Concerts

3/10/01

Dear Friends of Blissfest,

The Blissfest has withdrawn its request for a Traditional arts Education Center PUD( planned unit development). We are going to have to put on hold any dreams of a Traditional Arts Education Camp. It appears that the political winds have not blown in our favor( see letter from our President). Instead we have submitted a Special Use Permit proposal to allow the use of additional auxiliary camping on 80 acres of our property and adjoining leased property during our weekend festival only. This additional permit, along with our existing S.U.P. that allows the festival on our original 40 acres, we hope will at least keep the festival going. We have been forced to change our strategy and hire a lawyer due to a handful of aggressive and radical neighbors a mile away who have hired a lawyer and are trying to eliminate the festival from our property after 13 years. This group appears to be looking for a technicality to challenge the existing Special Use Permit. It is time for the Blissfest faithful to mobilize and support our new plan if we are to have a festival at all. We are all quite disappointed and concerned but want to remind people to keep the faith, maintain a Bliss Attitude and mobilize. Updates will be posted regularly. Our 21st Annual Festival is scheduled for July 13-15, 2001. Thanks

How can you help????

1.Inform Yourself: Read details of the new Special Use Permit request. The plan is available on line at New SUP Plan. There is also a good synopsis and full narrative of our original request for a Traditional Arts Education Center on line. The Blissfest original plan presented a progressive, responsible model for land use and managed growth along with preserving cultural heritage and diversity. It is consistent with long term land use goals proposed in the Emmet Co. Master Plan.

Read letters from our president & board of directors and director for additional background.We will also be publishing additional letters of support as well as some of the oppositions letters.

2.Make your voice heard by doing the following:

a.Write a letter of support to:
Readmond Township Board, 6008 Wormwood Lane, Harbor Springs, MI 49740
Emmet County Planning Commission, 200 Division St., Petoskey, MI 49770

b. Send letters to the Editor to:
Petoskey News Review, 319 State St. PO Box 528 Petoskey, MI 49770
Northern Express, PO Box 209, Traverse City, MI 49685
Traverse Record Eagle, 120 W. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49684

Letters to the Editor in the Petoskey paper should be 300 words or less . Guest commentary can be up to 600 words. Contact Debbie Dorherty at 231/347-2544

c. Attend public meetings to voice your support. Schedule of meetings is listed below.

d. E-mail us with a letter of support and we will pass it on to the planning authorities.

e. Pass the word and tell your friends and any supporters of the Blissfest to get involved.

Please be positive and respectful when presenting your support letters and any contact with the local planning authorities. We suggest that you focus on your unique experience with the Blissfest, how the Blissfest benefits you and how we rate as a cultural experience and a cultural tourism destination. You may also want to reflect on the values that you share with the Blissfest Music Organization. We would also encourage folks to speak out on the merits of our current SUP request as well as our long-term plan.

3. Public Meeting Schedule: Zoning Board of Appeals April 17th at Emmet County Building 7:30pm.

Some Background and request for support:

Attention……..The Blissfest needs your support . Help Save Our Bliss!!!!!. The Blissfest festival is under attack by a group of local residents who are distributing exaggerated, distorted and misleading information about the festival. They have taken isolated incidents out of proportion and are attempting to discredit the Blissfest and polarize the local population against us. They have circulated a petition against the original plan with bias and inaccuracies using questionable methods and misrepresenting the Blissfest in an attempt to scare the local population. They alleges that the Blissfest and our long term plan is a threat to the local environment, public safety, infrastructure and roads. They are also writing inflammatory letters to the Petoskey News Review(1/2/01).They have a lawyer and are working to create a perception in the community ment to demonize the Blissfest. These people are tenacious and appear willing to resort to distorting and misrepresenting the Blissfest and the Blissfest Plan in order to get their way. Their publicaly stated goal is to eliminate the Blissfest Festival in their neighborhood. In fact they are suggesting that we simply move Blissfest to the Emmet Co. Fairgrounds, Mackinaw City or any other location where we can grow unabated. They do not understand the Blissfest culture and our intentions to manage our growth and maintain the rural character of the area that we have come to love. We must mobilize, organize and fight back if Blissfest and the Blissfest Organization is to continue at the festival farm location that we currently own.

We are sensitive to and do understand concerns about growth in Northern Michigan as well as concerns about maintaining a rural quality of life. In fact, our mission is to preserve cultural heritage that includes music, dance and oral traditions. I also believe that our mission and plan will have a positive impact on preserving our collective rural heritage. Our plan is intended actually enhance the rural quality of life in the area in the long run and go a long way to protect it. The plan will also address fears of uncontrolled Blissfest expansion with limitations provided by a conditions of use agreement. I feel that ultimately our proposal balances the needs of the Blissfest, local community and the greater community.

I hope that over the past years that we have earned your trust you feel that we have been good neighbors making every effort to minimize any inconvenience that we impose with our annual fundraising event. We provide our own adequate infrastructure for our annual festival including medical, security, sanitary and food concessions. We have also provided dust control in the area and have worked with local folks to manage traffic flow. We have also provided additional sanitary facilities at the Cross Village Township beach and Cross Village Store. I hope that you will support our proposal to create a Traditional Arts Education Center. I look forward to your comments and any concerns you have regarding the proposal.

Donations are being accepted for the Blissfest Legal Defense Fund. We are incurring a tremendous cost in order to defend ourselves. We have spent almose $10,000 so far and it will probably double. All donations are Tax Deductible as allowed by law. Send your tax deductible gift to: Blissfest Defense , PO Box 441, Harbor Springs, MI 49740. Make Checks out to Blissfest.

You can also donate over the web when you order tickets. Ticket orders will be available on our website on March 17th.