News Update: Volunteers come through to keep Nordicfest alive

Facing the possibility of dying out after a quarter-century, Libby Nordicfest put out a desperate plea for volunteers to keep the annual festival alive. The community responded in a big way on Friday evening during an organizational meeting to fill out a board aching for new faces.

Lisa Oedewaldt, Nordicfest president, said a full house showed up for the meeting but things looked bleak early on.

“Until Noelle Gilmore stepped up and said that she would take over the crafts position,” Oedewaldt said. “Then one by one, the people who came to share and listen started to volunteer and in a matter of an hour-and-a-half, the fate of Nordicfest was decided.”

Along with Gilmore, Nordicfest’s other new board members include Jennifer Wilson and Rick Tuin (co-vice presidents), Rita Barnett (secretary), Les Nelson (fundraising), Michelle Mercer (royalty/information booth), Pam Peppenger (parade), and Frank Hendrickson and Rey Eanes (outdoor entertainment).

Oedewaldt and Ally Frost will fill share responsibilities with souvenirs.

Frost is in charge of public relations with other established board positions held by Jan Erickson (food booths), Freda Howard (education), Helen Clark (treasurer), and Clarence and Verna Johnson (property management).

For more on Nordifest’s news, see the Jan. 20 edition of The Western News .