Sound the alarm! The planning for the 45th Annual Fire Fighters convention, September 11, 12, 13, and 14, is gathering momentum and seeking sponsors and advertisers.

This will be the first time the convention has been hosted on the Boothbay peninsula. And, with approximately 400 fire stations in the state, … it will be a mighty long while before it returns to these parts again!

That's why it is so important for local businesses to come out as sponsors and/or vendors during this four-day event.

Their creativity kindled, Committee Chairman John Long, of the Boothbay Fire Department, Boothbay Fire Chief Dick Spofford, and the rest of the committee, have produced a stimulating, educational, fun-filled event. The convention will draw thousands of visitors to the region including fire fighters and their families representing all companies, and our community.

Before we recap the event schedule, here are some hot advertising opportunities the committee has devised.

Inclusion in the 64-69 page, 8-1/2" x 11" commemorative booklet, is a history-making must.

Prime Ads for local advertisers are priced as follows: Back cover - $2,750; inside front cover - $1,500; inside back cover - $1,250; back cover - $1,250.

Color Ad pricing: Full page - $625; half-page - $475; quarter-page - $325; one-eighth page - $175.

Black and white ad pricing: Full page - $550; half-page - $400; quarter-page - $225; one-eighth page - $150.

Long advises that members of the committee will be out over the next few weeks seeking advertisers - and sponsors.

The final deadline for advertising in the commemorative booklet is May 16 - and that's but mere weeks from now.

Several novel options are out there for sponsors - and the committee isn't simply blowing smoke!

The Video Roadshow LED Video Wall is a 9' x 12' video wall with 14mm pitch, making it the highest resolution LED video wall on a trailer.

The giant 9' x 12' video screen can be rotated 360 degrees and it houses a high-quality speaker system - a monster medium for sending out an S.O.S. - or information about your business/product/service throughout the convention.

The system includes a rack of audio and visual equipment to output video and sound from a DVD or other formats.

Bruce Froehlich of Southport brought this opportunity to the committee.

"We are looking for 10 sponsors whose two-minute advertising loop, created by them, will be broadcast alternately with the events schedule, Fire Fighter I and II training in a video game format and, possibly a live camera feed," said Froehlich.

Pricing will be determined in time for next week's Boothbay Register. The submission deadline for video and/or multimedia content is on, or before, August 5, 2008.

Froehling added that should an entity on the peninsula be interested in utilizing the Video Roadshow LED Video Wall a few days before or after the convention - give him a shout. He can be reached at 633-3084.

"The Video Roadshow provides a great way to promote local companies, organizations, products and services while supporting the region's firefighters," Froehlic said.

The video screen will be located at various points, beginning at the YMCA parking lot, which brings us to the vendor opportunities.

The call is out for 35 to 40 vendors to fill the space at the Field House in the tennis courts area. Several spots are still available!

Convention booklet advertisers receive a discounted rate. The registration fees are as follows: one booth/one table $150; if you have a half-page ad in the booklet - $125; with a full-page ad in the booklet - $100. Outdoor display area fees for exhibitors are $100 (no convention booklet ad) or $50 (with a convention booklet ad).

For more information on sponsorship, vendor space, or booklet advertising contact Long at 380-9239. All convention related forms - vendor, exhibitor, sponsor, or booklet, can be downloaded at www.boothbayfiredept.com

Advertising packets are available at the Boothbay Town Office, or stop in and see Long at Poole Brothers Lumber. Don't miss this opportunity to play a central role in a historic moment in Boothbay's history - and to support our region's firefighters.

Just for fun, Boothbay firefighter Mike Marr designed a special logo for the convention. The front logo has a lobster on a ladder, in the center of a red ring.

The back logo depicts the same firefighter lobster atop a ladder, but this time he is preparing to cool off the water in the lobster pot.

Expect to see the firefighting lobster displayed on T-shirts, hats mugs and glasses. The logo is entertaining, humorous and extremely region-appropriate.

Long and Spofford welcome all who wish to volunteer to help with this event, expected to draw 4 to 5,000 visitors to our region, to attend the next meeting, Thursday, May 22 at 6 p.m. at the Boothbay Fire Department.

Volunteers will be needed for setup, organization of the parade and other facets of the convention, checking in apparatus - there will be roughly 125 apparatus here from the visiting departments.

Speaking of the parade, Spofford announced that Harry Pinkham is the Grand Marshal for the September 13 parade. Pinkham is a former Boothbay Harbor fire chief, and headed up traffic control for numerous years.

"Harry has given years of service to all the departments on the peninsula," Spofford said. "He has been an honorary member of the Boothbay fire department for a very long time."

On Thursday, September 11 , the board of directors will hold a meeting and enjoy a cruise aboard the Nellie G.

Friday, September 12, beginning at 8:30 a.m. a Memorial Dedication to 9-11 will be held on the athletic field at Boothbay Region High School (BRHS).

A craft fair will be held on the Boothbay Common.

Vendors will be at the Field House. Items you may expect to find include equipment, collectibles, clothing, supplies, toys, and more!

Firefighters and their families will enjoy a whale-watching cruise.

A chicken barbeque, sponsored by the Boothbay Civic Association, will be held on the Boothbay Common with musical accompaniment.

Saturday, September 13, the parade will begin at 10 a.m., starting at BRHS.

Antique apparatus judging will be held in conjunction with the parade.

Equipment demonstrations will be held on the BRHS athletic fields.

A banquet and dance at the Spruce Point Inn will be held in the evening, advance tickets are $25 per person.

Sunday, September 14, brings the fun and excitement that is the traditional muster! Department teams will rival for trophies and bragging rights in various competitions.

And that's the way the convention looks today. Contact Long for advertising, sponsorship, and vendor opportunities and./or attend the next meeting on May 22.

So, come on, get FIRED up! History awaits!