As you can see we have entered the 21st Century via our new website that will take the place of the bulky and expensive one time mailing we sent out every year past. We are sending a post card to remind everyone to send in a donation, ($50/family) or whatever you can send. We would love to have your email address so we can perhaps go “all electronic” and eliminate the post card and related expenses. We WILL NOT give your email address to anyone!

This year’s show happens to fall on the 4th because it is the closest Saturday to the Holiday. Next years show 2010 will be Saturday July 3rd, 2010. Always 9:30PM off Billy Goat Island.

Rain delay policy is we will delay the show up to1 hour before deciding if we have to go to Sunday night July 5th, 2009. The set up, storage, and crew issues make it very difficult to go to the following Saturday night.

Pyrotecnico, New Castle PA www.pyrotecnico.com is again our show producer. They are one of the largest producers or fireworks displays in the world. They are fully insured via a $10M general liability policy and have an excellent safety record.

Let me again emphasize the importance of boating safety during this event. Treat the lake as a NO WAKE ZONE the evening of the show. Slow down and enjoy the ride. I love ROCK AND ROLL, but not if its coming from the lake water! Also stay back from the shooting site at least 900 feet to avoid falling embers from the shells. Check your lights, life jackets, and fire extinguisher before idling to the show site.

Thanks again for your generous support for all these years!

Have a fantastic summer on the best and most beautiful lake in the South!

I again received lots of “thank you’s” and positive feedback and I really appreciate hearing from you. We did come up short of our fundraising goal and because of the confusion with our new website I thought it best to mail an accounting of where we are (see below). I would ask for the support of any who perhaps had meant to send a contribution but encountered issues with the website or for whatever reason hadn’t gotten to it.  If your name is not on the list enclosed we have not yet received a contribution from you at the time of this printing.  Also, please send us your email address for spring correspondence; we will not give it out.

As you can see here we need an additional $2453.73 to cover hard expenses and another $5000 to have a beginning balance for deposits and printing expenses for next spring 2010. We have always had a balance to cover these items.

Here are the number of contributors from the last 2 years and also 2009. As you can see we are 100 or more families short and closer to 200 families if you look at 4-5 years ago.
2007 contributors: 476 families
2008 contributors: 482 families
2009 contributors: 383 families

We need 173 families to send $50 each or fewer families if some are so kind as to be more generous. You can follow the progress of this request on this website and we will update the 2009 contributors as well. We have no sponsor so “you send it we spend it” determines the size of the show.  I would hate to reduce the size of the show in 2010, each year for 28 years has been “The Best Ever” thanks to your generosity!

Kindest Regards,    Hal Rhoad

Dear Neighbors:
For those who don’t know me my name is Hal Rhoad and for 27 years I have had the pleasure of organizing the annual “Forth of July” fireworks show on Lake Burton. Thanks to your generosity this continues to be a great evening of fun.  Unlike other fireworks shows Lake Burton has no “corporate sponsor”.  For 27 years basically “you send it and we spend it” has grown from a $3,000 show to this years $23,500. (See financial statement enclosed)

DETAILS FOR THIS YEAR ARE AS FOLLOWS:
When:        Saturday, July 5 @ 9:30 p.m.
Where:            South End of Billy Goat Island
Rain Date:    Sunday, July 6, 2008 (See note below)

Our reserve fund is at a reasonable level so we are planning on a strong year and a show of $23,550 is on order and we hope you will respond accordingly.  Again we are asking for a $30.00 per family contribution, many of you are more generous and it is appreciated.  (See 2007 contributions list enclosed)

Pyrotecnico out of New Castle, PA is again our show producer.  Because of the growth of the show and the large shells included please stay back at least 900 feet from the shooting site and out from under falling embers as this is an obvious fire hazard.

Rain Delay:  Our “rain policy” is as follows:  If it is raining at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, “shoot night”, then we will delay the show 30 minutes and reevaluate our chances for shooting.  We will then and only then make the decision to shoot or postpone the show until Sunday night.  An announcement to postpone will come by bullhorn from the crew on the island after consulting with me.  There is no reasonable way to contact all of you by phone. Storms can blow through quickly.  If it is raining you will have to use your best judgment as to whether to come out so you can hear the announcement to postpone.  Let’s pray for perfect weather!

