Our committee would like to write and thank you for all the great pre- and post- coverage of our recent successful annual Seward Fourth of July Celebration.
     The coverage was very complete and we appreciate the partnership we have developed with your paper to promote our big day. The special edition was very complete and we thank you for the extra copies to share in the community. It was one of your best to date.
     Thank you, Seward County Independent management and staff, for making our annual event a permanent memory captured in newsprint.
     The 2007 theme for the annual July 4 Celebration in Seward was "Nebraska the Beautiful." It was a unique and special day for Seward and our slogan was most appropriate for a day filled with fun and entertainment for all age levels of the family. The weather and many factors contributed to one of our biggest and best celebrations to date. Indeed, it was a day I will always remember.
     Our July 4 Celebration Committee, however, is now faced with many ongoing, rising expenses for this event. While we do host fundraisers and request fees for the vendors, our costs continue to rise. It has been several years since we solicited "investment" donations for our celebration committee.
     It is true, many people just step forward and donate to our cause and we are grateful for their generous spirit. However, we have many unglamorous expenses, such as the portable toilets, insurance and advertising that must be funded, and we are asking you to consider an investment in our big day.
     We would be happy to discuss sponsorships
    
    for the 2008 celebration or if you would like to make a donation to our general fund, that would be great, too. Please send the investment to The Seward Fourth of July Celebration Committee, c/o Charlie Schumacher, Jones National Bank and Trust, Attention Treasurer, Box 469, Seward, NE 68434. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and we will send you an acknowledgment and a receipt for your investment donation.
     It has really been a wonderful learning experience for me personally to work with so many great volunteers in our community, and I am very proud of the work they did to make our celebration such a success. Many communities look to Seward as a celebration model, and we do want to continue the tradition established so many years ago.
     While it is often difficult to beat last year, we try to keep the day traditional yet exciting. Our committee is a dedicated group of volunteers that meets monthly on the third Thursday. Our next meeting is Thursday, July 19, at noon at the Civic Center and we hope you can attend to offer constructive critiques or volunteer to assist us with next year's celebration.
     It is wonderful how this very committed group of adult volunteers allows the Seward High students to also lead and serve on the committee. Many groups from Seward High are involved in the day and we appreciate the opportunity to be part of something so important.
     Special thanks to Mr. Ron Lamberty and the high school administration for allowing us to meet over the noon hour at Seward High during the school year.
     We appreciate all the support of the community and many businesses and industry that have stepped up and helped through the years. I especially appreciated the many families that donated to my suggestion of having each family in Seward donating $10 to the committee.
     I know that this year's event, coupled with honoring our local celebrity Denny Brauer, created a celebration to remember. Now we just have to finish paying for it. Can you help?
     I will always remember my years on the Seward Fourth of July Celebration Committee and I am so glad I have been involved in such a wonderful activity and such a great community. Good luck, Seward. Keep celebrating.
    Nick Lee, Seward
    Youth coordinator
    Fourth of July Committee