A partial view of the Gauley Festival from atop the Perception van.
Close to 5000 attendees flooded this year’s Gauley Fest Spectacular! Among them were the 200 or so volunteers that made this stupendous event possible. We want to publicly thank them and give you the official event recap.
I want to apologize up front. If I’ve left out your name, forgive me. That’s the problem with this sort of thank you — some get overlooked. Please let me know, and I’ll add you to my list right away. Okay? We truly appreciate each and every one of you and the time you put in to make this Gauley Fest the biggest and best yet.
Joe Greiner and Nancy Gilbert will be adding their gate and other crews to the list. I just wanted to get the ball rolling and duly acknowledge the work put in by folks working directly with me.
First off, I’d better thank my husband Denis McLane. He does all the electrical work and oversees set up and tear down. But probably his most difficult task is putting up with me during the preparations. So thank you, dear.
Electrical helpers in action
This year Denis discovered a new gem of an assistant in Connecticut’s own Bob Taylor. He just sort of showed up unannounced and took care of everything. What a gem! And long time electrical helpers Neal Dana and Bumblebee Pat were back on hand, as were veterans Casey and Morgan Sears. Setting up all the lights Thursday was our usual electrifying crew of Burned Outs – John Victor, Ted Rowe, Dan Carmine, Brigg Mitten and Dave Land. And Greg Maguire too. Thanks guys!
Gauley Festival Front gate
Next come the awesome couple who for years have excelled at the immense task of attracting and coordinating the majority of the Festival’s volunteer work force – Joe Greiner and Nancy Gilbert. They also manage the gate during the Festival (a huge undertaking) and get out local flyers the day of. I don’t think I could manage without Joe and Nancy. I tell them this all the time, but don’t think they believe me. You can.
Nancy Gilbert with Melody Mosser who along with her sister Melinda were the
” Jr Gauley Festival Volunteers for 2001″
Last year Joe and Nancy introduced us to a new awesome volunteer – Tony Richardson. Tony directs the Festival parking effort. What a chore. Thanks Tony; better you than me!
Another indispensable lieutenant is Marian Greenfield. She is my bodyguard and cook all rolled into one. (You know this if you tried to get near me while I was working!) Marian is also the Festival Banker and this year played a big role in organizing the Silent Auction. Many of you have also probably noticed Marian riding her little red bike around the camping area at the crack of dawn collecting fees! The gal’s a trooper and like a sister to me.
And let’s not forget former AW Events Manager Jayne Abbot. I’ll bet many of you didn’t realize that she was no longer on the payroll when you saw her slaving away last weekend. She and her puppy Cruiser also helped keep me and my puppy sane. Hopefully we’ll be seeing her on the scene for many years to come.
We wouldn’t have the awesome video collection presented each year comprised of the winners of the National Paddling Film Festival if it weren’t for the Bluegrass Wildwater Association. Thank you David Margavage and helpers for putting it all together for us.
American Whitewater staff and many directors pitched in bigtime during set up and tear down, when they could have been boating. What great team players they all are. Special thanks to John Gangemi, Jason Robertson, Mike Phelan, Kevin Colburn, Nick Lipkowski, Jay Kenney, Barry and Kitty Tuscano, Sherry and Arden Olson, Tom Christopher, Chuck Estes, Barry Grimes and Kevin Lewis.
Volunteers, AW Staff and Directors signing up new members at the AW tent
Aha, you say, you’ve left out Events Assistant David Knox. We know he was there!! David stepped into a heavy job. He was our Auctioneer. He and his volunteer crew from Kent State U built and manned the silent auction. David also directed the raffle. Great job, David. Congratulations! And thanks to Justin Jeffers (Kent State volunteer coordinator), Luke Ramsey, Rachel Backus, Eric Metz, Bryan Koppert, Dave Harris, Brian Levine, Lisa Marie Lovett and Little Dave. We know there were more of you. Please let us know who you were!
Awesome gear deals at the silent auction.
While in past years we did have some first aid people on hand, for the first time this year we also had a team of wandering paramedics on hand in case of emergency. Thanks to Mike LeCroy and the future Mrs. Mike LeCroy for getting in touch with us to volunteer your services.
Last, but certainly not least, I’d like to thank our volunteer t-shirt designer Dan Peschio.
What a beautiful shirt we had this year. Thanks Dan for sticking with it through the edits!
Okay, like I said earlier. I’m sure I’ve blanked out and forgotten people. I’d be happy to add you to the list. We certainly appreciate your time and help.
