Cumbow keeping up with Slidell festivities

Slidell travel agent Eleanor Cumbow was happily waving a piece of paper, a printout of an e-mail message.

It wasn’t a reservation for a three-week luxury cruise, or a stay in a five-star hotel. It was an update of how many hits the Web site for Slidell had gotten earlier in the week.

“It says there were 12,962 hits on Tuesday,” she said gleefully. “That’s more than we’ve gotten in an entire month!”

Cumbow owns Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Slidell. When she’s not helping folks plan their dream vacation, she serves as chair of the Slidell Heritage Foundation, a post she has held since the annual holiday event began more than 10 years ago. Comprised of members of Rotary Club of Slidell and Rotary of Slidell Northshore, she is one of only four charter members remaining on the board.

Today’s festival will be the third year in a row the July 4 celebration has been held in Heritage Park. It started with former Slidell Mayor Sam Caruso, who wanted to have a family event in Olde Towne, and the Rotarians were looking for a community service project.

Cumbow joined Rotary shortly after moving to Slidell in 1984.

“I had read lots of stories about Rotary, and the projects they did,” said Cumbow. “It seemed like a good way to meet other business owners, or people with similar interests, and give something back at the same time.”

Planning and organizing the festival begins almost immediately after each year’s event. Selecting each year’s charity recipients begins in January, when charities must submit applications stating the intended use for the funds they will receive. According to Cumbow, the money cannot be used for administrative costs, such as utility bills, but on tangible items, like a parking lot for Community Christian Concern.

In the early days of the festival, charitable organizations were not required to provide hands-on labor during the festival.

“We worked ourselves to death in those first two or three years,” said Cumbow, “then we realized it made more sense that groups receiving the proceeds should volunteer to work during the event.”

Cumbow says that doing so has made a big difference, and that the event runs much more smoothly these days. She credits people like the Boy Scouts, who start setting up the day before, and work the day of the event by manning the parking and helping with trash pickup.

“They really earn their merit badges,” she said.

She bubbles over with excitement as praises her “fantastic” board members. She talks about event details, like the 18 different food vendors, the art exhibits, or the demonstration by Northshore High School’s robotics team, participating for the first time this year.

Recently the Leadership Northshore Alumni Association honored Cumbow with the Pearl Award. Named in honor of late Slidell City Councilwoman Pearl Williams, the award was given for her years of dedicated service to the Heritage Festival. Cumbow, who completed the Leadership class in 2005, doesn’t give much thought to that, instead focusing on the number of worthwhile projects undertaken by this year’s class.

She says the hardest thing about planning an event like the Slidell Heritage Festival is securing sponsors. Money is tight these days, and so many people need help. She also spends good deal of time praying that it won’t rain, but so far the event has never been rained out.

The best thing, though, is helping the family stage a true family event.

“Heritage Park is such a great location, right on the bayou,” Cumbow said. “We get to help the city have a free family event, and the proceeds go to some great organizations. That’s the biggest kick for me.”