We are still accident free for the past 27 years!  I would like to ask all of you to treat the entire lake as a NO-WAKE ZONE to and from the show.  Also, please make sure running lights, life preservers, and fire extinguishers are there and in good working order – let’s be safe!

SPECIAL THANKS to John Welch and Pat Thompson for the use of the barge to transport the truckload of shells and equipment safe and dry to Billy Goat Island.  THANK YOU!!!

ALSO, MY THANKS, to Wildcat Volunteer Fire Department, Lakes Fire and Rescue, and Mountain Patrol for helping with safety and logistics: Julie Barnett with Coldwell Banker Mountain Brokers and the Georgia Power Company for their much appreciated help with this event.

Best wishes for a great summer!!!
Hal J. Rhoad

Make checks payable to: Lake Burton Fireworks.  Please use the enclosed self-addressed envelop with all contributions and mail by July 1st, 2008 (in order to ensure proper listing on the contributors list).  Also, please write on your check how you prefer your name to be listed on the contributor’s list.  If you have any questions, please contact me at (770) 449-1444 ext. 207 . Our address is Lake Burton Fireworks c/o Cherokee Metals Company, 4648 South Old Peachtree Road, Norcross, GA 30071.
Email is halrhoad@cherokeemetals.com

Dear Neighbors:
For those who don’t know me my name is Hal Rhoad and for 26 years I have had the pleasure of organizing the annual “Forth of July” fireworks show on Lake Burton. Thanks to your generosity this continues to be a great evening of fun.  Unlike other fireworks shows Lake Burton has no “corporate sponsor”.  For 26 years basically “you send it and we spend it” has grown from a $3,000 show to this years $21,750. (See financial statement enclosed)

DETAILS FOR THIS YEAR ARE AS FOLLOWS:
When:        Saturday, June 30 @ 9:30 p.m.
Where:            South End of Billy Goat Island
Rain Date:    Sunday, July 1, 2007 (See note below)

Our reserve fund is at a reasonable level (see enclosed) so we are planning on a strong year and a show of $21,750 is on order and we hope you will respond accordingly.  Again we are asking for a $30.00 per family contribution, many of you are more generous and it is appreciated.  (See 2006 contributors list enclosed)

Pyrotecnico out of New Castle, PA is again our show producer.  Because of the growth of the show and the large shells included please stay back at least 900 feet from the shooting site and out from under falling embers as this is an obvious fire hazard.

Rain Delay:  Our “rain policy” is as follows:  If it is raining at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, “shoot night”, then we will delay the show 30 minutes and reevaluate our chances for shooting.  We will then and only then make the decision to shoot or postpone the show until Sunday night.  An announcement to postpone will come by bullhorn from the crew on the island after consulting with me.  There is no reasonable way to contact all of you by phone. Storms can blow through quickly.  If it is raining you will have to use your best judgment as to whether to come out so you can hear the announcement to postpone.  Let’s pray for perfect weather!

We are still accident free for the past 26 years!  I would like to ask all of you to treat the entire lake as a NO-WAKE ZONE to and from the show.  Also, please make sure running lights, life preservers, and fire extinguishers are there and in good working order – let’s be safe!

SPECIAL THANKS to John Welch and Pat Thompson for the use of the barge to transport the truckload of shells and equipment safe and dry to Billy Goat Island.  THANK YOU!!!

ALSO, MY THANKS, to Wildcat Volunteer Fire Department, Lakes Fire and Rescue, and Mountain Patrol for helping with safety and logistics: Julie Barnett with Coldwell Banker Mountain Brokers and the Georgia Power Company for their much appreciated help with this event.

Best wishes for a great summer!!!

Hal J. Rhoad

Make checks payable to: Lake Burton Fireworks.  Please use the enclosed self-addressed envelop with all contributions and mail by July 1st, 2007 (in order to ensure proper listing on the contributors list).  Also, please write on your check how you prefer your name to be listed on the contributor’s list.  If you have any questions, please contact Susan Rhoad or myself at (770) 449-1444 ext. 201 or ext. 207 respectively. Our address is Lake Burton Fireworks c/o Cherokee Metals Company, 4648 South Old Peachtree Road, Norcross, GA 30071.
Email is halrhoad@cherokeemetals.com