Du Quoin Fair Success Story Sets Tone for Reconstituted Chamber
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[At every turn, a reconstituted Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce had reason to celebrate during its October meeting Wednesday hosted by Alongi's Restaurant in downtown Du Quoin.
Furthermore, past president Frank Deaton, retiring chamber president Chuck Novak and incoming president Fred Huff brought to the meeting a well-defined sense of purpose and commitment.
It was Du Quoin State Fair manager John Rednour, Jr., Du Quoin Tourism director Judy Smid, Du Quoin District 300 Superintendent Dr. Gary Kelly, and Du Quoin State Bank president Dan Fulk and a high school senior who set the tone for both the meeting and the year.
There's a lot to talk about.
Rednour told the chamber that the 2010 Du Quoin State Fair hit every target, growing fair revenue to $1.5 million for the first time in history and opening its doors to more than 350,000 fairgoers.
The numbers are honest and the commitment to the future is substantial.
Rednour explained the fair has an operating budget of $1.46 million, which means the fair not only hit budget, but passed budget.
That never happened under private ownership, never happened under Jabr ownership and given the recession surrounding all of us should never have happened in a state budget.
But, it did.
Not only that, but Rednour told those in attendance (and the opening meeting of the new year was well-attended) that non-fair events revenue have grown from less than $35,000 the year before his appointment to $650,000 in the past year.
Every non-fair event receives an assignment of credited days for that event. Often, more than one event are held at the same time. If you add up all of those days during the past year, there are more than 400 "event days" that were held at the fair.
Retiring chamber president Chuck Novak told Rednour and the group that in 1979 he lamented the loss of the Hambletonian as the fair's signature event, and again this past year when it was announced the state would put the World Trotting Derby on sabbatical. But, despite the heartfelt loss of those events, Novak told Rednour, "What you have done is FABULOUS!"
A humbled Rednour returned with a quiet and sincere "thank you" and credited the fair's staff and the community for restoring the Du Quoin State Fair as Southern Illinois' crown jewel.
Rednour recounted the fair's economic impact on Southern Illinois. Study after study proves the fair's worth.
Rednour said a harness racing bill before the General Assembly could create a revenue stream to bring back the World Trot, but few hold out hope for that. But an Illinois-owner pacer who broke the wire in 1:49 during the fair proves "Illinois horses can compete anywhere in the world."
He also touched on how this year's grandstand and beer tent lineup were achieved.
Du Quoin Tourism Director Judy Smid told members that the 11th Holiday Lights Fair will open the day after Thanksgiving and that it is the signature initiative of Du Quoin Tourism. She is seeking involvement by the next generation of residents in volunteering to help with setup and working at the event. She received the profound appreciation of those in attendance.
Dr. Gary Kelly brought as his guest Du Quoin High School senior speech and drama standout Linnea Cheek as part of a "chamber" student of the month program to celebrate the successes of our young people. She is a longtime performer who will assist in directing the upcoming musical "Little Shop of Horrors" later this month at DHS.
Treasurer Doc Holladay reported the chamber raised $12,996 from concessions at the Du Quoin fair and, all told, projects and dues generated almost $35,000 this past year.
The chamber will hold its annual "Citizen of the Year" banquet in January.
The chamber's home and garden show will be held in April 2011.
The chamber congratulated the Pinckneyville chamber on the certain success of the upcoming Mardi Gras.
Du Quoin Rotary "Greatest Generation" book project chairman encouraged everyone to pre-order books at $30 each so the books can be printed before Veteran's Day.
All of these things are only a preview to the great year to come.