Developing the plan for a new Veishea requires two general co-chairpersons who can bring both experience and enthusiasm to the table.

The organizers are helping to plan an event that will look different than in the past, in response to the riots in 2004.

Co-chairpersons Jessica Lecy, senior in food science from Greenwood, Minn., and Eric Peterson, junior in agriculture business from Harwood, N.D., said their time spent planning this year’s event and helping out in the past has been positive and rewarding.

Lecy said she was an aide in 2004, and served as the special events co-chairperson in 2005. Peterson said he was the balloon co-chairperson in 2004 for the parade, and was a co-chairperson of Operation Playground in 2005, a community service project organized by Leaders INspiring Connections through which ISU students and staff built three new playgrounds.

Both Lecy and Peterson also helped during Operation Playground II, a continuation of the project organized by VEISHEA, Inc.

On April 1, a new playground center was built at the Beloit Residential Treatment Center. Peterson said approximately 250 volunteers were pooled from different student groups on campus, as well as the Veishea committee.

Lecy and Peterson said they had been acquainted before this year, but have developed a closer relationship during planning.

“We definitely know each other a lot better now,” Lecy said.

The 2004 riot was not a concern for Lecy and Peterson, but they said now is an opportunity to build on growing community spirit.

“I think the events of 2004 were unfortunate, but we do have the opportunity to learn a lot from Veishea in the past,” Lecy said.

Peterson said no real stigma has been attached to this year’s event, and approximately 90 businesses have become sponsors – the largest amount of the past few years.

“I would say we have gotten great support from the Ames and Iowa State communities,” Lecy said. “While they have had their concerns, it helps us to plan a better Veishea.”

As for this year’s Veishea, Peterson said he is proud of the staff – which includes 20 executive board members, 180 committee members and 130 aides – that has worked countless hours.

“I love seeing all of the different events come together to create one unified celebration of Iowa State,” Peterson said.

The amount of hours spent planning the event was incalculable, as Peterson said he has averaged 40 to 50 hours a week on the event. He said this does not include the amount of time spent at home writing e-mails and other documents.

Lecy said the amount of time she spends on the project is comparable to Peterson’s contribution, but said most of the hours she works are not bothersome.

“It sometimes is a challenge, but I’m one of those people that the more I have going on, the more organized I am,” Lecy said.

Peterson said another aspect which keeps the job fun is the variety, whether it be writing and proofreading a press release or announcing the entertainment lineup on the radio.

“I look forward to every day actually,” Peterson said. “The best thing about our job is every day you’re doing something different.”

Lecy said she looks forward to the executive meetings during which they learn of the progress of all the committee members and have the ability to solve any problem that may arise.

When details are not finalized it can get a little stressful, Peterson said, but that just comes with the territory and is not that much of a low point.

As for their futures after Veishea, Lecy said she will graduate this summer and will take a year off before attending dental school. Peterson said he is finalizing plans to find an internship for the summer.