A word with the president
It only takes two blinks of an eye to travel the length of Main street in Brome, an 'off the beaten track' village with one exception - Labor Day weekend, the days always set aside for the big Brome Fair, an event drawing thousands from near and far. Neighbours will turn front and back yards into giant parking lots and this street will be constantly filled with pedestrians and traffic.
But a fair this size is a challenging undertaking, one which has recorded many record years in its 173-year history. One word, dedication, comes to mind. With sixteen members on the board and a long list of dedicated presidents through the years, the answer to this success can be found easily by getting acquainted with these folks whose continued support and commitment has resulted in an outstanding book of records.
Usually, each year, a new president takes the helm. This year, Gaylon Davis heads up what he calls a dynamic team including a legion of volunteers, sponsors and supporters. :This is the fifth time as president for me," he remarked, "and we're hoping this will be giving folks a taste of what we're planning for the 175th next year," he said. Davis, who
grew up in Bolton Pass nearby, didn’t mention his input through over twenty years on the board, which resulted in many improvements at the fair. Safety and security has always been one of his priorities, resulting in bringing safety programs to this event where the challenge is making a family's visit to the fair pleasant, informative and safe. A new system keeps track of children as they wander away from parents and family. Visitors streaming through the main gate see a giant screen where activities on the grounds are constantly being videoed. Davis, along with communications expert Ernie Banks, another past president, initiated public telephones and bank machines, turned the towerfloor on the Main building into a communications center recording by camera the length and breadth of the grounds and updating and improving the first aid stations and rest areas for mothers and infants.
"We must encourage young people to join the team," he said in an interview last week. "New ideas and the energy younger board members bring to the table are major factors as we plan each year's fair." Directors serve four years on the Brome Fair board and usually the president's term lasts one year with a
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