Come to Portland St. Patrick Parish Festival

Seventy people filled out Comment Cards at the 2009 Parish Festival.  Here's what we learned from those cards:

When they attended:

24 All three days
18 Sunday only
13 Saturday/Sunday
8 Saturday only
2 Friday only
2 Friday/Saturday
2 Friday/Sunday

What they liked:

28 Chicken Dinner
17 Outdoor Mass
14 Food
9 3-on-3 on Union Street
8 Late Nite Catechism
5 French Fries
4 Kids Games
3 New Set Up
3 Elephant Ears
2 Golf
2 Handicap Transportation
2 Friendly staff
2 Band on Sunday

What they suggested:

5 Volleyball for teens
4 Carnival rides
3 Dunk tank
3 Pie eating contest
3 Swing dancing for teens
3 Water slide
3 Move SB back to FFF
2 Move 5K to Friday
2 Bingo
2 Shorter shifts
2 Better system for French Fries and Elephant Ears when the Food Court is busy

Some of their comments:

☻ Get more 80-year old workers.  They don’t complain.
☻ It was a great weekend with perfect weather!
☻ I can help with a better sound system (Therese Jandernoa)
☻ Change the route for the 5K.  Have it begin and end at the school.
☻ The show on Friday night was fantastic!
☻ The dinner was a dud—at 2:00 p.m. all of the food was cold.
☻ The chicken dinner was great as usual.  Don’t change a thing.
☻ Have parish families compete to see how many relatives attend.
☻ We come every year from St. Mary’s Parish in GR.  You have a great dinner.  Everyone is so friendly.
☻ The play on Friday evening was hilarious.  I’m glad I attended.  I hope that the nun comes back next year.
☻ The outdoor mass was beautiful.  The people who transported the handicapped were so kind and friendly.
☻ The food lines moved quickly.
☻ I loved the small town atmosphere of a traditional parish festival.
☻ Bring back Maria’s Tacos.  The food selection is too limited.
☻ Everyone does a fabulous job.  Thank you!
☻ The mass was great.  The dinner was very good.
☻ Tell the Sunday band thank you for not playing too loud.
☻ It should be mentioned at mass that transportation is available for people who have trouble walking.
☻ The play was super!
☻ Make the music a little quieter so that it’s easier to talk.
☻ Need hard ice cream.  Soft melts too fast.
☻ Need to advertise the individual events—Guitar Hero, Euchre, etc. more.
☻ Softball at the Flats–Good Idea!

Comments in previous years were responsible for bringing back elephant ears, french fries,  and ice cream sundaes.  Comments were responsible for the decision to open the Food Court on Sunday, to serve beer on Sunday...and to change/improve the kids games and activities.  We really do pay attention to what you think! 

So, if you attended the Parish Festival and you'd like to make a comment or suggestion, just fill out a card and send it in.  Your comments will be carefully reviewed in an effort to make next year's Parish Festival even better!