LDS Church and City of Lodi Join Hands

I normally don't post about an event before it happens, but there has been a ton of "public affairs" going on with the upcoming Remembrance Ceremony and Preparedness Fair on September 10. Before you read the story, watch this little one-minute video! I thought that this year we should have a "commercial" about this event--not just flyers and announcements. Karen Hansen offered to make it. She did a great job for her first time making a video. It's on YouTube. Please share it and help us spread the word around the stake and our communities.

We have been trying for years to become friends with city officials and VIPs (government, fire, police, education, etc.) and have pretty much failed.
That changed this year because of the excellent job church members did on the "Mormon Helping Hands" activity in April. The persons mainly responsible for the success of this event (besides all the workers!) were High Councilmen Ranse Gale, Earl McOmber, Kevin Stewart, and Dan Sroufe. They made an effort to contact those in the city who were in a position to help. They developed a relationship with them.
Dan saw another opportunity to bond with the city and approached them about the Preparedness Fair, chaired by Dave Gillingwater. They agreed and said they have wanted to do a remembrance to commerate 9/11, and the fair could be combined with that. The event will be held Saturday, September 10 at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi.
Given major responsibility for the program, Dan has invited Galt student Dallas Doermann to speak about his father's service in Iraq. A quartet from Galt First Ward will sing "My Country Tis of Thee." The city will add a bagpipe player, a bugler playing taps, honor guard, 21-gun salute, and more.
All of this will be outside from 9 to 10 a.m. Then the fair will begin in Crete Hall and be open until 1 p.m. It will feature many informational booths and displays arranged by Dave Gillingwater. (Watch for a poster with more details.) Fire engines and other large activities will be held outdoors.
Jeff Hood, Lodi's communications specialist, has arranged pre-event coverage in local newspapers, and has contacted Channel 10 in Sacramento about spotlighting the event. Our PA staff will be emphasizing the value the LDS Church places on preparation and humanitarian activities throughout the world. I have obtained photos from Church Public Affairs, The Church News, and LDS Philanthropies. Below is just one of the pictures we will be displaying in Crete Hall.


THIS IS THE POSTER FOR THE FAIR