Where do I start?
This will be my 37th year for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival (TBF for short) and I wasn't in Town Park until my fourth year.
Not too many camps had names back then, and even some of the regulars didn't give their camp a name until much later in the game.
The first named camps I can remember were "Fishbone", "MASH tent" (because their original tent was a huge green canvas military style tent), and "Arizona Bowl" now called "Camp Billy" after the death of it's founder.
Then came "Camp DUK Tape", "Camp Happy", "Steamboat Crossroads", "The Herd", "Camp Tiki", "Camp Wander-In", "Camp Flamingo" and "Camp Run-a-muck".
We have developed quite the community over the years and have a system of dedicated family that puts in for the lottery each year so that we all can have a reunion in June.
It was back in the 90's when I was nominated Mayor of Town Park, and I was honored by Planet Bluegrass in 2003 with a lifetime pass so that I can continue my reign as mayor for as long as I wish.
I continue to do what I can for my constituents every year to make their stay in Town Park a memorable one.
For the last three years I have provided picnic tables by the food vendors so people can sit down to eat.
We continue to hold traditional events before the festival starts such as "Bloody Mary Monday", The birthday party at Smuggler's where we celebrate everyone's birthday, "Tropical Tuesday" and of course the big kickoff for the festival, "Rum-balls" on Wednesday afternoon.
I'll rest for now, and let some of the other veterans speak up.
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