Chalk Art Bash '08

The chalk art bash is an event that has a lot of potential for the city of Greencastle. Unfortunately, the organizers of the event do not seem very committed to making this all it could be. Many other towns have very large chalk festivals that draw , even thousands of visitors including those is Jasper Indiana and South Bend. It was sad that just as soon as all the art was finished, people just left, and no others came. One girl finished her work at about the 2:00 end time, only to have no one there to look at it. Soon, the barricades came down and the cars started driving over all her hard work. Fewer people attended and participated in this event as compared to last year, which is a bad sign. Come on Tourism Bureau. We know you have the financial resources to do better!

Thank You Karla and Sharon, to bad the board didn't take the time to help you.Come on board members it takes more than attending a monthly meeting to do your job,don't be lazy!

Sneakers you sound like a hateful,vindictive person. Maybe you should ask to volunteer next year, IF THEY HAVE IT AFTER YOUR COMMENT! You think you know so much...why don't you call them and ask them to HELP! Did you get all of the prizes, you don't know how much money and effort they put into this. Just two people. No there may not have been alot of their board members there, so it all falls on just a few people. As they were going to give out prizes, everyone had already left. So they gave them out early. Do you know if everyone got their prize that day. Call them and find out. I did. Most of them had left and they had to call them. Did you go to Jasper and South Bend? Be thankful that someone is trying to do something fun for the kids around here. Everyone complains that there is nothing else to do. Do you know that some of the individuals bought prizes out of their own pockets? Probably not! And did you expect that cars wouldn't travel on the road after it was done? If it was any other organization you'd be patting them on the back. I hope they don't do this again just because of your comments. Grow up and be thankful that some people are trying. Fliers were distributed to all of the schools, into the Hoosier Topics and many local as well as out of county organizations donated. I for one hope you did not win any of the prizes, because it sounds as if you wouldn't have deserved anything. Thank you to Blue 6 for making the nice comment that you did. I'm sure they appreciate it.

If you're so perfect, why don't you sign your name. Maybe we'll see you come up with an idea. Do you realize that all the monies and canned goods go to local charities. Everything that goes on in this county is met with naysayers like you. And the event was not just for Greencastle. It was for the whole county!!!!! I believe that you've just angered a few people. Come off your high horse and get involved next time. Let's see if you can do a better job. And once again, sign your name.

I just did my homework. Here sneakers, here's a list of prizes that they had to give out. Did you get anything for them to give away?

Conner Prairie; Indiana State Museum; Studebaker National Museum; Auburn Cord Museum; Wonderlab Museum; Squire Boone Caverns; Evansville Zoo & Gardens; Howard Steamboard Museum; Holiday World & Splashin Safari; Ben & Ari's; KFC; Long John Silvers; McDonald's; Subway; Cave Country Adventures; Superwash; Comedy Sportz Theater; Eiteljorge Museum; Andretti/Green Racing; Brian Williams of NBC; Lynn St. James; Janet Guthrie; Hoosier Park Race Track; Indianapolis Indians; Children's Museum; Indiana Repertory Theatre; Indianapolis Zoo; Deep River Water Park; Shedds Aquarium; Ashley Square Theatre; Grand Country Music Hall of Branson (that's in Missouri if you're wondering); PeyBack Foundation; The Bob & Tom Show; Colts; Panther Racing;Walden Inn & Conference Center; Chip Ganassi Racing; Hilltop Orchids; these next items were purchased from an individuals own pocket - Kids safe; Tickle Tummy Cookie Monster; Girls Laptop Bag; 2 Iflops Stuffed toys; Jack knife scooter and 1 MP3 Player. You should be thanking these people. Did you buy anything out of your own pocket? Probably not. You just like to leave hateful remarks where you don't sign your name. If this was not enough prizes for you, then go out and get them next time. So when you think they have the financial resourses, do your homework. You're hateful!

As a parent of two children who attended the Sidewalk Chalk Art Bash, I would like to thank the Putnam County Convention Bureau for the hard work they put into the event. My youngest daughter loved it last year, and this year she couldn't wait for Saturday to get here. Please contuine the good work ladies! As for sneakers comments, any large event started small,did you really think the first Jasper chalk art event drew thousands of people the fist time? What do you expect? As far as numbers being down from last year, you can only blame yourself if you didn't attend.

