Count Down to PortFest 2014…. A Peek behind the Scenes!

Count Down to PortFest 2014…. A Peek behind the Scenes!

PortFest 2014 brought to you by the HEARTS organization is coming up fast on Sat May 17th 11:00-5:00. It is a community wide Arts and Music Festival at the Paul D Schreiber Campus and it is an event not to be missed.  The PortFest Leadership team is meeting weekly to cover all the details for an intricate community wide Arts and Music Festival.

So, what does it take to create a Port Washington Community Wide event with participation by the Port Washington Schools and Community Organizations?  Here is an insider look into what it takes to create PortFest 2014.

Sitting at the helm and steering everyone is the founder and Chairperson of HEARTS, Damon Gersh.  Damon is involved in every aspect of PortFest 2014, deftly moving from one meeting to another.  PortFest has a Leadership team of sixteen people and there is a separate HEARTS Board of Directors.  Both groups lead separate volunteer armies and have separate meetings to accomplish all that needs to be done to make PortFest a success.

Damon stated, “Port Washington is such a special community. I've never lived anywhere quite like it before. You have so many people and businesses who care and are willing to commit their time, energy and money to help make a difference for others.”

From meeting with the Town of North Hempstead to dealing with technical problems with a dropbox account to reviewing print proofs with Marcos Sinconegui, Damon is always focused on what needs to get done.

Michelle Posner, President of HEARTS recalls, “Back in 2011, the first year of PortFest, the Board of Directors sat around and wondered ‘Would anyone show up?’ and indeed the Port Washington Community has SHOWN UP!  The response has been incredible!”

PortFest Central Manager, Debra Menaker, will find she is busiest on the day of the event, where she will have to manage long information and ticket purchase lines with a small army of volunteers.  Recently Debra said “I love the energy and creativity from the team leads.  I love that I live in a community that believes so strongly in the art!  I love that we have an opportunity to turn a child onto the arts who may not otherwise have had this experience.   I hope one day these kids will look back and say that the performance they saw or the music lesson they received helped move them and positively impact their lives.” 

Leadership Team newcomer Michele Garfield has a dual responsibility as Co-Director for the Art Tent and Merchandise Coordinator.  What is it like for a newbie?   “I am a newcomer to the Portfest planning committee this year. Every week I am awed at the dedication, enthusiasm and expertise that comes to the table. I am honored to be part of this group of ambitious people. PortFest is going to amazing. I can't wait to be there.”

Working with all the many Port Washington Community Groups takes someone with both organization skills and a knack for communication.  Elise May is exactly this person and she does it all with a smile and a laptop.  “I think any event that brings the community together is a gift.  To do so, while embracing the arts is pure joy!  PortFest is a joyful gift!” exclaimed Elise.

Susan Hicks, Volunteer Coordination Leader,  has the formidable job of organizing the army of volunteers.  Her comment was “I've started thinking about the sheer numbers of folks in our town who are involved in this effort - and I can't wrap my head around it. As I look at spreadsheets and volunteers, I'm struck by the numbers. Last year’s lists detailed 115 active volunteers, but that only refers to those called 'event staff'. That number doesn't even include artists, musicians, dancers, performers, demonstrators, parents, students. “

She went on to say, "EARTH without ART is just EH". It's so trite - but it's so true. The Arts give meaning and grace to our everyday.”

The day of PortFest, you will find Jane Ronis, with a walkie talkie and a headset directing the action at three outdoor stages and the auditorium inside of Schreiber High School.  It takes a multi columned, color coded spreadsheet to keep track of 29 different acts/performances/bands.  Jane’s energy is contagious.  Here is what she had to say: ‘"We have three consecutively running performance stages at PortFest filled with music and dance.  I use a team of students and administrators to make this machine run. My first career was as a professional stage manager for theatre, dance, and opera.  PortFest gives me the opportunity to use all of these skills."   Jane has an excellent team of Schreiber Students plus Principals and Vice Principals and Teachers and even the Creative Arts Director for the district! 

And what would PortFest be without our local business sponsors?  Victor Germain, Fundraising Chair is proud of the many local businesses support of PortFest 2014.  He states  “PortFest is the essence of successful community based event marketing.”  See what some of PortFest’s business partners say:

Andrew Boico, owner, Classic Kitchen and Bath:

“Classic Kitchen and bath is proud to be associated with Port Washington Hearts. Before every big concert, there's the dress rehersal in the kitchen and we are so happy to be a part of it.
Thank you PW Hearts.”

Sam Fox, City Cadillac (this is City Cadillac’s third year as a PortFest Sponsor):

“With PortFest the community wins by receiving support for local  music and Arts and related grants in Port Washington, the businesses that support PortFest win by being associated with such a positive community event and being able to engage with potential customers, and everybody of all ages has a ton of fun at the event.  It's good for business, it’s good for the community, and it's the right thing to do to support PortFest.”

 Damon Gersh sums it up best, when he said:  “We're very excited about this year's PortFest! It's truly a celebration of the wide variety of creative talents that exist in Port Washington and HEARTS is so happy to be able to share and showcase these talented people for the entire community. 

We're very proud to have been able to fund over $30,000 of new music and arts grants for the students this year in the public schools. We've received some incredible feedback and share the feeling that we're making a difference in children's lives - one creative experience at a time.”

For more information or for a link for donations:

www.pwportfest.com   www.facebook.com/heartspw email:  heartspw@gmail.com  Phone #  516 472 2699

PORTFEST COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Art Tent Co-Director:            Rachelle Krieger-Gersh

Art Tent Co-Director:            Michele Garfield

Merchandise Chair 

Community Liason:              Elise May

Vendor Coordinator:            Lisa Marshcall

Event Planning:                    Damon Gersh

Display Advertising:              Patrick Rush

Finance and Administration:  Larry Menaker

PortFest Central Manager:    Debra Menaker

PortFest Events Program:      Marcos Sinconegui

PR and Media Relations:        Stephanie Hall

School Activities:                 Leigh Richards

Silent Auction Co-Director: Elyse Lurray

Silent Auction Co-Director: Erika Cooper

Sponsorship/ Fundraising: Victor Germain

Student Performances:      Sheri Suzzan

Volunteer Coordination Leader:  Susan Hicks            

HEARTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Development Chair:                 Victor Germain

Founder and Chairman:           Damon Gersh

Finance Chair:                          Larry Menaker

President:                                Michele Posner Goldman

Vice President:                         Leigh Richards

Events Chair          :                 Jane Ronis