Britt Chamber may not help plan Hobo Days

But afterward, Chamber President Chuck Hunt said, "The Chamber (board) withdraws its proposal."

Chamber representatives met with members of the Britt Hobo Days organizational committee Dec. 23, at which time they requested that committee members allow the Chamber Board of Directors to assume responsibility for approving the committee's plans and events for the 2011 National Hobo Convention.

Doing so also would be a way to help make Hobo Days self-sustaining as well as look out for the best interests of community members, Britt businesses and the event itself, Chamber officials said.

Many committee members said they would walk away from their efforts if the committee were required to submit its ideas to the Chamber for approval.

Committee members agreed to discuss other options before moving forward with planning or a proposal. Hunt, who attended the Dec. 23 meeting on behalf of the Chamber board, said the committee could try to find another not-for-profit group to disburse funding to it. That is what the committee did.

Committee members Amy and Paul Boekelman told the council the committee would like to use the still-viable not-for-profit tax status of the Britt Betterment Club, a defunct community organization.

After speaking with an Internal Revenue Service representative, Paul Boekelman said he submitted an application to use the group's not-for-profit status.

"It would be to our benefit since the group has no assets, no debits," he said.

Continuing the committee's proposal to the council, Boekelman said it is unlikely the group will acquire a carnival in time for the 2011 convention and requested the council allow it to use the $15,000 allocated by the city for a carnival to bring in new entertainment, which included a NASCAR simulator and Doc Anderson's Traveling Medicine Wagon.

The council denied the committee's request until members had more time to consider the request.

The committee will go before the council with another proposal at a special budget meeting at 6 tonight.

Amy Boekelman said the committee still wants the Chamber to be involved in planning Hobo Days.

"From the beginning, we wanted the whole community involved," she said. "We want everyone's input - we want to work with the Chamber and we want everyone to work together."

Regarding Chamber participation, the board and members are still willing to work with the committee should everyone involved come to an understanding, Hunt said.

"We just don't feel it's in our best interest at this time," Hunt said, "but we're not shutting the door 100 percent."

Megan VerHelst is editor of the Britt News-Tribune, a Lee Enterprises newspaper.