The success of the Richmond Winter & Ice Festival goes to the real heroes, they
are the businesses that believed in the vision. It is difficult to sometimes
think outside the box for some and for others it is hard to stay in the box. I
thank them! I also would like to thank the Chamber Board of Directors who
believed in the project from conception (2001). Without their willingness for
the Chamber to take a BIG chance the Ice Festival would never have happened.
My personal hero for the weekend of the festival first goes to my most wonderful
and supportive husband Ron, who never had a doubt for the success of the event
and believes in the strength of the character of the Richmond business
community. Tom Hebel, Jon Moore and Ron delivered over 3/4ths of the sculptures
safely to their proper homes. This is a huge effort as most people do not
realize the weight of the ice it is nearly 400 pounds of
slippery, wet and fragile material. They are the unsung heroes of the
festival. They were cold, wet, hungry and Oh so tired for many days after!
We have been blessed with people such as Jeff Wolf of Macomb Community
College and his Ice Team, they are remarkable artists. The long hours of cold
and wet only made them work harder and create beautiful art. The addition of Art
& Ice this year was a shot in the arm that brought attention from the media as a
new twist on an average Ice Festival, I was proud to be a small part of that
event, The Richmond Area Art Association,
nervous at first went head first into new territory and pulled together a very
exciting and remarkable show of talent with so many mediums that it boggled the
mind. The new Armstrong Art Gallery ( don't know the name yet) will have no
problem in filling their lovely walls with remarkable works from our area
artists. If you stop and think of the talent in Richmond that weekend it is so
amazing, blocks of ice became works of art, how special is that? Totally
amazing!
I am so proud of this city and the willingness to Work Together for a common
goal, that goal is the success of Every business in town. Plans to add again to
the festival are underway and the Festival Committee has many surprises in
store. WE not only think outside the box we tossed it out! Imagination,
creativity, Hard, Hard work got us this far it will take us to the next level,
are you ready?
We believe in Richmond!
I will end this as I do all my reports to my Board of Directors, it is from the
heart.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve!
C. Kay Almstadt
Executive Director
Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce
Jim Hanus
www.AllAboutRichmond.com
email:
list@allaboutrichmond.com
