The future of Windjammer Days has been decided, at least for the meantime.

On December 17, the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to award the bid to the Friends of Windjammer Days committee.

Mark and Dianne Gimbel met with Chamber board members two days later to discuss taking over the region's summertime festival.

The Gimbels, representing the Friends of Windjammer Days committee, were just one of two organizations who submitted proposals. The other party interested was a Chamber member that had several business ties to the Midcoast region, but the Chamber chose to award the local group who had the prior experience volunteering with Windjammer Days.

The Chamber handed down a few conditions along with the responsibility of running the event.

The Friends of Windjammers committee must form a Maine based nonprofit organization by January 21, 2014. The Chamber agreed to retain liability over next year's event and is willing to fund the initial start-up expenses, while assisting with the transition into a nonprofit. The Friends of Windjammers committee must adopt bylaws, and appoint a logistics coordinator as well as a liaison to work with the Chamber. Should the committee fail to meet the commitments by March 31, the Chamber will resume control over the Windjammer Days festival.

According to the Chamber's conditions stipulated by the board of directors, if the Friends of Windjammer Days do not accept the terms and do not apply for Maine nonprofit status by January 21, the Chamber will award the proposal to the other party that submitted a proposal.

In an email to the Boothbay Register, Dianne Gimbel wrote, “We are happy to be chosen and we are discussing the conditions with the Friends (of Windjammer Days). We are looking forward to a really great WJD 2014.”

Peter Ripley, who has worked the Boothbay Harbor waterfront since 1972, was recently appointed to the Friends of Windjammer Days Board of Directors. Ripley responded in an email that he was very happy with the Chamber's decision to award the bid to the local group.

“The conditions made by the Chamber were not completely unexpected and the Friends of Windjammers Days are continuing discussions with the Chamber,” Ripley wrote. “Most of all we are all looking forward to a fantastic WJD 2014!”

The festival staying in local control was welcoming news to many, however some members of the Friends of Windjammer Days committee expressed concern of becoming a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit.

Boothbay Region YMCA Director Andy Hamblett responded in an email to the Friends of Windjammer Days committee that the YMCA would continue to support committee during the transition, however he recommended that the Chamber reconsider allowing the Friends of Windjammer Days committee to stay under the purview of the Chamber.

“Windjammer Days is a community event we all enjoy and business benefit from, however I do not see the charitable status.” Hamblett wrote. “I am concerned with the sustainability of nonprofits as another organization is added to our region.”

Boothbay Town Manager Jim Chaousis is the newly appointed president of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. According to a press release from the Chamber, Chaousis said he “feels a strong responsibility to shepherd the process.” 

“We are asking for these conditions to simply align the mission of Windjammer Days with a nonprofit that shares the mission more closely and look forward to working with the Friends,” Chaousis said. 

The Chamber's board of directors will reconvene on January 21 to discuss the terms with the Friend's of Windjammer Days Committee.