‘Mat-Su Inaugural Ball’ to showcase Valley people, business

WASILLA — The venue for the 2015 Mat-Su Inaugural Ball is in Wasilla, but the event will showcase groups and businesses from across the Valley, organizers say.

About half of the 400 tickets to the Mat-Su ball have been sold thus far, according to chairwoman Cathy Cottle, wife of Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle. She said it’s the first time a Wasilla venue has been picked to host the party, set for 7 to 11 p.m., Feb. 6 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center. Tickets are $50.

Mayor Cottle said the Mat-Su ball is one of seven celebrations planned, funded and organized by communities around the state to celebrate the election of Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott.

Celebrations also are planned in Valdez, Juneau, Nome, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Wasilla, Ketchikan and Kenai. When Gov. Sean Parnell was elected, eight balls were planned around the state and there were six balls for Gov. Sarah Palin, according to the nonprofit Alaska Inaugural Committee.

Cathy Cottle said no state funds will be spent on the inaugural celebrations. And any excess funds will be donated to the First Lady for her charities of choice.

Set up for the party will be a logistical challenge, she said.

The ball is happening at the Menard Center between two events, so setup, decoration and break down must all be done between 10:30 p.m., Feb. 5 and the morning of Feb. 7 when a soccer match is scheduled on the turf.

She said lots of volunteers will be needed to help set up and tear down.

“I have a feeling I’ll be putting on my gown in the bathroom here,” Cathy Cottle said.

Mayor Cottle said the work will be accomplished, regardless of the tight timeline.

“We’ll sleep when it’s done,” he said.

Because the ball is planned on the turf side of the arena, the Menard’s blue hard flooring surface must first be installed Thursday after the last soccer game and removed before the next round of play Saturday morning, Mayor Cottle said.

The Cottle and Walker families both have deep roots in Valdez.

They met when Walker was mayor and Cottle was an officer on the police force. Cottle became Police Chief in 1989, the same year Walker moved his law practice to Anchorage, the mayor said.

“I’ve known Bill for more than 30 years,” Mayor Cottle said, before rattling off a list of family members — from several generations — that he’s come to know during that time.

Doors open at 7 p.m. when four Junior National Alaska Teen winners will meet guests at the doors and escort them to their tables.

The Wasilla High School JROTC Color Guard will mark the formal beginning of festivities with the presentation of colors at 7:30 p.m.

The Alaska Children’s Choir performs next, followed by a blessing from a representative of the Knik Tribal Council, and brief speeches from all four Valley mayors.

The Alaska Job Corps Center’s Alaska Native dance group will round out the presentation with the “Unity Dance.”

A DJ will spin dance music once the program is complete, Cathy Cottle said.

The evening also includes a no-host bar and hors d’oeuvres prepared by the culinary arts programs at Mat-Su Career Technical High School and the Alaska Job Corps Center. Students from both programs will prepare appetizers using seafood donated by the Alaska Salmon Alliance.

“We’re really excited about these two programs working together,” she said.

It is no accident that one culinary program is in Wasilla and one in Palmer. Cathy Cottle said she’s made a point to stage an event that will showcase the whole Valley.

“We’re trying to get as many people involved as we can,” she said. “We want people to say ‘I was there that day. I was part of it.’”

Mayor Cottle said the ball is a formal, but black tie is optional. Suits and ties are OK if men don’t have a tuxedo, he said. But no jeans, no Extra Tuffs and no Carhartts, the mayor said.

To reduce ticket prices, the Mat-Su Inaugural Ball Committee also is soliciting sponsors to help defray the overall cost of the event. Gold Level sponsors contribute $1,500 and receive six tickets and logo inclusion in the event program; Silver Level sponsors give $1,000 and receive three tickets and the name of the business displayed in program; Bronze Level gives $800 and get the name of the business displayed in program; Alaskan Star Level sponsors give $500 and get the name of the business displayed in program; and Matanuska Level sponsors give $300 and get the name of the business displayed in the program.

Admission is for people 21 and older, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

“It’s a chance to dress up and showcase the Valley,” Cathy Cottle said. “It’s going to be fun.

For ticket sales, or to volunteer, contact Cathy Cottle at 831-0918, or diversifiedak@hotmail.com.

For more information, or to make donations, visit akinauguralball.com.

Contact Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.