Kootenai Kiwanis drops Logger Days
New group forming to take on event
by Brent Shrum, Kootenai Valley Record
September 17, 2008
Kootenai Kiwanis is ending its affiliation with Libby Logger Days after five years.
The organization cited declining membership and the resulting difficulty in devoting the necessary time to organize the event as reasons for the decision. A new, standalone group that includes people who have been involved with Logger Days in recent years is forming to take on the task of organizing the annual event.
"We’re really excited about some things that are going to be happening," said Debi Davidson, one of the organizers of the new group.
The group is in the process of incorporating as a non-profit organization that will be able to receive grants and tax-deductible donations, Davidson said.
Logger Days celebrated its 50th anniversary this June. Some old events were reintroduced, and attendance was up, Davidson said. A new partnership with Provider Pals, a locally based organization that works to educate youths about natural resources and sponsors a summer camp and exchange program for urban and rural students, worked well, Davidson said.
"We felt it was a good match because of working with the youth on our logging and mining history, and we hope to be able to continue that in the future," she said.
Kootenai Kiwanis took on Logger Days after the event was dropped by the Libby Area Chamber of Commerce, which had sponsored it for many years. Current chamber director Dusti Thompson said her organization will do what it can to help promote the event. Thompson said Logger Days should do well as a standalone event with its own governing board.
"I’d hate to see Logger Days die, because I think it’s very important to pay tribute to the backbone of our community," she said.
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Editor’s Note: See the September 15, 2008 edition of the Kootenai Valley Record for the printed version of this story. The Kootenai Valley Record publishes once a week, on Monday, in Libby, Montana. They are a locally owned community newspaper, located at 403 Mineral Avenue in Libby. For in-county and out-of-county subscription information, call 406-293-2424, or e-mail kvrecord@gmail.com.
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