Patti Aylward

The end of 2007 is, incredibly to me, just weeks away. And with the end of the year comes the end of the tenure on the Kansas City Irish Fest board of directors of another of our founders.

Kansas City Irish Fest Vice President Patti Aylward Kalb has had a hand on the Irish Fest helm since day one. Since those very first meetings around Kyle Kelly's dining room table, Patti has been the unfailing voice of reason and common sense among a group sometimes prone to flights of fancy. In those early heady days, it was Patti who kept us grounded and focused on the big picture. It was Patti who understood, and made sure we did too, that we couldn't just be thinking about the festival we were planning, but also the many years and festivals far in the future. She made sure that we made decisions wisely to insure that we'd be in this business for the long run. Without Patti's fiscal leadership and clear vision, I doubt that we'd have survived the rain out of 2003 to become the solvent and successful annual event that we are at the close of 2007.

As the festival grew and prospered, in addition to her leadership on the board, and her duties as the Irish Fest legal council, Patti made her mark on the first experience any of our patrons have at Irish Fest: the gates. As The Gate Keeper, Patti kept the crowds moving smoothly, the volunteer ticket takers happy, and masterfully soothed the occasional disgruntled fest goer. In her bright green Chuck Taylor hi-tops and brighter smile, she made sure that a trip to Irish Fest got off to the best start possible.

And speaking of bright, you can thank Patti for two of Irish Fest's brightest highlights. Both the annual fireworks display and our now famous bright green fountains are Patti Aylward productions, and are outward signs of Patti's well developed sense of fun and humor. Nobody on this board or on our staff makes me laugh harder than Patti does, and I can't tell you how much that will be missed at our board meetings.

Patti, a member of one of Kansas City's most storied and well known Irish families, has long been a leader of the Kansas City St. Patrick's Day parade in addition to her full time position at Irish Fest. And while she takes a well deserved break from the board, she will, we hope, continue to be The Gate Keeper, the conscience, the legal brain trust, the voice of reason and a very good friend to Irish Fest and all the people who make it happen.

The seat on the board occupied by Patti has been filled and an announcement is forthcoming as to who will take on the unenviable task of following her. Patti joins her fellow founders Pat O'Neill, Bob Sullivan, and Kyle Kelly on the honor roll of past board members effective January 1st, 2008. Please join me in expressing profound thanks to Patti for a job well done and for all the years of hard work and harder play still to come.

We love you Patti!