Cabin Fever Reliever: The History
Every January Old Town Canoe (OTC) held a Winter Sale where they sold canoes at the Old Town Orono YMCA. The sale was run by the manager of the Old Town Canoe Outlet store Jim Sutherland. Members of Penobscot Fly Fishers and others were asked to tie at the show. The first year that I tied was in 2004 and in conversations with Jim he indicated that he would like to see the show expanded but he did not have the manpower to run a show. He had not been able to get interest from anyone to do it. I told him I would be willing to present the idea to the club and see where it went from there. After presenting it to the board it was decided to pursue it further. A committee was formed to pursue the idea with OTC. I was named co-chair along with John Lent. The committee at that time consisted of Me, John, Dan Hodgins, Don Corey and Ed Bruno, President as an ex-officio member.
Three members of the committee met with Jim Sutherland to discuss the logistics and focus of the show. At that meeting Jim gave us Carte Blanc as to how and what the show would be. It was decided that first and foremost we wanted it to be an educational outdoor show, second we wanted it to be free to the public and that we wanted it to be as much as possible a family and kids show. It was at this meeting that Dan Hodgins came up with the name Cabin Fever Reliever and the rest as they say is history. Although this show has been a financial success it was not and is not the focus of the show. Old Town Canoe, under Jim Sutherland, signed on and provided us the space free of charge, provided advertising and provided a canoe for a raffle for the show. In an effort to create good will with the YMCA we offered them the concession for the show and made a donation from the canoe raffle to the YMCA. The first show began in January 2005 and was a resounding success both financially and in the goals and focus of the show. The second year found us dealing with a new manager at the YMCA and a few changes were made at their request. The second year was also quite successful on all fronts and we were looking forward to our third show.
In early 2006 we began planning for the 2007 show and at that time we had a change in the leadership at Old Town Canoe but they indicated they still wanted to pursue the show. The YMCA requested to meet with us late that year. At that time they had a number of issues that they wanted to discuss including additional charges for the space. It was at this time, because of financial and other considerations, it was determined the show couldn’t go forward at that venue. Since it was late in the year and because our wish was to maintain the high quality of the show we did not have a show that year. The members of the committee, which now included Mike Curtis, felt we should continue to pursue the show. The committee had expanded to include Ernie MacDonald, chair, Harold Brown, Don Corey, Alan Gray, Mike Curtis, Dan Hodgins, Joe Bertolaccini, Virgil Barker, Marcus Hale, John Lent and Ed Bruno, President as ex officio member.
We began in late fall of 2006 considering the possibility of a 2008 show. Much discussion was held about if we wanted to do it how we wanted the show to progress and the cost of the show. We talked about expanding it, corporate sponsors and entrance fees for the show. We discussed venues and activities at the show. The final outcome was what we have today. We decided to keep the show small and to finance it with 3 mechanisms: First charge a fee for exhibitors, second raffle an item at the door and thirdly put out a program with advertisers paying for ads. We wanted to continue the focus on outdoors and education and we wanted it to be free to the public. We looked at a number of venues and it was obvious that the Bangor Brewer area would be the best fit. After weighing a number of sites based on parking, cost and availability we decided on the “World Famous” Brewer Auditorium. It had a room for speakers, a large space for the exhibitors, reasonable parking and financially fit into our budget. From the start we had a great relation with management and staff.
Not everyone was on board since it was an unknown if we would get enough money to pay for the show and the club would be responsible for the cost. The majority of the committee felt it would be successful and that the club could afford the cost for one year without placing the club in an unattainable financial position.
The show took place and it was both a financial and critical success which allows us to hold it each year. Although we are pleases that there is some small financial success, it is the continued focus to educate the public, especially the youth that give us satisfaction. Now years later the committee is looking forward to the next show with changes being planned all the time. As with any show some exhibitors have been with us since the start and some come and go for many reasons but the life of the show continues with the same heart as the day it started.
Submitted by: Ernie MacDonald, Former Cabin Fever Reliever Chair
Three members of the committee met with Jim Sutherland to discuss the logistics and focus of the show. At that meeting Jim gave us Carte Blanc as to how and what the show would be. It was decided that first and foremost we wanted it to be an educational outdoor show, second we wanted it to be free to the public and that we wanted it to be as much as possible a family and kids show. It was at this meeting that Dan Hodgins came up with the name Cabin Fever Reliever and the rest as they say is history. Although this show has been a financial success it was not and is not the focus of the show. Old Town Canoe, under Jim Sutherland, signed on and provided us the space free of charge, provided advertising and provided a canoe for a raffle for the show. In an effort to create good will with the YMCA we offered them the concession for the show and made a donation from the canoe raffle to the YMCA. The first show began in January 2005 and was a resounding success both financially and in the goals and focus of the show. The second year found us dealing with a new manager at the YMCA and a few changes were made at their request. The second year was also quite successful on all fronts and we were looking forward to our third show.
In early 2006 we began planning for the 2007 show and at that time we had a change in the leadership at Old Town Canoe but they indicated they still wanted to pursue the show. The YMCA requested to meet with us late that year. At that time they had a number of issues that they wanted to discuss including additional charges for the space. It was at this time, because of financial and other considerations, it was determined the show couldn’t go forward at that venue. Since it was late in the year and because our wish was to maintain the high quality of the show we did not have a show that year. The members of the committee, which now included Mike Curtis, felt we should continue to pursue the show. The committee had expanded to include Ernie MacDonald, chair, Harold Brown, Don Corey, Alan Gray, Mike Curtis, Dan Hodgins, Joe Bertolaccini, Virgil Barker, Marcus Hale, John Lent and Ed Bruno, President as ex officio member.
We began in late fall of 2006 considering the possibility of a 2008 show. Much discussion was held about if we wanted to do it how we wanted the show to progress and the cost of the show. We talked about expanding it, corporate sponsors and entrance fees for the show. We discussed venues and activities at the show. The final outcome was what we have today. We decided to keep the show small and to finance it with 3 mechanisms: First charge a fee for exhibitors, second raffle an item at the door and thirdly put out a program with advertisers paying for ads. We wanted to continue the focus on outdoors and education and we wanted it to be free to the public. We looked at a number of venues and it was obvious that the Bangor Brewer area would be the best fit. After weighing a number of sites based on parking, cost and availability we decided on the “World Famous” Brewer Auditorium. It had a room for speakers, a large space for the exhibitors, reasonable parking and financially fit into our budget. From the start we had a great relation with management and staff.
Not everyone was on board since it was an unknown if we would get enough money to pay for the show and the club would be responsible for the cost. The majority of the committee felt it would be successful and that the club could afford the cost for one year without placing the club in an unattainable financial position.
The show took place and it was both a financial and critical success which allows us to hold it each year. Although we are pleases that there is some small financial success, it is the continued focus to educate the public, especially the youth that give us satisfaction. Now years later the committee is looking forward to the next show with changes being planned all the time. As with any show some exhibitors have been with us since the start and some come and go for many reasons but the life of the show continues with the same heart as the day it started.
Submitted by: Ernie MacDonald, Former Cabin Fever Reliever Chair