And thank you to Joe Greiner and Nancy Gilbert’s Crew (with apologies to anyone not listed)–Dr. J.Jeryl YantisClint CampbellTodd CoreyDonna OkoniewskiMelanie HamlinMellissa HamlinTom McDermottCharlie StevensAndrew SchroederDoug NasiekRon McLaughlinZina MerkinWilly YoungMark OlszowyRebecca NealAndrew ParkerGinny StevensTodd-river guide from OhiopyleSteve BrunoJason DarbyGreg VelzyElizabeth GardnerChris DonochodBob OpachkoBill WaardReese CulbrethCraig TonnemacherColleen DaviesBrian LevineDennis McGuffinEd PetrisekErica GrdenFred FisherHal TutorJessica KJulie BlackLisa Marie LovettMartine DominiquePeggy Raynor ThonusRalph BetheaScott RickardSpencer LincolnSutton BaconBen DurhamJesse KodadekDavid MacintyreAndrew ParkerBria MutchlerCharles EvansChris BellClint and Jason CampbellCraig BantaDale PerryDon GrayFred FisherJay DiCiccoJerry BeckwithJoan DrnekJohn D. PruittJohnson RiceKarol GrayKen VoytacPaul HartlipKevin ConwayMatt MuirRobert MacDowelWhit GallenTrish SullivanTom and Cat MonaghanSteve HigginsSteve FrazierSpence InmanShannon BarrettScott TrumanScott ThompsonScott DedoRoger HagerRobin PopeRicky RodriguezRichard HopleyRichard GrapemanRich LewisRebecca ShermanRalph MischlichNeal PrestonPat HamlinPaul Beaird
On the event in general – IT WAS HUGE! From the 25-foot inflatable gorilla brought by one of our bands – Waydon Lowe — to the Sumo wrestlers to the Marketplace to the crowd. Everything was supersized. I’m sure the weather didn’t hurt either. This was the fourth straight year of fair weather for Gauley Fest. Do you think by now we may have lived down our reputation for guaranteed rain? Thanks for coming out and making this a super fundraiser for whitewater access and conservation. Hope to see you all again next year!
AW volunteer staffed t-shirt sales featuring a design by William Nealy
And to wrap things up, thanks to our Marketplace vendors and Auction donors. We couldn’t do it without you.
ACE Adventure Center
Air Fish
Aire
Airtight Inflatables
Adventure Pursuits
Alpenglow
Angst
Appalachian Wildwaters
Appomattox River Company
Back Country Ski and Sports
Benchmark Outfitters
Bliss Sticks
Blue Ridge Duckies
Blue Ridge Outdoors
Boof Gear
;
Canoe Kentucky
Cheat River Outfitters
Chili Heads
Clarke Outdoors
Cool Ridge
Covered Inc.
Creature Craft
Custom Inflatables
Dagger
Derby City Outfitters
Diamond Brand
Edge of the World
Endless River Adventures
Eskimo USA
Excellent Adventures
Expediciones Chile
Extrasport
Falling Down Productions
Gaia
Grateful Heads
Heliconia Press
Hooked on the Outdoors
Hyside
Immersion Research
Rock Hedz
J3 Industries
Jack’s Plastic Welding
Kayak Futaleufu
Kayak Magazine
Kayakoutfitting.com
Kayakstore.com
Kokatat
Lawson Hammock Co.
Lightning Paddles
Lotus
Lunatic Apparel
MTI Adventurewear
Mad River/Coca Cola
Mahoney Outfitters
Menasha Ridge Press
;
Mongo Products
;
Mountain Gear
Mountain Surf
The Mouse Works
Mud River Graphics
Muskrat Paddlesports
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Noah International
Open Air Wear
OS Systems
Outerquest.com
Paddle Power Designs
Paddler Magazine
Perception
Possum Point Productions
Potomac Outdoors
Predator Helmets
PS Composites
Pyranha Mouldings
Rapid Products
Rapidstyle
Richmond Raft
Riot
River Riders
Riversport School of Paddling
Rocky Mountain Kayaks
She Gear
Shred Ready
Ski Chalet
Small World Adventures
Snowshoe Mountain
Southeastern Adventures Magazine
Southern Trails
Stan Morris Glass
Star Inflatables
Starrk Moon
Stohlquist Water Wear
Surf the Earth
Surfins
The Underwear Guys
Tygart River Metalworks
Visual Sports
Watershed
Wave Sports
Whitewater Photography
Wilderness Medical Associates
Wilderness Tours
Wildwassersport
Yakkerz
Zoar Outdoor
Thanks to all for your tremendous support in making this the best Gauley Fest ever!