The leaves are changing, the air is brisk, it’s time to start thinking about…Veishea?

Yes, Veishea. The dates for Veishea ’97 have been set for April 18, 19, and 20, and the countdown for the spring event begins.

Members of the Veishea Executive Committee were chosen last week, and subcommittee selections will be finalized Thursday. This year’s general co-chairs are Daniel Faidley, a senior in agriculture business, and Stephanie Carney Michaels, a senior in elementary education.

The nation’s largest student-run celebration is commemorating 75 years of festivities this April and, once again, will be focusing heavily on the history and memories of past Veishea celebrations.

“We’ll be bringing back some old events, some that may have been forgotten,” Faidley said.

A new special-events committee has been created for the annual spring gala to help with these anniversary activities.

Faidley hopes to have a booth or open house featuring a time line that will spotlight different people and different Veishea events that have gone on in the past, he said.

Along with that theme, Veishea officials are hoping to find a way to involve more alumni in the celebration, perhaps by having an alumni banquet for former Veishea committee members and contributors. Officials also want to find activities that appeal to a more diverse audience.

The topic of finding a headliner music group to perform, an issue that was brought up and then dropped last year, is up in the air again this year.

It is a “possibility,” Faidley said. Veishea officials would like to see such an event, but another organization may be better able to make it happen.

“That is one of the things we’d like to do. Last year we ran out of time to find a quality group,” he said. “We want more events focusing on families and children of alumns.”

Another change this year comes with the Stars Over Veishea production.

In the past, the performance has not been done in conjunction with the ISU Theater group. This year, however, the two groups will work together.

The groups will split responsibility and share resources on a trial basis this year in hopes of putting on a better show.

All plans are still in the preliminary stages. After this week the Veishea committee slots will be filled and the hard-core planning will get rolling.

“We’re getting sorted out right now. We’re getting ready to plan,” Faidley said.

Members of the Executive Committee include: Angie Hopkey and JoAnn Malloy, ambassador chairs; Andy Lashier, business manger; Aimee Lee and Paul Whitson, educational outreach chairs; Dave Schooff and Ben Dohrmann, entertainment chairs; Jason Schlichte, executive secretary; Alan Beck and Jill Lapke, marketing chairs; David Baer and Dave Edwards, open house chairs; Matt Showalter and Jason Christensen, operations chairs; Chelsey Olsen and LaTosha Lewis, public relations chairs; Josh Hansen and Heather Plagman, parade chairs; Kathryn Whitaker and Damon Boettcher, special events chairs; Chad Dummermuth and Barry Schmidt, tournaments chairs; Steve Sullivan and Terri Houston, advisers.