My two cents? Speaking as a spectator, or possibly another family with children, I think the idea has perhaps been lost? Isn’t this about children? Is the goal lost or are we focused on the wrong group? 20 years ago I might have thought that alcoholic beverages at an event like this would be OK and fun. But, with the changes in laws and the cultural awareness of today, I am a bit surprised that we are making so much opportunity for children to share in the drinking? I admit, this event is not designed for children and drinking but I would keep my eyes open for young adults delivering to minors? Think that might happen??
Just my thoughts…