You know the old cliché: The only thing that does not change is change itself. Think back over the past twenty years (those of you who are old enough) and you know that’s true.
This New Year’s Eve, First Night celebrates its twentieth anniversary. Twenty years ago a community-minded group of entrepreneurs spent a lot of time and risked their own money to produce First Night for Maplewood and South Orange. Some of them are still here! Talk about dedication.
As much as we want First Night to be a constant factor in our communities, it also must change because the environment in which we live has changed. Twenty years ago no one had a flat screen TV or DVD’s. No one tweeted or twittered. We are bombarded with stimuli, all of it demanding our attention.
As we step into 2012, what happens next? Faced with tightening resources, particularly the generous hours from volunteers and board members, we have realistically scaled back. We have focused on the entertainment your feedback told us you really liked. For the young and young at heart, the circus was ‘IT’! So the circus is back. As are other favorites like origami. And music. Listening to the pulse of the community, and after many meetings, we selected folk music and of that, the best of the best: Livingston Taylor.
But our communities continue to evolve and so must First Night. Will you be part of that? Are you willing to help sort through the blizzard of options and keep New Year’s Eve a time for renewal, anticipation and fun? What will it be next? We don’t know – but you do.
Don’t let December 31, 2013 be dark and quiet. What will First Night become? You are the answer! Talk to us. BRING IT ON!!!
