by Liz Carter
Daily Cougar StaffWith the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo winding down, the University of Houston sets its sights toward its own boot-kicker fest -- Frontier Fiesta.
After the Frontier Fiesta Board of Directors was selected last fall, the students and one alumnus, Rusty Hruska, began planning activities for this year's festivities during a two-day retreat.
Lisa Hull Nicholson, Frontier Fiesta board chairwoman, said, "The entire board consists of new members, except myself and Cheyenna Smith. I was a little scared, until I saw the creativity they produced."
This year's main goal is to make the festivities run more smoothly for organizations involved, Nicholson said.
Frontier Fiesta is open to all community, student and faculty organizations, she said. Organizations will be required to pay a site fee and follow the newly created Frontier Fiesta Policy and Procedure Manual rules.
After several forums were held with past participants and students, the board came up with some solutions for last year's problems, Nicholson said. These solutions were added to this year's manual.
"A lot of student organizations approached us with their concerns," she said. "Students were primarily concerned with cost. Some organizations spent up to $6,000 (last year)."
To alleviate some of the cost, Frontier Fiesta is purchasing tents and creating package deals for organizations to purchase, Nicholson said. It will be cheaper for student organizations and variety shows to rent the sites with tents already constructed.
"This system is unique for this year," Nicholson said. Students raised money from the community for the tents and for telephone poles that will stand at the Frontier Fiesta entrance.
"We're bringing in local artists and craftsmen, this year," she said. This will give participants something to do after seeing variety shows.
More educational organizations will be invited to set up true historical scenes. Native American Organizations, the Texas Rangers and the Buffalo Soldiers are some of the organizations attending.
Other organizations associated with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will also be attending, Nicholson said. Student organizations will also be sponsoring tours for attendants.
Profits from Frontier Fiesta will go toward scholarships and a venture for the university, she said. "Right now we are leaning toward a fund to refurbish the student weight room (in Garrison Gymnasium).
"Last year, we gave away 10 scholarships, totaling around $3,500. We look at them (scholarships and UH venture) as two different goals," Nicholson said.
Connection meetings, which were created to provide information to groups to make everything run as smoothly as possible, will be held every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the University Center Underground, Caribbean Room.
"It won't be muddy this year," Nicholson said. More than 20,000 people are expected to attend the festivities held on the easy-to-drain field (across from Entrance 1) that was crowned off this year with dirt from the new music building.
Festivities will be kicked off April 3 at 9 p.m., when all students are invited to attend the boot-kicking at Night Life, 921 W. FM 1960.