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Independence, MO —
Stan Shurmantine is chairman of the Independence Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
To the editor:
Santa-Cali-Gon Days has become one of the Midwest’s top festivals, entertaining local residents and far-flung visitors through a celebration of the United States’ historic westward expansion. The success of this event over the last four decades has allowed the Independence Chamber of Commerce to reinvest in the Independence community in other ways. While many features remain constant, each year also brings its share of changes as we strive to keep the festival fresh for attendees, yet affordable to host.
As the incoming chamber board chair, I want to assure readers that planning work for the 41st annual Santa-Cali-Gon Days, which takes place over Labor Day weekend, is well under way. For the most part, festivalgoers won’t see noticeable differences from past years.
With three decades of nonprofit experience in Jackson County, I am very mindful of the special needs and challenges facing nonprofit organizations, particularly in recent years. Many depend on Santa-Cali-Gon as a major fundraiser. Administrative changes considered for this year’s festival are not expected to be significant, nor will they put anyone out of business.
The chamber, itself a nonprofit organization, is responding to a new economic reality by making some changes that will help ensure its long-term viability in the community. We are working to balance fairness to nonprofit Santa-Cali-Gon vendors with a responsibility to chamber members, which include both for-profit and nonprofit companies. Above all, the chamber is dedicated to promoting economic growth in Independence.
Many talented and deeply committed people at the chamber and on the fair board volunteer countless hours to plan this premier event year after year. We look forward to presenting yet another Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival our community can be proud of in 2013.
Stan Shurmantine is chairman of the Independence Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
To the editor:
Santa-Cali-Gon Days has become one of the Midwest’s top festivals, entertaining local residents and far-flung visitors through a celebration of the United States’ historic westward expansion. The success of this event over the last four decades has allowed the Independence Chamber of Commerce to reinvest in the Independence community in other ways. While many features remain constant, each year also brings its share of changes as we strive to keep the festival fresh for attendees, yet affordable to host.
As the incoming chamber board chair, I want to assure readers that planning work for the 41st annual Santa-Cali-Gon Days, which takes place over Labor Day weekend, is well under way. For the most part, festivalgoers won’t see noticeable differences from past years.
With three decades of nonprofit experience in Jackson County, I am very mindful of the special needs and challenges facing nonprofit organizations, particularly in recent years. Many depend on Santa-Cali-Gon as a major fundraiser. Administrative changes considered for this year’s festival are not expected to be significant, nor will they put anyone out of business.
The chamber, itself a nonprofit organization, is responding to a new economic reality by making some changes that will help ensure its long-term viability in the community. We are working to balance fairness to nonprofit Santa-Cali-Gon vendors with a responsibility to chamber members, which include both for-profit and nonprofit companies. Above all, the chamber is dedicated to promoting economic growth in Independence.
Many talented and deeply committed people at the chamber and on the fair board volunteer countless hours to plan this premier event year after year. We look forward to presenting yet another Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival our community can be proud of in 2013.
