What would July be like in Alpena without a Brown Trout Festival?

I sat pondering that question this week after reading Thursday's newspaper that stated the festival committee still was seeking names of people interested in five key executive committee positions with the event.

I need to quickly explain here that no one has said the festival was in jeopardy of rolling up its tent next year.

However, I also don't think it takes many rocket scientists to figure out that if five key positions remained unfilled, then the festival is in trouble. What do you think the chances are of the festival being pulled off nine months from now if that were the case?

The five positions are president, two vice presidents - one for tournaments, one for grounds - secretary and treasurer. Did I mention these aren't just "run of the mill" positions, they are critical responsibilities?

Finding volunteers for positions such as these I suspect probably always has been hard. It's a lot easier doing some arm twisting when you're just talking one position, however. With five, it must seem overwhelming to those left trying to keep the festival's spirit alive.

Remaining committee members are faced with a huge problem of how to proceed with planning for next July's festival. A festival like Brown Trout just doesn't happen, it takes months of planning, preparation, negotiation and booking. Entertainment contracts need signed, sponsors need rounded up, food and beverage numbers need projected and reserved. You just can't wait until the last minute and begin work on those things. The truth is most years that work actually begins a few weeks after the current year's festival ends.

Alpena Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jackie Krawczak is keeping her "game face" on when discussing the Brown Trout Festival. She understands the importance of the festival to the region but as only one person, she is limited as to what she can offer other than moral support and her long contact list to try and attract strong candidates for the vacancies.

It is a tough predicament.

I don't fault those who retired after this year's festival for their decision. Each had put in numerous years and sacrificed countless weeks of their personal lives over the years on the festival's behalf.

If there is a criticism, it only would be that they retired together rather than spreading things out.

I suspect that even if these positions go unfilled, committee members left behind will attempt to pull off a mini-festival this year and at the same time, hope for a miracle that someone will still step forward.

Yet in the bigger perspective I also wonder whether the clock is ticking as to the festival's ultimate future. Perhaps this year those who resigned knew that it was time to "turn off the lights, this party's over."