By Courtney D. Clark
The 2010 Friends of Coal Auto Fair is more than nine months away, but organizers have already decided who will headline the Saturday concert.
Charlie Daniels Band, whose 2006 show was a runaway success for the fair, will make a return appearance in 2010.
The FOC Auto Fair, coming into its seventh year, is a fundraiser for the Beckley-Raleigh County YMCA.
“It’s going to be huge,” said Y CEO Jim Gilchrist. “We have had so many folks ask for Charlie Daniels to come back. That has been our largest concert so far.”
Gilchrist said that while the 2009 auto fair was a success, he’s always looking for ways to make the next year bigger and better.
Planning is well under way for the 2010 fair, and Gilchrist said a contract for the carnival has already been signed.
News of the 2010 FOC Auto Fair plans came during a luncheon at Pasquale’s sponsored by the YMCA to recognize the local media’s immeasurable contribution to publicizing the event.
Jay Rist, marketing and membership director for the Y, presented plaques to The Register-Herald, Southern Communications, WVNS59, 99.5 WJLS, WVVA-TV, WOAY-TV and Jill Moorefield of the City of Beckley’s Renaissance program, in appreciation of their efforts and support during the 2009 auto fair.
“The media is a catalyst for promoting the Friends of Coal Auto Fair, and it’s very important for us to have that partnership,” Rist said.
“It takes the entire community pulling together to put something of that magnitude on,” Rist said, “and if the word doesn’t get out, then the turnout just isn’t what we want it to be. That is what we’re all about — serving the community — and the media does a great job for us.”
“Today is all about saying thank you,” Gilchrist added, “because we simply could not do this without the media.”
As a token of appreciation, Gilchrist said the YMCA recognizes each media outlet as a Platinum Sponsor in the annual auto fair.
In addition to the auto fair, there are several exciting things coming up at Beckley’s YMCA.
“We have kicked off a capital campaign to the tune of $1.6 million for an addition to our current building,” Rist said. “We are going to be expanding out and centralizing our pre-school there.”
The project also calls for the construction of multi-purpose meeting rooms and extensive renovation in the pool area.
Gilchrist says the largest addition in YMCA history will construct an 800-square-foot therapeutic pool, and plans are in the works for a children’s wellness area as well.
The YMCA expects to break ground on the addition no later than May 1, 2010.
Rist also put in a plug for another event upcoming.
“We can’t forget about the Spirit of Beckley Kick-Off Breakfast coming up Tuesday, Nov. 3,” Rist continued.
The 2009 Spirit of Beckley award recipient is Beckley Mayor Emmett Pugh.
“It is a great honor, and I think Mayor Pugh is most deserving,” Gilchrist said.
“He has done an outstanding job for the city and for this community,” Rist added.
The director said all proceeds from the capital campaign and the Spirit of Beckley go toward subsidizing YMCA youth programs and providing memberships to those in need.
— E-mail: cclark@register-herald.com
