Dear Editor:

Windjammer Days can be saved. My first experience was in the summer of 1974. As recent transplant from West Hartford, Conn., I attended the 1974 Windjammer Days as a special guest of customers of mine for the Maine Boat Show, Pierce Marine. In the spring of 1976, I served as chairman of the Windjammer Committee and previously co-chairman the year before.

As a trade show producer since 1958, I have had a lot of experience working with both profit and nonprofit committees.

While chairman of Windjammer Days, we obtained an original Earle Barlow painting, paid for by an NBC executive and Earle granted us permission to have one hundred prints made. The painting was sold for $2,500 and the prints sold for $100 each, netting us total of $12,500. We sold leaded glasses through Northeast Trade Shows, my own company, and I donated a $15,000 contract with a Canadian beer distributor and donated those monies to the Windjammer Days committee to help offset losses and gave them an additional value to cosponsor the Maine Boat Show, in Portland.

Most committee members and the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber were also raising additional funds. I know our budget lead up to additional revenue for Windjammer Days.

The community owes a debt of gratitude to the Chamber and all volunteers that worked on Windjammer Days. It was my privilege to work with Laura Honey and Dr. Tom Nadeau, and perhaps 20 volunteers the year I was chairman.

In my opinion, in order to survive, Windjammer Days needs to reduce the events within the main events and concentrate on a streamlined schedule. I would also suggest a major Maine corporation to underwrite at least $100,000, to equal or surpass the efforts of the last few years. It is very hard to ask people to pay once they find themselves at the waterfront where all the activities are but the committee doesn’t have the opportunity to charge admission.

Robert J. Cole, President
Northeast Trade Shows
D.B.A. America’s Best Shows