WGNA hires event planner to organize, celebrate Founder's Day
Sept. 8 festivities could include a parade, car show
By Kate Carter
The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA) is "off and running" on preparations for this year's Founder's Day community celebration.
The association, which took the lead on the annual event after the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association canceled last year's event, has chosen event coordinator Susan Cooney of Songman Entertainment to help plan the Sept. 8 festivities scheduled from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. She has already established a tentative plan and budget and is already creating committees to make the event happen. But the group is also trying to make sure everyone who wants to participate in the celebration of Willow Glen's 75th anniversary has a chance to be involved.
The planning committee met April 8 in a meeting open to the public to begin making project assignments.
"After this meeting, we're off and running," Cooney said.
The association has received a $7,000 grant from San Jose's Office of Cultural Affairs for the event. It is also soliciting sponsorships for particular aspects of the event in exchange for free advertising, and will also raise donations and sell merchandise at the event. Cooney said she expects about 5,000 people to attend the festival, and it should cost at most $36,000, but plans can be scaled back if necessary to reduce costs.
The Sept. 8 festivities, themed Celebrate Historic Willow Glen, are proposed to begin at 11 a.m. with a community parade down Lincoln Avenue from Coe to Minnesota avenues. Parade planners Jim Spence and Chris Carris have applications for parade participation available on the association's website, www.wgna.net. Applications are due in August. They are already sending out invitations to schools for their involvement and are particularly looking for musicians who can march in the parade.
The parade would end near Willow Glen Elementary School, which is where the group is proposing to hold the event, including food and arts and crafts vendors, information booths, a raffle or silent auction, merchandise sales, historic walking tours and possibly even people dressed in historic Willow Glen period costume. Entertainment would include two stages, one for local groups and another for professional bands and musicians.
The group is also proposing to hold a classic car show, possibly in the Washington Mutual Bank parking lot across the street from the school. The show would feature cars from the 1920s to the 1960s. Applications for participation in the show are available at www.wgna.net.
The group is still undecided about selling alcohol at the event, and such sales would not be allowed on the school campus. Group members are also discussing the design of an event logo and involving schools in a possible essay contest.
Planning meetings are held the second Monday of each month, and sign-up sheets will be available at the association's May 8 general meeting. For more information about the event or volunteering, visit www.wgna.net, email foundersday@wgna.net or call 408.294.WGNA.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
