Successful year for NBMA despite challenges
Deborah Powell
BRISTOL – The Norway Bay Municipal Association (NBMA) board was all smiles at their Annual General Meeting, August 31, at Centennial Hall in Bristol. The NBMA is a volunteer organization that runs the six-week recreational program every summer that includes swimming, kayaking, field sports, tennis, musical theatre and arts as well as social activities.
In March 2024, news of the closure of the Norway Bay pier for safety reasons, where the NBMA swim docks and related programs traditionally took place, brought on “some tense moments and a lot of scrambling”, according to NBMA president, Pat Byrne. March and April are the months when planning and hiring of summer students to run the programs happens. To that big task was added the need to come up with an alternative set-up for swim docks. This was accomplished successfully, with Bristol municipality covering the cost of the docks. Instructors and participants adapted well to the new arrangement and feedback was very positive. “A big shout out to swim directors and supervisors” was definitely called for said Byrne.
NBMA programs run at a loss with the difference made up through money raised at social events and through donations. Although no federal grants were received this year to cover jobs, a big push for cost control along with successful fundraising meant the association ended the year in the black.
Photo – NBMA board members L/R: Emily Kent, Beth McGahern, Luc Sigman, Heather Baily, Patrick Byrne, Carrie Bothwell, Lisa Hamilton, and Kerry Starr. (DP)
