The images of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau and the Regatta at Lake Arthur's organizational committee aren't enhanced by having to annually beg for money in order to hold a fireworks display during the two-day boating event.

This year's regatta is set for Aug. 4 and 5 at Moraine State Park.

Somehow, regatta budgeting must be organized to make annual provision for such an expenditure, if the bureau and committee truly regard the fireworks display as an essential part of the regatta festivities. Making the fireworks contingent on someone's last-minute generosity is not the way to plan the fireworks display.

Last year, the bureau and committee delivered the message that the fireworks display was in jeopardy because of a lack of funds. In response, an anonymous donor offered $1,000 toward the display if regatta officials were able to raise the other $4,000 that was needed.

The effort was successful and the fireworks display was held.

It would have been assumed that the 2006 experience would have evoked some new well-in-advance planning in regard to the 2007 fireworks.

Instead, the regatta is facing the same fireworks challenge and uncertainty that it faced last year. With just over a month before the regatta sets sail, event organizers, as of Friday, still were awaiting someone to step forward with the estimated $5,000 needed to ensure that the skies will be livened and brightened by this exciting feature.

Jack Cohen, tourism bureau executive director, said this year's regatta will be bigger than last year's, with more vendors than past years.

"It looks promising," he said, in reference to the overall event, which last year attracted approximately 60,000 people.

Between this year's and the 2008 regatta, organizers should try to develop a cluster of businesses, or a cluster of businesses and individuals, who could be depended upon to provide the needed fireworks funds.

Expecting someone — or some group of individuals or businesses — to annually step forward with $4,000 or $5,000 under a last-minute appeal exposes the fireworks to too much uncertainty.

Some of the people who attend the regatta choose to do so only because of the fireworks. Without the fireworks, there could be some drop in overall event attendance.

But that's not the point. The point is that such a significant component of the regatta should not be handled in such a slipshod way.

Regatta organizers should commit themselves to avoiding a "three-peat" of the fireworks money dilemma in 2008.