Wow. Guess I really struck a nerve and when that happens there is usually a lot more going on under the surface. My original comment made some simple observations. Number one: less attended than last year. Obviously I was there both years or I could not have known that. Number two: organizers did not seem committed. Well, if only two people from the tourism board are helping the fine ladies who put on the festival, then again, observation was accurate. Yes, festivals start small and grow, but it takes a team effort. Not being a complete moron I also know that cars use roads. The point is this. If people are going to spent all morning making art - like the wonderful young IU student did - why not have other activities to draw people to the square so that the finished work can be enjoyed? The quick to anger attitudes expressed in your responses are one of the reasons why more is not done in Greencastle... not because of innocent and helpful observations. And, unlike other local non-profits, the tourism bureau does have a funding stream.

Why would you have additional activities when no one will help them. Struck a nerve? You sure did. And no there's nothing going on under the surface. I just don't like people who always belittle other people. I stand behind my statement, maybe YOU should do this next year. This was supposed to be for fun, not an all out war because the wonderful, young IU student didn't get people after 2:00 to look at her drawing. It's not about one person. This was supposed to be fun for kids of all ages. Are you a native of Greencastle or Putnam County? Then you know how it works around here. You keep bringing up the word funding. So it sounds as if it is all about the money with you. Are you a little peaved because you don't have it? It's a sad day when there are comments like this over something that was meant to be for kids and adults, so that they could come together and have fun. It's not about money, fame or who bought what! Shame on you for turning this into an ugly debate!

Sneakers, what is it with you! You seem to have a lot of ideas, why not put them to good use and help out, I hate to see such a great family event to end because of petty talk. I understand you seem upset because a 21 year old didn't get the attention, but I'm sorry you didn't see the joy and fun the kids had.Seems to me it's really easy to put someone eles effort down, when your not doing anything yourself. Come on, do you really think the chalk art bash was that bad? And why are you so upset about their funding? It doesn't come out of your pocket. I called the Bureau today and asked how they are funded, it's from a innkeepers tax, which they use to promote our county to other states to bring in money to our area. I think that's wonderful. What's the problem?

My children participated in the Chalk Art Bash. They had a great time drawing their art work. My 8 year old daughter finished her drawing around noon. We were told that the awards ceremony would start at 2:00. We went to the park to waste some time. We came back at 1:40 to see the awards ceremony and no one was there and everything was already tore down. We came across one of the ladies and she said everyone started to leave around 1:00. So, they decided to go ahead and give out the awards ahead of time. We asked someone else who won and she said we had to call their office on Monday. What started out as a wonderful time, turned into my daughter crying. I believe this could be a wonderful event. This is only the second year. Hopefully, they will learn from this experience and make it even better next year. I would recommend having age groups in the competion. Also, the prizes were a nice gesture, but I think they should of put their money into showing all the wonderful artwork. Overall, the ladies did a wonderful job with organizing the event!

As I attended, I thought the prizes were very nice. As I said before, I did my homework and found out that not all the prizes were donated by companies. That some individuals bought them out of their own pocket so some kids would feel special if they won. Has any of you ever said anything nice about that? No you're just ****** because you didn't win anything. I'm sure that they will always try to improve, that's why I choose not to say anything negative and in a hateful manner. And if you wanted to "waste" time as you say, you could have stayed and "wasted" your time at the chalk art festival.

I have concluded that some people have very low reading comprehension. If you go back and read the comments you will see very little, if anything to elicit the comments written by whodouthinkur and I can only conclude that this person has an axe to grind. Nothing gets better without looking hard at the past. If tourism dollars are supposed to fund events that draw people from other states to Greencastle, then the Chalk Art Bash certainly could improve. If things don't improve, or they get worse, it's usually because of poor listening skills or an inability to work well with others. I dare say my family has done more volunteering in this community than most, and I work in the non profit sector. As for those that left to go do something else while waiting for awards, that was another of my original points. There was nothing for people to do when they were done drawing. Lighten up people and let's work together for a change instead of growling. If you volunteered for this event, congratulations. If you are like me, you don't do it for the recognition. You are serving a higher power.

To Whodouthinkur - Your username says it all. Who do you think you are calling people hateful, vindictive people. Your the one that has turned this into an ugly debate. You have attacked everyones comments. For your information I'm not ****** - grow up! If you would like to check your homework - 45-47. We won 2 prizes,Tickle Tummy Cookie Monster & tickets to Comedy Sportz Theatre. Which we have happily donated. The chalk art bash was not about prizes. It was suppose to be about everyone having a great time and drawing their art. It's as simple as that! I hope your not on the Tourism board. It would be a disgarace to them. Maybe you should get off your high horse and get more involved, instead of running your mouth!! Maybe, you should sign your name.