The countdown is on for Events Mobile Inc. to finalize plans for this year’s New Year’s Eve event in downtown Mobile, Ala. (file photo) 

MOBILE,
Alabama – Events Mobile Inc. officials anticipate having their non-profit
status reinstated and retroactive to October 2012, while they continue planning
for New Year’s Eve’s MoonPie Over Mobile event.

The
organization, which was reinstated last year, has not been issued its
tax-exempt status due to a “backlog” with the IRS, according to an update
received by Events Mobile from its accountant Greg Nonnenmacher.

He told the
organization that a completed questionnaire was sent to the agency in September
along with the appropriate forms that needed to be submitted to the IRS,
according to an update provided by the group’s treasurer Ann Rambeau.

The
reinstatement comes as Events Mobile reorganizes. The group voted in Carol
Hunter, communications director with the Downtown Mobile Alliance, as its new
president to replace Barbara Drummond.

“We’re
working on it non-stop right now,” Rambeau said Thursday. “I think you’ll see a
lot of things done differently.”

The snafu
with Events Mobile’s non-profit status emerged in the early 2000s when the IRS,
in an effort to “cull inactive non-profits,” sent postcards to all groups
requesting an update on their status, Rambeau said.

Events
Mobile was originally incorporated in 1994, to support a number of local events
including the now-defunct September Celebration.

Once that
event was ended, Events Mobile went dormant and the group’s checking account
was closed, Rambeau said. It was reinstated in October 2012, to help support
fundraising for the MoonPie activity as well as other downtown Mobile
activities.

Rambeau said
that in the early 2000s, Events Mobile’s mailing address was listed at her
office at 2900 Dauphin St.

“We did not
receive any correspondence from the IRS,” she said. “The non-profit status was
revoked because we did not respond to correspondence we did not receive.”

Rambeau and
others with the organization are also sifting through the group’s own finances
after claiming about not being aware of an alleged audit that was performed on
the organization earlier this year.

The group’s
financial statements from Oct. 1, 2012-Sept. 30, 2013, shows total receipts
from government and public support at $293,399, and expenditures at $207,171.
Events Mobile is operating, at the end of the 2013 fiscal year, with a $101,278
surplus.

Rambeau she
is unaware of “any extra money” Events Mobile received from the city. She said
Events Mobile, last year, got $100,000 from the city, a $72,345 contract from
the city to reinstate Events Mobile, and $25,000 from Mobile County’s marketing
fund. In addition, the group received $56,000 in “public support,” which is the
same as sponsorship money. Vendor proceeds total $40,054.

Austal USA
was a primary sponsor of last year’s event, and has been approached again for
sponsorship this year.

The
Lagniappe, an alternative newspaper, reported that $207,345 was provided by the
city. The newspaper reported an audited it was anonymously provided that was
performed by Nonnemacher Clark PC LLC of Mobile.

Nonnenmacher
said he could not specifically discuss an audit he’s performed for a client,
but added that he was not aware of any audit his firm performed on Events
Mobile.

“There is
not an audit,” Rambeau said.

Councilman
Fred Richardson, whose initial $9,000 in discretionary money in 2008 helped get

Fred Richardson(file photo) 
the MoonPie started in 2008, said the report about extra unaccounted city money
filtered to the event “is a bunch of junk.”

“The council
has funded (the event) with $100,000 and all you have to do is look at what the
council voted in,” Richardson said.

Planning
Push

Hunter, on
Wednesday, said plans are on track for the parade, vendors, children/family
activities, etc.

The musical acts
are not established, but Richardson said he anticipates some update next week.

“They will
bring back recommendations,” he said.

Rambeau said
Events Mobile has an executive committee scheduled for Monday, followed with a
board meeting Wednesday to further discuss entertainment.

“We’re
hitting it hard,” she said. “We understand we’re up against a clock. We’ll
hopefully announce something very soon. Sometimes in the musical world, it
takes a while to get contracts signed.”

Rambeau said
the organization is searching for entertainment on its own. SMG, a sponsor for
this year’s event, is not involved with the entertainment selection, she added.

“If we’re
booking one-to-two acts, it’s not difficult (for us) to contact an agent and
negotiate a price,” Rambeau said. “If we hit a brick wall, we’ll contact an
agency to assist us in that.”

Richardson
also said the City Council will likely vote in the coming weeks for the event’s
fireworks display, which has been approved in years past. Last year’s fireworks
cost about $18,000.

New Mobile Mayor
Sandy Stimpson has publicly stated his support for the event, but acknowledged
that all planning for it is organized by Events Mobile. Stimpson’s spokesman George Talbot said the mayor
is also in favor of the fireworks expenditure.

“This is a
city event,” Richardson said, referring to the fireworks display. “That is
always put on the (council’s) agenda (for approval). Fireworks always go off at
12 o’clock.”

Hotel
bookings up

Hotels are already
seeing some advanced bookings despite the lack of an entertainment act
announcement.

Kent
Blackinton, general manager of the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel, said
bookings for this year’s event at both Renaissance hotels – Riverview and
Battlehouse – are ahead of bookings this same time a year ago.

He said he’s
not concerned about the delay in getting this year’s entertainment announced.

“Over the
last few years, we’ve built some base business for people who come into town
for that event,” Blackinton said. “That’s a positive.”

The MoonPie might descend along the RSA Bank Trust building once a year, but it’s become an unique part of downtown Mobile’s skyline. (Press-Register, Mike Kittrell) 

The New Year’s
Eve event has, according to the University of South Alabama, generated a boost
in economic activity during what had been an otherwise quiet night for tourism
in downtown Mobile.

The study,
which took place in March 2012, showed the MoonPie drop generating between $4.2
million to $5.1 million in economic activity for Mobile.

The event is
highlighted with the 60-second descent of a 317-foot MoonPie attached permanently
to the side of the RSA Bank Trust building. The illuminated MoonPie was attached
to the building in 2010, two years after the event started as a quirky way for
the city to usher in the new year.

While
MoonPie confections are made in Chattanooga, Tenn., it is a popular treat among
Mobilians. They are one of the most sought after throws among parade watchers
during the city’s annual Mardi Gras parades.