As the nominal secretary of the Galiano Festival Society, I have the privilege of writing this thank-filled missive. Firstly, last night’s 3rd Annual Galiano Music Festival was a great success in terms of fun, music and income (that will support further musical endeavours).
The Festival would not have been possible without the long term commitment of all those generous people who turned out for the many board meetings throughout the year:
Lorelei Allen, Sylvie Beauregard, Arnie Bell, Rorry Dunbar, Greg Gammon, Barb Grehan, Frank Moyle, Barry New, Johanna Newmoon, Dirk Ouellette, Pat Pilat, Josli Rockafella, Linda Reudrick, Jan Tepoorten-Swan, Martin Swan, Thijs Vermeulen, Michael Vangsgaard.
Then there were all the people who did the hands-on work that made the festival physically possible. First I have to praise Dirk Ouellette for being so proactive and so active throughout the year. Heavy physical work and long hours can never be thanked enough. Josli Rockafella is totally responsible and deserving of praise for making the unified, and beautiful, coordinated look of everything from website, FaceBook, posters, tickets, and Hall decorations. And thanks to Joh for the flowers and general decorative help and all sorts of things too numerous to remember.
Patrick Ramsay was the sound warrior last night, first setting up the PA system in the morning, then keeping control of the multiple, changing needs of the seven bands and performers throughout the night. That was one long dedicated day for that man. And Rorry Dunbar spent an equally long day in keeping the tangle of wires on stage from choking us all. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Then there are all the volunteers, who did the endless, necessary, and crazy-making things; sitting at door, serving beer, cleaning up, posting posters, handing out leaflets, flogging T-shirts. Barb Grehan sat out in the hot sun two Fridays to interest everyone who passed by at Daystar, and then sat at the door in the evening. And thanks to Daystar for letting us sit out outside their store. I have, amongst many others, one nice memory of Diana Lily who, handing out leaflets and selling tickets at one Saturday Market, had so much fun socializing, she went back the next week and did it again. And thanks to the post office for selling tickets for us.
An inadequate but huge Thank You to all the volunteers:
Dave Ages, Lorelei Allen, Sheila Anderson, Huguette Benger, Brahmi Brenner, Cedar Bowers, Jackie Bowers, Rorry Dunbar, Nick Ferrar, Barb Grehan, George Harris, Diana Lily, Virginia Monk, Steve Nemtin, Barry New, Dirk Ouellette, Patrick Ramsay, Josli Rockafella, Martin Swan, Jan Tepoorten-Swan, Thijs Vermeulen.
If I’ve missed any of you (Jan’s relatives who were doing clean up at the end of the night), Please let me know so I can add your name to the website. And thank you Martine for providing the great food. I even understand that a few people who couldn’t come to the event, came to the Hall kitchen’s back door to get dinner.
A big thank you to all the generous bands and performers who worked for a mere pittance, community-minded they all proved to be, to bring us such a great night of music: The Hank Pine Band, Toads on a Wire, Garage195, Sturdies Baybs, The SubTrades, The Space Detectives, Mike and Annie. And not least our MCs for the evening, Lorelei the Accordian Queen and Steve-o ‘master of disguise’ Nemtin who were so fun to watch.
And if you look for sponsors and volunteers page you can find the names of all those good folk who supported us in ways financial, directly with donated goods, or with tech.
Thank you all. I hope that in the future the GFS can develop into greater things.
Arnie
GALIANO MUSIC FESTIVAL 