By Spring Kick-Off Chair John Engstrom –
As I sit here writing this, it’s still snowing outside, 16.5 inches so far and more on the way. Calling it the endless winter is becoming more relevant all the time. But this Winter will give way to Spring and when it does, it will in a big way.
Looking at the date, it’s only a month away from the Spring Kick-Off. Preparations are moving right along for the event. I am gathering materials for the goody bag as boxes of information from auto-related companies, are showing up at my door.
This year, the city of Osseo has initiated a process where any event needs a permit. It looks like we are the guinea pig on this as we are the first ones to work with the process. I am filling out the paperwork and gathering up materials to go with it. I plan on turning in the paperwork within the next day or so and making an appearance at the next city council meeting later this month to go over the process with them.
Volunteer sign up sheets have been distributed around and the slots are getting pretty full, for that I am grateful. This year we are improving the parking process by issuing entry maps and parking maps early, they can be downloaded on our Spring Kick-Off page. The maps will show how to get into the show and where the club parking spots are.
The clubs are encouraged to have a member available when parking starts, to guide their member cars into the reserved club spots. For those who are not members of any clubs, there is still plenty of room to park. We will have parking volunteers with parking maps and radios (no, not boom boxes) to guide you to a spot as well as communicate with the crew at the entrance as to where the open spaces are.
This year we are setting aside some space along the south side of the park for any food trucks as they are getting more prevalent. Any of these vendors along side of the park are part of the Craft Fair and need to work with them as far as getting a spot to park.
NO PARKING signs will go up on the street the day before the Kick-Off and the streets will be blocked off early so that we don’t get wandering thru traffic while we are trying to park. Even though starts at 10 AM, be sure to get there around 9 AM to get into the show and parked before it officially opens.
As usual, bring along some food to donate to the food bank.There will be people at the entrance to collect the food which will be picked up by the Cross Food Shelf.
Also, bring a few bucks to vote for a car or two of your choice for the best of the show. The Girl Scouts are selling the tickets and using the money for their activities.
Take Heart, the snow will end and the world will become sunny and warm once again, soon !!